Emotions

I recently had a hilarious lunch with a new friend in Austin, Tuck Kamin, who wrote the book, “DYA: Design Your Age.” In a chapter called “Laughing Your Age Off,” he cites a variety of comedians who lived to ripe old ages:

Having wandered around the field of gerontology for almost a half century, I’ve continually found myself banging into other people’s attitudes as to whether they think aging is a good or bad thing. Is it something to be embraced or conquered? Should we be “pro-aging” or “anti-aging?”

Have you lost anyone to suicide? During the Great Recession, I lost five friends - all men 42 to 52 - during a two and a half year period when I was feeling cursed myself.

“If I can meet triumph and disaster and treat these two imposters just the same...” Rudyard Kipling I chuckled when I saw the recent headline that 47.2 is the age when misery peaks in midlife. I was that age a dozen years ago and I can vouch for the researchers’ findings.

Two days ago, I did three podcasts within six hours and two of the three podcasters - a man and a woman, one early in the day, one at the end of the day - started the session with the words that are the title of this post. I know, sort of weird, right?! I hope my mom won’t be listening to these two podcasts.

I have a soft place in my heart for the modern-day philosopher. Martha Nussbaum, Ryan Holiday, Cornel West, Pico Iyer, Brian Johnson, Judith Butler. I admire them all. But, at the head of my class is Alain de Botton. I got to know Alain when we brought him to speak to all of our Airbnb employees six years ago.

Long ago, we almost named a Sacramento restaurant “Gravitas” in our newly renovated Citizen Hotel. We wanted to signal that this was where politicos made important deals. While we ultimately opted for the name “Grange,” I took note that many of the older people I admired seemed to embody a perfect alchemy of gravitas and levity.

Last summer, I celebrated turning 60 by taking an epic road trip. I dubbed it my #Tourde60. A few days into my 7,000-mile journey, I heard Tim Ferriss’s podcast with Chip Conley. Immediately, I downloaded the audio for Wisdom@Work, the Making of a Modern Elder.

Our uniquely American tradition is derided by many today, but the spirit of this day is dedicated to gratitude. And, I know no Modern Elder role model who exemplifies gratitude more than 93-year-old Brother David Steindl-Rast who taught me that becoming more curious would make me more wise as I got older. In celebration of Thanksgiving, I offer you this lovely 5-minute video from Brother David called “A Grateful Day.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about organ recitals. And I’m not talking church here. I’m referring to that conversation we have as we get older—the one that revolves around how our organs don’t work like they used to.