Who Doesn’t Aspire to the Age of the Longevity Privileged?

“Any fool can be young. It takes a lot of talent to age gracefully”- Millôr Fernandes (1923–2012) — Writer, Cartoonist, Humorist and journalist.

Imagine a society where reaching the age of 65 is a rare privilege. This reality, still prevalent in many underdeveloped countries, contrasts sharply with more prosperous nations, where living beyond 65 is increasingly common.

In developing nations like Afghanistan, Angola, and Mozambique, less than 3% of the population reaches this significant age.

Conversely, developed countries like Germany, Japan, and Monaco see between 20% to 36% of their citizens living beyond 65 years.

This landscape prompts a profound reflection:

Who doesn’t aspire to reach the age of the longevity privileged?

Celebrating 65 years or more transcends a mere birthday; it marks a life enriched with experiences and wisdom.

It is a privilege that mirrors humanity’s achievements in longevity, albeit a reality for just a few.

Before moving forward, let me ask you:

- Have you ever pondered what it means to reach and be part of the ‘longevity privileged’?

- Or, if you are still young, do you believe you have been blessed with the magical potion of eternity?

The Hidden Wisdom in the Art of Aging: Reflections Inspired by Millôr Fernandes

The opening quote by Millôr Fernandes, like many others he bestowed upon us, showcases a disconcerting acumen wrapped in a surprisingly subtle, elegant, and always humorous manner of expressing thoughts. 🎯

In the context of the challenges posed by the privilege of longevity, Fernandes’s phrase emits a profound and multifaceted interpretation:

· Valuing Aging: While youth is a phase of life everyone naturally experiences, aging is a privilege not granted to all. This emphasizes the aspect of ‘longevity as a privilege’ — a stage of life to be cherished, not taken for granted.

· Wisdom and Maturity: Fernandes suggests that aging ´with grace’ requires skills and qualities that go beyond mere passage of time. This includes wisdom, maturity, the ability to accept changes, and the skill to find joy and purpose in later stages of life.

· The Art of Living Well: The notion that it takes ‘a lot of talent’ to age well suggests that the process of aging is an art. It means living fully, with a positive attitude, and continually learning, even as one faces the common physical and emotional challenges of old age.

· Contrast with Youth: By humorously calling the young ‘fools’, Fernandes is not devaluing youth but contrasting the natural inexperience of youth with the depth and complexity that come with aging. Youth is often lived unreflectively, while old age is a time to contemplate and apply life’s learned lessons.

· Cultural Challenge: In many cultures, youth is idealized, while aging is often viewed negatively. Fernandes challenges this perception, inviting us to recognize the inherent value and beauty in the aging process.

In summary, Millôr Fernandes’s quote encourages a deeper appreciation of aging, seeing it not as an inevitable decline but as a life stage rich in opportunities for growth, learning, and fulfillment.

Echoes of Wisdom: Diverse Reflections on the Art of Aging

A recent post on WhatsApp brought me a dozen quotations with words of wisdom from renowned authors, each uniquely illuminating the journey of aging.

These quotes, from Émile A. Faguet to ancient Chinese proverbs, offer diverse perspectives on living beyond 65.

They tackle themes like the dignity in solitude, the expansion of vision in maturity, and the value of accumulated wisdom.

I invite you to ponder these words as we jointly explore their insights into the art of aging:

Émile A. Faguet

“The secret to a good old age is nothing but a well-kept pact with solitude.”

Gabriel Garcia Marques

“Aging is like climbing a great mountain: the higher you climb, the weaker your strength, but your view becomes freer, broader, and more serene.”

Ingmar Bergman

“The first forty years of life give us the text; the next thirty, the commentary.”

Arthur Schopenhauer

“The old distrust the young because they have been young.”

William Shakespeare

“The young know the rules, but the old know the exceptions.”

Oliver Wendell Holmes

“In youth we learn; in old age, we understand.”

Marie von Ebner Eschenbach

“The maturity of a man is to have regained the serenity with which we played as children.”

Friedrich Nietzsche

“The old cannot do what the young do; but they do it better.”

