Reimagine Aging with Purpose and Engagement

In this 2023 conversation with Justine Willis Toms, Leider and Shapiro suggest there is a difference between growing old and merely getting old. They write: “We’re not denying time advances, but we are advocating to reimagine old age and the earlier we begin, the better. We need new models and a new story of what it means to be old because the anti-aging mindset is pervasive in Western culture." Lieder and Shapiro point out that with each passing moment, we’re further from birth, and closer to death, and there’s nothing we can do about that. But they have good news. Aging doesn’t have to be passive; it can be an active process. 

Richard J. Leider is the founder of Inventure -The Purpose Company, whose mission is to help people “unlock the power of purpose." He is the author of many books including: The Power of Purpose: Find Meaning, Live Longer, Better (Berrett-Koehler Publishing 2016)

David A Shapiro is a philosopher, educator, and tenured philosophy professor at Cascadia College in Seattle.

Leider and Shapiro are the co-authors of many books considered classics in the personal growth field.

They include:

• Repacking Your Bags and The Power of Purpose (Mjf Books 1996)
• Who Do You Want to Be When You Grow Old? The Path of Purposeful Aging. (Berrett-Koehler Publishing 2021)

Interview Date: 12/8/2023    Tags: Richard Leider, David Shapiro, Viktor Frankl, aging, eldership, eldering, Hirsch Wilson, storytelling, legacy, purpose, Richard Bolles, poet Jack Gilbert, life purpose, Personal Transformation, Psychology, Aging