Embark Upon A New Journey In Your Senior Years

Who says a person needs to retire if they like their job? The government? The culture? One person who did not believe this was Bette Nash, a flight attendant for 67 years. She passed away on May 17, 2024, at the ripe old age of 88. She began with Eastern Airlines in 1957, which became American Airlines, and was with this air carrier the rest of her career. In 2022 she was listed in the Guinness Book of World Records. Nash never really retired. She was forced to leave her job when she went to hospice after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Bette Nash is an example of what it means to stay working at a job you love, as long as your health holds out. This is important to consider. Too many seniors retire from a vocation and then don’t know what to do with all their time. Some have a good retirement income that allows them to travel a lot to see the world, and to visit family and friends. However, many seniors do not have this luxury. Staying physically active, and keeping mentally fit, is important for elderly people.

What is important is to finish life strong. Except for her short bout with cancer, Bette Nash did that. She did not allow her age to be a limitation. It is never too late to finish life with intention and purpose. If you are a person approaching retire age (of what the government or society says it should be), you may live another 20-25 years, or longer. Life can really begin at the time when one starts to draw social security checks!  Think about writing a new chapter for your life. Dream new dreams, and set new goals. Do some things you have always wanted to do but never had the time. There are many things seniors can do that don’t require a lot of money. Don’t sell yourself short. What will people say about you if you live to be 80 or 90, or longer? Did you just drift, accomplishing nothing, or did you continue on a new journey of real living? I am not saying that all seniors should be like Bette Nash, but put your senior years to good use in some way. There does not have to be a big gap between where you are in life and where you could have been. Plan on using your senior years to close that gap.

In the Old Testament of the Bible is the story of Joshua, who took over after the death of Moses, in leading the Israelites. He had specific directions from God to move forward toward the Promised Land. Joshua was in his eighties when God chose him with a new mission. We read in the story that “Joshua rose early…crossed the Jordan…possessed the land…and cut off the enemies.” By doing so, he impacted an entire generation.

What is your life mission? Get started on it now, no matter your age. Take that first step. Too  many people fall into the trap of not thinking that there is possibly something better for them. It is certainly acceptable to retire from a job at an appropriate age, but never retire from life. Bette Nash didn’t. She brought a lot of joy to the lives of passengers aboard airplanes for 67 years!

What can you do in your older years to make a positive difference in the lives of those who follow after?