Age: 65+

The essays below were written by people over the age of 65.

January 15, 2020

Dad’s Legacy

When Terri Maue's father was near his death, his family was at his side, asking what they could do for him. It was then that he uttered the words that have become a deep-seated belief for Ms. Maue.
August 26, 2018

The Virtues of the Quiet Hero

As a Naval aviator, Congressman, and parent, John McCain was guided by a belief in honor, faith, and service. They are values he tried to model for his children and future generations of Americans. He died on August 25, 2018.
April 16, 2018

Pink Moments

Many people revel in the beauty of a familiar landscape. For Connie Spittler, it’s Arizona’s Catalina Mountains when the setting sun illuminates them. Spittler believes making time to embrace nature gives her the strength to face life’s challenges.
May 23, 2017

Living Life With ‘Grace And Elegant Treeness’

After being transplanted from a vibrant city life to the isolation of a small town, retired school teacher Ruth Kamps found solace in nature and inspiration in the pine tree growing outside her kitchen window.
May 8, 2017

Community in Action

Studs Terkel lived through and chronicled much of modern American history. He believes the positive changes brought by activist movements of the 20th Century came from people working together.
January 12, 2017

The Tense Middle

Nobel Prize–winning chemist Roald Hoffmann believes the middle is a good place to be. It reminds the Cornell professor of the choices we can make in life and helps him see the possibility for change.
June 4, 2016

I Am Still The Greatest

To be “The Greatest of All Time,” boxing legend Muhammad Ali said you have to believe in yourself. It’s something Ali’s parents taught him as a child, and it’s helped him through the biggest challenge of his life: fighting Parkinson’s disease.
May 16, 2016

A Shared Moment of Trust

Former Secretary of State Warren Christopher negotiated international treaties and the release of hostages. He believed diplomacy—and life—work best when people trust and depend on one another.
November 9, 2015

Willful Ignorance

There is a unique cultural myth in our country that ignorance is better than knowledge, that blind beliefs are the essence of real folks, that learning and critical thinking are the phony attributes of snobs. I am reminded of my...