How a 96-year-old found purpose Show 50

The Washington Post recently ran an article titled 95-year-old might have found the key to longevity: A purposeful life.

The article described how Olga Murray, who is 96, has flourished despite the COVID lockdowns and how she has found meaning in her life. She lives a life of gratitude for the vitality she has. The article states she will commonly tell people “I feel so fortunate. You can’t imagine.” It’s amazing that thankfulness attracts blessings in our lives.

While her mother lived to be 98, Olga has done her part by eating healthy and working out three times a week. The article states, “Scientists increasingly are finding that some variation of that third factor – call it living with purpose, finding meaning in life or just engaging with something larger than yourself- can be a particularly healthy pursuit.”

A study conducted in 2019 of 7,000 older people revealed that “living with a sense of purpose can improve the quality of those final years and even prolong them.” She stated, “I have always loved children, and have endless patience with them — not as much with adults.”

At age 59 she went on a trek in Nepal and she was intrigued with how happy the children were despite what many would deem miserable circumstances. The kids were malnourished and had no toys but they had joy that was unfamiliar in industrialized countries.

 She interacted with a family there and the kids were of a fortunate few that had the opportunity to go to school, but they had to walk two hours to get there. Can you imagine? 

During her trip she had an epiphany that she wanted to spend the rest her life helping Nepalese children. She went back the following year and with the help of others began organizing college scholarships for a few of the children.

A few years later they launched a non-profit where hundreds of children were able to obtain scholarships and they helped house homeless children.

It’s easy to develop an identify in the work that we spend 30, 40, or 50 years doing, and once we retire it may be easy to lose purpose. There are many worthy causes that you can find purpose in by helping them by volunteering your time and expertise. Our value to society doesn’t cease when we retire, and I’ve found some of my most fulfilled clients have been those who had a reason to get up each morning. If you’d like to read the article, click here

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