Moving Beyond Fulfillment: Wisdom Years Stories of Passion, Perseverance, and Productivity

Authors

Kenneth A. Kiewra, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jessica Walsh, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Chris Labenz, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

2-10-2023

Citation

Educational Psychology Review (2023) 35:20

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-023-09747-z

PubMed Central PMCID: PMC9911935

Comments

© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2023

Abstract

Seven participants were interviewed to uncover how they remain so productive in their wisdom years, those typically marked by retirement. Participants included a leading educational psychologist, a renowned national television news anchor, a four-time national champion collegiate coach, the founder and former chief executive of Arbor Day Foundation, a university scholar turned playwright, and two female adventurers who quit their jobs, sold their possessions, and have lived a nomadic life, hiking thousands of miles throughout America. Their wisdom years stories describe how and why they shun retirement and remain productive. The article concludes with seven advice-laden conclusions for readers: (a) Do not retire, but if you do, retire to something, (b) follow your bliss, (c) work hard, (d) offset aging challenges, (e) be inspired by role models, (f) be a life-long learner, and (g) take heed of the universe conspiring.