YOUR "LIFE REPORT" AND TRANSITIONING

 

In David Brooks’ New York Times Op-Ed column (October 28, 2011), “The Life Report,” he asks people over age 70 to reflect, write a report or essay and send it to him evaluating what you did well and not so well and lessons learned along the way. He suggests categories of career, family, self-knowledge, faith and community and even that you give yourself a grade in each area.

Brooks wrote that the main purpose would be to help young people. “Young people are educated in many ways, but they are given relatively little help in understanding how a life develops, how careers and families evolve, what are the common mistakes and common blessings of modern adulthood,” he wrote. The other purpose would be mature self-reflection.

That same day, I received an e-mail from Civic Ventures’ Encore Careers (I am on the mailing list because of Next Generation, Next Destination), piggybacking on Brooks’ idea for people who have transitioned to “encore careers” after their major career(s).

I say the life report is a great idea – but why wait till 70? Let’s start doing it at age 50 or 55 when enough experience has accumulated and there is still much time to adjust course. Even people still in their major careers will benefit from the self-reflection (with or without grading). And what a great mentoring tool, a coaching tool and legacy!

So, consider it and start thinking and writing. You don’t have to send it to David Brooks to publish – though go ahead if you want to. Do it for yourself, your family and friends, the students you know and young work colleagues. Share it in alumni groups, community groups, social media, etc. It will help you and others in their growth and transitioning.

Tell me what you think. Comment here. Pass it on. Let me know if you start something going in your circles.

Phyllis Weiss Haserot   www.pdcounsel.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Karl Pillemer]

As a gerontologist, I could not agree more: Let's get boomers sharing life wisdom!
I thought readers may be interested that several years before Brooks's column, Cornell University created a project that systematically surveyed older people about their life wisdom. They have a great web site for the Cornell Legacy Project, where many lessons can be read (and there are videos of elders sharing lessons). Also, a book from the Cornell Legacy Project was just published, called "30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans." This is great stuff to share!

[Phyllis Weiss Haserot]

Thank you, Karl, for pointing out those projects. As an active and enthusiastic Cornell alum, I have been so impressed with what comes out of Cornell and all the awards as Best Place to Work.

In addition to the Cornell Legacy Project you cite, Karl, the great women of the class of "58 did some similar work, resulting in a book about the changing status of women that their class experienced in the workplace and their lives.

I have been consulting to the Cornell Generations Initiative for faculty and staff recruitment and retention, and there are a lot of exciting things happening. There will be more to tell on the diversity front.