Cicero

“It takes two years to learn to speak and sixty to learn to keep quiet.”

Ernest Hemingway

“The oldest trees bear the sweetest fruit.”

German Proverb

“If your family has no elder, adopt one.”

Ancient Chinese Proverb

“Old age takes away what we inherited and gives us what we deserve.”

Each of these quotations illustrates various aspects and challenges of aging, from wisdom and perspective to acceptance and serenity.

Together, they enrich the discussion initiated by Millôr Fernandes, inviting the reader to a more profound reflection on the art and significance of aging.

Among these diverse voices, which of the 12 quotes resonates most deeply with your own experiences or hopes about aging?

Living Longevity with Purpose: My Personal Journey

At this decade’s start, as I entered what I call the ‘longevity privileged’ phase in my demography and social protection work (Francisco, 2013; 2023b), I committed to being my own boss.

Since retiring from my academic roles in both public (University) and private non-profit spheres, I have deeply reflected on the art of aging gracefully.

This reflection, which I hope to implement and deepen with a focus on personal life, builds upon the demographic research I conducted following the completion of my PhD thesis in demography in 1996 (Considerations for a Two-sex Demography).

Throughout this decade, I aim to explore the nuances of not just living longer but living with quality, purpose, and pleasure.

Nuances related to issues I term the ‘privileges of longevity’ — ‘Gerontogrowth and population aging,’ among others.

For this, there is nothing better than reflecting on my personal journey of self-discovery, to avoid walking through life without becoming a ‘useful idiot’ for self-proclaimed ‘optimism professionals’ — whether they are academics, bureaucrats, or politicians.

Since my mid-20s, I have been conscious in my choices, including when I accepted to behave like a useful idiot, in the style of the popular adage: “When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” 💡

Learning to be a ‘useful idiot’ when weighing the cost-benefit of alternative intelligence is a complex challenge.

It goes beyond difficulty — it’s a taxing journey but necessary to accumulate the wisdom needed to enjoy old age healthily, both physically and mentally. 🧠

As I entered the current decade, I consciously and explicitly embraced the designation I used in my demographic research — ‘the age of the longevity privileged’ — as now including myself.

In this context, I committed to becoming my own boss.

On my social media profiles, I now identify as part of the ‘Longevity Privileged’ 🌟, a freelancer and independent consultant, dedicated to enjoying life’s phase by being truly myself, free from the constraints of former titles and positions.

In a continent where less than 5% of the population is fortunate or privileged enough to surpass 65 years, I value every moment. I recognize that aging actively and creatively is a rare art. 🌱

The ability to adapt and keep an open mind to innovations is essential for those aspiring to the talent of aging well, as mentioned by Millôr Fernandes. 📚

His perspective inspires us to see life’s progression as a journey of continuous discoveries, not just the accumulation of years. 🌟

The Last Great Adventure: Embracing the Art and Humor of Aging

The wisdom of Millôr Fernandes, and the thinkers I’ve mentioned, among many others, remind us that aging is an art requiring talent, wisdom, energy, and above all, a good sense of humor to keep growing.

We are all on a journey to prepare ourselves for a destiny that, until proven otherwise, is our last great adventure.

And, if by chance, at the end of this journey, we find out that aging was not really an art, but a series of misunderstandings and back pains, at least we’ll have the consolation of having been the most elegant and witty ‘longevity privileged’ the queue to the beyond has ever seen.

Congratulations to us! 🚀👴🌈

And as we get there, we may say:

´Life was a great play, but my final act was a true masterpiece’.

Call to action: Reflecting on the ideas shared above, how do you plan to embrace the art of aging in your own life? Share your thoughts or plans with us.

If this article resonated with you, consider sharing it with friends or family who might also find value in rethinking the aging process. Let’s spread the conversation about the richness of life beyond 65.

PS: If you prefer to read this story in Portuguese, you can find it here: https://medium.com/demography-destiny/quem-n%C3%A3o-aspira-%C3%A0-idade-dos-privilegiados-da-longevidade-e5b475d299bd