Brooks, Arthur C. (2019, July). "Your Professional Decline Is Coming (Much) Sooner Than You Think: Here’s how to make the most of it." The Atlantic.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/07/work-peak-professional-decline/590650/?fbclid=IwAR3Hbi9LTNVr3LKlRPRFXwZq694DmFz0enb7jrWgqRbr54qjtFSoLBL4aJg
"If older faculty members can shift the balance of their work from research to teaching without loss of professional prestige, younger faculty members can take on more research.
Patterns like this match what I’ve seen as the head of a think tank full of scholars of all ages. There are many exceptions, but the most profound insights tend to come from those in their 30s and early 40s. The best synthesizers and explainers of complicated ideas—that is, the best teachers—tend to be in their mid-60s or older, some of them well into their 80s.
...
as we age we can dedicate ourselves to sharing knowledge in some meaningful way."
As usual, I've been living my life backward according to lifestages researchers, partly simply because of my nature, partly because my workplace changed and scholarship for librarians became required rather than optional as it was when I started at the workplace. In my 30's I was dedicated to spirituality, service, and wisdom. I married in my 40's and created a family life. In my 50's I have been expected to publish and reach for prestige, when I feel more inclined to mentor. I am asked to do service to the profession when I did that heavily in my 30's and am ready to do service to the institution - where my experience is what is needed.
"The secret to bearing my decline—to enjoying it—is to become more conscious of the roots linking me to others. If I have properly developed the bonds of love among my family and friends, my own withering will be more than offset by blooming in others." Now this touches me - getting to know my cousin's son while he attended college, getting to know another cousin better, watching my younger colleagues grow and blossom, seeing my godson and nephews, and making new friends while deepening older friendships.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/07/work-peak-professional-decline/590650/?fbclid=IwAR3Hbi9LTNVr3LKlRPRFXwZq694DmFz0enb7jrWgqRbr54qjtFSoLBL4aJg
"If older faculty members can shift the balance of their work from research to teaching without loss of professional prestige, younger faculty members can take on more research.
Patterns like this match what I’ve seen as the head of a think tank full of scholars of all ages. There are many exceptions, but the most profound insights tend to come from those in their 30s and early 40s. The best synthesizers and explainers of complicated ideas—that is, the best teachers—tend to be in their mid-60s or older, some of them well into their 80s.
...
as we age we can dedicate ourselves to sharing knowledge in some meaningful way."
As usual, I've been living my life backward according to lifestages researchers, partly simply because of my nature, partly because my workplace changed and scholarship for librarians became required rather than optional as it was when I started at the workplace. In my 30's I was dedicated to spirituality, service, and wisdom. I married in my 40's and created a family life. In my 50's I have been expected to publish and reach for prestige, when I feel more inclined to mentor. I am asked to do service to the profession when I did that heavily in my 30's and am ready to do service to the institution - where my experience is what is needed.
"The secret to bearing my decline—to enjoying it—is to become more conscious of the roots linking me to others. If I have properly developed the bonds of love among my family and friends, my own withering will be more than offset by blooming in others." Now this touches me - getting to know my cousin's son while he attended college, getting to know another cousin better, watching my younger colleagues grow and blossom, seeing my godson and nephews, and making new friends while deepening older friendships.
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