By Chris Orestis
On the morning of Oct.13, William Shatner, who became an icon as Captain James T. Kirk in Star Trek, boldly went where no man at the age of 90 has ever gone before as he was launched in a Blue Origin rocket out of the earth’s atmosphere.
If anyone saw footage of him in press conferences, or in training, or just ascending the multiple levels of stairs to enter the space capsule, he looked like someone in their 60s or 70s. How is it that someone his age can be so spry and actually be launched into space? Well, there is a common thread with him and many other iconic figures who are well into their “senior” years but seem to be eternally young. They have all achieved balance in their life among finances, health, and their lifestyles lived with passion and purpose.
For example, Mick Jagger is 78 and he has just launched a global 50th anniversary tour with the Rolling Stones. Paul McCartney is 79 and continues to put out records and tour the world playing shows that can last up to four hours. Clint Eastwood is 90 and he just directed and starred in his latest movie and has now been in more than 60 movies over his career. Helen Mirren is an Academy Award-winning actress who at the age of 76 is still making movies with exciting things to come out in 2022.
What do they all have in common? First of all, none of them need the money. They are pursuing their passions and determined to keep going full steam ahead for as long as they can. They all operate with a mindset that age is just a number and that living with purpose, a positive attitude, and the ability to adapt to the constantly changing conditions of life can keep them much younger than their years. These stars and many others now talk about how they have made changes in their lives to eat healthier, exercise more, spend more time with their loved ones, and remain active pursuing their passions. have also been smart about their money.
There are two forms of age: chronological and physical – and they are not always the same. A person like William Shatner has the chronological age of 90, but his physical age is much younger. In fact, there are epigenetic tests people can use that can show them their actual physical age is different from their chronological age.
And the good news is it’s never too late to start making changes that will improve a person’s health (and their finances). Based on how a person lives they can even modify these differences with smart lifestyle choices. If someone quits smoking, starts working out, improves their diet, and reduces stress in their life they can set the clock back on their physical age.
It has been proven over and over that aging is not a one-way ticket to poor health, loneliness, boredom, and a declining quality of life. The ability to adapt to the inevitability of changes in almost all areas of life is one of the most important ingredients to aging with success. Maintaining physical, mental, and emotional health are fundamental to experiencing a long and enjoyable retirement. Living a well-balanced life with healthy relationships and purpose not only keeps people busy, but a life full of meaning keeps people healthier and they live longer.
Living a life making smart investments in financial, physical, and lifestyle health will culminate in a well-balanced retirement. A person doesn’t need to be a star to make the right choices that will let them live like one. If Mick Jagger can rock the stage at 78, and William Shatner can literally fly among the stars at age 90, then there are lessons we can all learn about how to live a long, healthy, and meaningful life well into retirement.
Voyagers have looked to the stars to navigate their way for eons, and people can look to these stars as examples of what is possible as they navigate their way through the years.
About Chris Orestis
Chris Orestis, CSA, is president of Retirement Genius (www.retirementgenius.com), and is a nationally recognized financial, health/LTC, and retirement issues expert. He has over 25 years’ experience in the insurance and long-term care industries and is credited with pioneering the Long-Term Care Life Settlement over a decade ago. Known as a political insider and senior issues advocate, Orestis is a former Washington, D.C. lobbyist who has worked in both the White House and for the Senate Majority Leader on Capitol Hill. In 2007 he founded Life Care Funding, and in 2017 he founded the LifeCare Xchange. Chris Orestis is author of the books Help on the Way and A Survival Guide to Aging– with a third book Retire Like a Genius to be published in 2021. He has been speaking for two-decades across the country about senior finance and the secrets to aging with financial and physical health and dignity. In 2019, Chris was named one of the twenty most innovative people in the life insurance industry by the National Association of Independent Life Brokerage Agencies (NAILBA). He has appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNBC, NBC News, Fox News, USA Today, Kiplinger’s, Investor’s Business Daily, AARP, PBS, and numerous other media outlets, is a frequent columnist for NewsMax Finance, Broker World, ThinkAdvisor, IRIS, and has been a guest expert on over 50 radio programs and TV appearances.