Boomers keeping busy, making a difference

Is Boomers and Beyond territory a real place?

It darn sure is. If you’re between 50 and 80 years old, you’re in it and it’s real.

Don’t panic – it doesn’t mean you’re “over the hill.” Don’t be so jumpy. And don’t start getting down in the mouth about it either. Hey, you’re going to like it here in Boomers and Beyond territory.

Who knew, even 10 or 15 years ago, that we were going to live so much longer in good health and vitality and with all our brain cells still firing, too?

When the current crop of 60-, 70- and 80-year-olds charged, full throttle, into Boomers and Beyond territory, they broke through a lot of barriers and forged a lot of new ground. They were on the cutting edge of a whole new stage of life in which they continued to enjoy good health and productivity into their 80s and even 90s.

It was an unexpected adventure.

These “cutting-edgers” are turning heads on college campuses, in marathon races, as chief executive officers of Fortune 500 companies, as television personalities, fashion moguls, competitors in sporting events, inventors, entrepreneurs and humanitarians.

This new breed of cats has found that they can use their years of business experience, contacts, marketing skills and wisdom to form coalitions, alliances, foundations, international relief organizations and charities – to make a big difference in the world.

They didn’t even hear it when people muttered that old dictate, “You’re too old to do that sort of thing.” And it wasn’t because they couldn’t hear – they just chose to ignore it. The rampant bad image of older people didn’t faze them.

These “cutting-edgers,” these tough and savvy warriors from Boomers and Beyond territory, are the people who will change the image of aging from old and worn-out to older, smarter and wiser competitors on almost every level.

They didn’t set out to do it – it just happened. And it’s not surprising. When they found themselves over age 60 and still feeling like they were 40, it wasn’t even an option to just sit on their rockers or take endless vacations or play golf month after month or watch the boob tube for 20 or 30 years.

What are these people doing?

They’re giving back – leaving behind something of themselves by contributing in some way to making things better. Many of these go-getters have tackled a gross inequity or a compelling need they saw or had to deal with in their everyday lives.

We’ve all said, “Somebody ought to do something about that.” This is the sort of thing that’s ripe for the plucking, and it’s the kind of thing these go-getters have tackled. It’s their opportunity to make a difference.

They knew they had the “right stuff,” so they simply went for it.

Did they have fun?

Just ask them. They’ll say they feel more alive now than ever before – and they’re happier, too.

All it takes is one person with time, passion and experience to shake things up and start a movement, a campaign, a petition to local government or a congressman, to make a change.

Dr. Ted Cooper single-handedly created the most successful national public education program in U.S. history, the National High Blood Pressure Education Program.

Dr. Steve Schroeder fought a heated battle to persuade one of America’s top foundations to focus its efforts on reducing tobacco use in the United States. It made a big difference.

In her 60s, retired school principal Ethel Percy Andrus founded the National Retired School Teachers Association. She beat on doors until she found an insurance company willing to issue health insurance to retired teachers who could not afford individual coverage. It was a remarkable accomplishment considering that in 1947, the idea of insuring 60-year-olds was considered preposterous.

Andrus went on to found the enormous AARP organization in 1958 to address the same compelling needs of aging Americans all over the country.

She was just one woman who had an idea of how to solve a problem and who had the passion to make it happen.

We inhabitants of B&B territory who are 60 to 80 years old feel great. We have more vigor, we think young and we’re healthy.

We can thank advances not only in medical research but also in public health education that informed us how to eat healthfully and that advised us to get off our duffs and exercise. Plus, health care for all of us older Americans, through Medicare, has been an enormous boon to our health.

Most of us have kissed off a couple of our best friends (and worst enemies) – cigarettes and cocktails – in favor of long walks with good friends and a glass or two of wine with dinner.

Boomers and Beyond territory is a busy place. We’re busy making ourselves useful – and making a difference in the process.