Contextually I think most understood what I was saying.
world’s oldest practicing doctor gives longevity tips
- Thread starter GON
- Start date
GON
$150 Site Donor 2025
@AZjeff , greetings.
Currently I am working 16 +/- hour days, seven days a week. My last day off was January 2nd. It is Monday morning here in SE Asia, and I woke up exhausted. I think waking up exhausted is due to age. At age 60, I am definitely aware I am not as sharp as I was just ten years ago. Additionally, I acknowledge a handful of people I work regularly with that are over 50 work considerably harder than me. That leaves me to speculate high performance individuals maintain high performance by continual high levels of brain and body use. About a month ago I started to work out once again, simply 30 pushups every other day, and 30 crunches every other day. Amazed what a difference just 30 pushups does to the body.
I was thrilled to read the linked article by the 102-year-old practicing surgeon. Dementia is a big worry for me, and his assessment that working taxes the brain, directly resulting in reduced risk of dementia was very powerful for me to read. Already feeling less mentally sharp than a decade ago, I do worry about being venerable to dementia and like conditions. I was thinking carbs were a cause of dementia, the article made me take a second look at that assessment of causes of dementia.
I am hopeful to depart SE Asia in about a year and not return. I don't plan to work at this level ever again, although I do have a position waiting for me when I return to CONUS, and it is a high-level position. Additionally, I hope to never get on a commercial airplane, never stay in a hotel, etc. I have a lovely wife and her vote counts large, so my hopes of not flying or hotel stays might not be reality.
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AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
@GON, working 16/7 and no days off in 6 months is reason to wake up exhausted. Sincerely hope you're being appropriately compensated for your efforts and hope you get a nice block of time off soon.
Of course. The idea may be somewhat more valid for someone who can only imagine work or doing nothing all day. There also aren't many jobs other than self-employed that a person can work at past their 70s.
Those of us who were active when we worked are also plenty active when we retire. Most of us understand there are tangible benefits to remaining active both mentally and physically ( i.e. exercise).
Quote attributed to Arnold Zack in a letter to, and made famous by Senator Paul Tsongas in the early 1980's.
When I read that quote, I think of Mother Teresa and maybe Ghandi. Here are a handful people that DID indicate they wished they had worked more while on their death beds:
Isaac Babel, Russian anti-Stalin activist: "I am only asking for one thing--Let me finish my work."
George Beard, American physician: "I hope others will carry on my work."
Olavo Bilac, Brazilian activist and writer: "Get me coffee. I'm going to write."
Jerry Boyd, U.S. boxer and writer: "Doc, get me a little more time. I gotta finish my book."
Francois-Paul Brueys d'Aigalliers, French admiral: "An admiral ought to die giving orders."
Jane Arminda Delano, American nurse: "What about my work? I must get back to my work!"
Louis Desaix de Veygoux, French nobleman: "My only regret in dying is to have perished before having done enough to live in the recollection of posterity."
Edith Hamilton, American historian: "I haven't felt up to writing but now I think I am going to finish that book on Plato."
Sidney Herbert, British statesman: "I have not done all I wished..."
Katsushika Hokusai, Japanese artist: "If Heaven had only granted me five more years, I could have become a real painter."
Hubert Humphrey, U.S. Vice President: "I feel I have so much to do yet."
Edmund Husserl, German philosopher: "Oh, I've seen something wonderful. Quick, write it down!"
Guillaume Lekeu, Belgian composer. "So many works unfinished---My quartet!"
Huey Long, Governor of Louisiana: "Don't let me die. I have so much to do."
Maria Montessori, founder of Montessori schools, at 81: "Am I no longer of use?"
Pablo Picasso at 91: "And now I must go back to work." He painted that night until 3 AM and then died.
Pope Pius XI at 82 having been pope for 17 years: "I still have so many things to do."
Charles Sumner, abolitionist: "You must take care of the bill, my bill, the great civil rights bill, and don't let it fail!"
Elisabeth Ten Boom, World War II Dutch resistance figure: "So much work to do."
Osamu Tezuka, Japanese manga artist: "I'm begging you, let me work!"
What do I hope my last words will be? "Barbara, I love you. And keep doing true good, lots of true good."
AZjeff
$50 Site Donor 2023
Interesting list. Didn't notice any mechanics or carpenters or farmers or salespeople or people just doing the daily grind on that list. We can't all be noblemen or statesmen or artists or activists!
Of course some of those quotes are not coming from a rationale thought process----I could be wrong but I don't think many are thinking that clearly, at least in my experience-moments before they die. My father in Law-living in So. Cal just before he died-was talking about local politics-but he was in and out lucid.
Pretty bad when your last thoughts are politics, or getting back to work. I can accept wanting others to "carry on".
And let's face it-some of those you quoted were pretty famous. If Mother Tereasa's last words were-"I think I just messed my pants"-the quote wouldn't have made it out of the room.
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I agree on the death bed state of mind and I really enjoy this opinion titled "The Deathbed Fallacy": Edit - link is wonky. Google "The Deathbed Fallacy" by Rikard A. Hjort
My take away from this entire thread is that I am in a good place as I approach my 7th. decade. I don't really care what the OP link Dr's opinion is, nor yours (no offense, with respect) . I have finally figured out that what's important to me is MY acceptance and satisfaction for what I choose to do and not do. Not what others do nor what they think I should do according to them. I'm entering my next life stage with the somewhat fearless zeal I had as a young adult (don't over-plan, knowing I can handle nearly anything) and abandon the notion of having regrets, past/present/future.
Good discussion. Thank you.
Waiting for quotes from road tar guy continuing until 95
Agreed. But, people in those occupations that are passionate about what they do and it is a meaningful and rewarding career/way of life for them probably continue working longer than those who find it to be a "grind". Most farmers I associate with continue their lifestyle beyond the traditional retirement milestone.
