Hello! I’m Isadore Hannon and I am a graduate student getting my master’s in social work. Since I will be turning 60 this year, this topic hits home for me and is the reason I decided to go back to finish my degree. Let me go back a little. I am originally from the beautiful Sarasota, Florida and have been in Atlanta about 25 years now. I have always been closer to people older than me and find myself helping the elderly more out of the respect I see from them for paving the way for me to be here. Most of the people I work with in my profession are 55+ so we all have these talks about what are we going to do with our lives moving into “the 4th quarter”! LOL. For many of us, we have overcame many obstacles just to still be here and I applaud you all for your perseverance.
What I am hoping to get from this class is a way for me to look at my silver years more positively and not see it as the end of an era. I used to dread getting old because at some point I won’t be here anymore. I just can’t see not being here anymore. Not existing! It is just strange thinking about it so I want to embrace growing older in a more dignified and distinguished way. I love to dance and listen to great music so having fun, eating good and just LIVING is my goal as my anniversaries pass each year. I don’t consider myself and “older adult” or in the “later” part of my life right now. I probably won’t see myself that way in my 70s either seeing that 70 is the new 50s! I do look forward to see how my children and grandchildren turn out, how I will be utilizing my LMSW in my life at that time and how the world will be changing hopefully to help others more. I see older adulthood as sitting around reminiscing of the great life I lived, with no regrets and continuing to live my life as spiritual as I can. My oldest grand uncle was 94 when he passed last year and I used to talk with him about how he saw himself and he said, “I see myself as retired! It’s y’all turn now. I just want to eat good and serve God at this point. I done my part.” I believe the retired part will be nice but I do agree about the rest. I don’t work out that much but I don’t see myself really getting out of shape because I move around so much. I used to smoke cigarettes for 40 years and I drank alcohol wayyy too much but I’ve quit smoking now going on 5 years and haven’t drank any alcohol in over 13 years! I am allowing my body to heal from all the trauma I caused it and according to my doctor, I am in pretty good health!
Spending my time is the thing I want to really look at. I don’t want to just sit around all day. I want to be active, full of life, still dancing and having fun. I want to be able to take care of me, have all of my faculties working and not be a burden on any of my family members. I do believe that life will catch up with everyone but I would like to prolong it for as long as I can. I have a family history of cancer in which I think about from time to time. My dad died at 56. I’ve passed him already. My mom passed at 63. Both having cancer. I accept I have no control on when my number is called yet I am not doing anything today to speed it up! LOL… In the end, I just want to be remembered as someone who didn’t let money, property and/or prestige divert him from the primary purpose…SERVING OTHERS!
Thank you for reading,
Isadore Hannon
Hi Isadore,
I enjoyed reading your post. Also, congratulations on coming back to school; that’s a huge step, and I’m looking forward to being your classmate this semester! Another thing I found refreshing about reading your post was your complete transparency about the state you’re in at the moment. I chuckled at the part about the 70s being the new 50s these days, swear grandparent looking more and more younger. Sometimes you can’t tell whether that’s their child or grandchild now. I think that’s the beauty of aging in an age of more technology and information: people are living longer, looking younger; it’s beautiful.
Isadore,
You and your colleagues are right about the 4th quarter. The field of aging practice has taken to using the phrase Fourth Chapter, but it’s the same, isn’t it? Rather than old age or late life, we are beginning to see aging as a progression where we have some control over the outcome (at least some control). It’s that Fifth chapter, where we are a bit more frail and closer to “not existing,” that we don’t really want to talk about. I can understand that resistance. We will spend some time talking about that this semester, trying to find our personal way to embrace that process.
I think your uncle was touching on something that is an interesting debate in our culture today, right? What defines us? Is it what we have done – so that we feel we need to continue to do it to have value? Or is it what we feel, experience, and relish? I think the first chapters in Cruikshank will interest you. Your uncle was ready to let go of the need to be productive. Good for him. Some have a harder time with that reality. Cruikshank challenges why that might be true.
Illness is the aging boogeyman, I think. I too have cancer in my family. And yes, we only have so much control over whether it will visit us or not. I think you’ll find Aronson’s discussion of the medicalization of aging an interesting companion to those questions.
Making a contribution in the ways that have meaning, and being able to do it with our own agency. Isn’t that the magic of aging we would all like to have?
I look forward to the conversations this semester.
Dr P
Just an FYI – There is an expectation that you will include a featured image with these blog posts. If you watch the video on the blog or read my latest email, I explain how to upload your featured image. If you scroll down to the bottom on the right side of your post window, you will find “Set Featured Image.” I walk you through this in my video on using the blog. This information is about halfway through the video. You might find it helpful and it will place your image right at the top of the blog post. Here is the link to the video: https://gastate.view.usg.edu/d2l/le/lessons/3694485/topics/77644126
Dr P
Isadore, thank you for your post. I love the energy and honesty in this! Turning 60 while pursuing your MSW proves that purpose does not have an expiration date—you are entering the “fourth quarter” with plenty of life still left in the game! LOL.
Your uncle’s words about eating well and serving God were both humorous and deeply meaningful. I especially admire that you quit smoking after 40 years and have remained alcohol-free for more than 13 years.
Those are major accomplishments and powerful examples of resilience. Your experience also resonated with me because I lost my father to cancer, so I understand how a family history of cancer can influence the way we think about aging and mortality.
However, you are not allowing fear to keep you from dancing, enjoying life, completing your education, and serving others.
Your post encourages me to approach aging with the same faith, gratitude, humor, and determination to live fully while making service to others my primary purpose.