Change

CC: Instead of our typical Friday Book Club, this week we welcome one of my favorite writers and thought leaders. Good morning, Arthur. Honored to have you join us. No article went more viral in our MEA alum community in the past year than your June 2019 “The Atlantic” magazine piece entitled “Your Professional Decline is Coming (Much) Sooner Than You Think.” Why do you think the article drew such attention globally?

Uncertainty has never been on my guest list. He’s unpredictable and shows up whenever he wants. He’s also rude, ungrateful, and never offers to help with the dishes. Quite frankly, he takes up way too much space at the table.

“In time we will be given the opportunity to either contract around the old version of ourselves and our world—insular, self-interested and tribalistic—or understand the connectedness and commonality of all humans, everywhere.

My parents were self-described Luddites. The last rotary phone in America lived at our house; when the device gave up the ghost, they purchased a push-button phone but kept the rotary service, so as you punched in a telephone number, you'd hear each digit being dutifully dialed.

My parents were self-described Luddites. The last rotary phone in America lived at our house; when the device gave up the ghost, they purchased a push-button phone but kept the rotary service, so as you punched in a telephone number, you'd hear each digit being dutifully dialed.

The only challenge with creating a Worldwide Association of Procrastinators is that no one would show up for the first meeting. And that’s assuming they scheduled the first meeting.

Poet and philosopher Maya Angelou is so respected that MEA’s first cohort is named after her. She once wrote, “Be angry. It is right to be angry. It is healthy!”

Whether you’re seeing the Northern Lights, getting a tattoo, skydiving, or learning to cook a souffle in Paris, the idea of a Bucket List has gained quite a bit of mainstream attention.

One of the core principles of the Modern Elder Academy is that we can apply a growth mindset to midlife and beyond. So often, we focus more on loss than gain during our later years. Or we adopt a fixed mindset in which we’re more focused on proving ourselves and winning than improving ourselves and learning.

Three weeks ago, I was enjoying my empty nest. I was traveling for weeks at a time – part pleasure, part work, never needing to check in on the home front. What a difference a week makes.