I have been amazed coming back to the USA from my work in Africa at what getting older means. Too many people I meet have one goal when they have a career. This goal is to have a paid retirement. In Africa there was very little paid retirement. In fact, about the only time a person would say they were going to retire meant they were going home to sleep and relax for the evening. The next day that person would get up and do some gainful work. As a person in Africa become an elder they would never retire only redefine themselves. I am trying to redefine myself as I get older. USA people my age do not understand what I am doing writing a book and working each day. Most USA people only wish to stop gainful work and retire. The Merriam-Webster dictionary has a meaning for retire which means ‘withdraw from action, use or service.’ It is always a good time to redefine and not only retire. More elders need to keep the youth in their focus and to assist in guiding them. When I discuss my book with grandparents or parents with grown children they seem not interested in the educational system. Each person must not retire from the ‘grown-up’ position in front of the current youth generation. So I shall keep on redefining myself and starting the dialogue as I write in my book. Please join me, all ages. No retiring. Keep redefining yourself and sharing your experiences and lead the youth and their parental generation. Read my book.
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