I can only say from personal observation of family members who lived super long (many 90s and one 106) from one of the highest if not the highest life expectancy places on earth.
1) Good genes: you have no control over family history of certain diseases. Some people I know are diabetics in the 30s because that's in their family history, or family history of certain cancer.
2) Healthy lifestyle: regular exercise, no need for marathon but move your body and make sure you don't deteriorate too much. Eat healthy food with low sodium, low fat, low sugar, quality fat (i.e. mega 3 like fish and olive oil instead of lard tallow hydrogenated fat). You are not going to live long if you eat pound cake for 1/3 of your calories every day.
3) Family: having family who spend time with you matters a lot. Make sure you are not toxic to each other too or you would rather die sooner.
4) Challenges in moderation: work can be a good challenge, responsibility (like care for grand children), stress (like you still need to work to help pay some bills). This is likely why when someone retire they die sooner. This is especially obvious in the dementia department.
5) Mental health: inner peace whether it is from religion, family, personal goal, looking back on your own life legacy, whatever floats your boat. Not having a goal in life when you are older tends to make you not fighting to live another day.
6) Healthcare: make sure all the preventive cares are done, and make sure you live close to emergency care like closer to a good hospital just in case you need to call for help.
That's all I can think of. Ironically the size of your nest egg is not correlated to the people I know who live long.
1) Good genes: you have no control over family history of certain diseases. Some people I know are diabetics in the 30s because that's in their family history, or family history of certain cancer.
2) Healthy lifestyle: regular exercise, no need for marathon but move your body and make sure you don't deteriorate too much. Eat healthy food with low sodium, low fat, low sugar, quality fat (i.e. mega 3 like fish and olive oil instead of lard tallow hydrogenated fat). You are not going to live long if you eat pound cake for 1/3 of your calories every day.
3) Family: having family who spend time with you matters a lot. Make sure you are not toxic to each other too or you would rather die sooner.
4) Challenges in moderation: work can be a good challenge, responsibility (like care for grand children), stress (like you still need to work to help pay some bills). This is likely why when someone retire they die sooner. This is especially obvious in the dementia department.
5) Mental health: inner peace whether it is from religion, family, personal goal, looking back on your own life legacy, whatever floats your boat. Not having a goal in life when you are older tends to make you not fighting to live another day.
6) Healthcare: make sure all the preventive cares are done, and make sure you live close to emergency care like closer to a good hospital just in case you need to call for help.
That's all I can think of. Ironically the size of your nest egg is not correlated to the people I know who live long.
I was just counterpointing CKN's quote of "Never heard anyone on their deathbed.............."
Cut me some slack, man.
Plus ( you know) I AM that "road less traveled" example of someone in a passionate career lifestyle. In Googling "Mother Teresa", I just learned that I share her personality type: INFJ - "Idealistic and principled, people with the INFJ personality type (Advocates) aren’t content to coast through life – they want to stand up and make a difference. For these compassionate personalities, success doesn’t come from money or status but from seeking fulfillment, helping others, and being a force for good in the world.
While they have lofty goals and ambitions, INFJs shouldn’t be mistaken for idle dreamers. People with this personality type care about integrity, and they’re rarely satisfied until they’ve done what they know to be right. Conscientious to the core, they move through life with a clear sense of their values, and they aim to never lose sight of what truly matters – not according to other people or society at large but according to their own wisdom and intuition. This last sentence took a few bumps in the road over the decades to learn and is now just settling in at age 69!
INFJ personalities might come across as somewhat reserved, but they are fueled by a profound internal passion. Stimulated by deep, reflective thought and an enormous amount of empathy, they dedicate themselves to the pursuit of purpose.
EDIT: also found this truism, lol: "Others generally perceive INFJs as pleasant people to be around, but may also notice that they can be moody, aloof, or even somewhat crabby on occasion. All in all, people who only encounter them infrequently are likely to see INFJs as tough nuts to crack"
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Well I am obviously firmly in the camp of you can’t live until you retire so looking back yeah I was no fun at partiesI was just counterpointing CKN's quote of "Never heard anyone on their deathbed.............."
Cut me some slack, man.
Plus ( you know) I AM that "road less traveled" example of someone in a passionate career lifestyle.
Thoughtful reply....no offense taken.
"Let me pave!!!"
I have a funny story along those lines. When I was in high school, I worked in the kitchen at a nursing home. The kitchen manager pointed one resident out to me and told me to watch out for him as he was an escape risk. Apparently he was a former brick layer (and still pretty fit, if skinny) and they recently found him down the road carrying a bag of cement on his shoulder that he took from a hardware store. He was heading off to lay bricks somewhere.
I HAVE shown up at bonfires dressed in a giant inflatable godzilla outfit. Am still known to "moon you" on occasion (darkness/50 yards away - old men are not pretty), lol. Eccentric I am.
Retired in 2012, 7-2024 I returned to the work field, Mon. to Thurs., 8am to 1-2 pm those days. From working in the utlity construction field to now, a auto parts delivery driver. My doctor and a friend in the auto field kind of talked me into it. I enjoy it, meeting people and talking to fellow workers at the work warehouse. One thing in my case, I kinda of drifted away from the outside world, beening most of my friends have past. So this has helped my mental state. Met alot of small indepentent repair shops, 1-2 mechanics, many out there trying to make a living and of course the big commercial shops/dealerships. Love delivering a .86 cent light bulb, then the rotors and batterys, which can be a PITA. Anyway, I'll be 69 years old come August. Ienjot the job and it's stree free for the most part, till I hit the roads, espellially the interstate highway.