The “Opinion” column of The New York Times asked a group of distinguished, elderly Americans to share the best and worst things about being 80 years old—and they also spoke with their “classmate” Trump
Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump celebrated his 80th birthday. By the end of his term, he will be the oldest president in U.S. history. “I feel exactly the same as I did 50 years ago,” Trump said last month. “It’s crazy.”
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The “Opinion” section of The New York Times asked a group of distinguished, elderly Americans to share the best and worst things about being 80 years old. They described the sadness of loss but also the freedom that comes with age—while some offered advice to their peer, Trump.
Bob Dylan, 85
Singer-songwriter, Grammy Award winner, and Nobel Prize laureate
The Best Thing
The best thing about being 80 is that you outlive the clocks that used to chase you. It’s the liberation from the lie that anything was ever under control. You’re no longer chasing the parade.
You’re an old king from some vanished country. You’re harder to predict. You’re in no hurry to become anything, and the things you’ve done don’t haunt you. What haunts you is how few of those things actually mattered the way you thought they would.
The worst part
The worst thing about being 80 is that you still want to say “yes” to everything, but the world moves on without asking. That old fire in your heart still tells you to do this and that, but your body tells you we’ve already done all that. Also, nothing surprises you anymore.
It sounds like a luxury, but it isn’t, and besides, you’ve run out of illusions. People treat you as if you’ve either solved something or lost something, when you’ve done neither. You see life repeating itself everywhere.
The truly worst thing about being 80 years old is that you realize, at last, that you’ve understood something that could have changed everything in the past, if it had come at a time when something could still be changed. When you’re young, you think time is moving forward. At 80, you know it doesn’t move forward—it stands still. We are the ones who move.
Liza Minnelli, 80
Oscar-winning actress, singer, and dancer
The Best Thing
What would you think if someone said to you: “You’re going to turn 80. How do you feel?” Well, I can tell you that you stop seeking the approval of others. You know who you are, what you love, and what matters.
At 80, the noise fades away and the music becomes clearer. I’ve lived a life in the public eye, under the spotlight, through triumphs and disappointments. What remains is joy. True joy. The kind you don’t chase after. You recognize it, hold onto it, and say, “Thank you.”
The worst thing
You lose people. That’s the truth. Friends, colleagues, pieces of your own story. You carry them with you, but the space grows quieter. And your body now has a mind of its own.
I’ve learned to listen to it, not to fight it. You adapt. You find new rhythms. However, the absence never completely goes away.
Advice for Donald Trump
I would say this to any president: When you turn 80, you gain a different perspective. You’ve seen enough to know what endures and what takes a heavy toll on people.
Make the most of that. Stay curious. Stay active. Experience is an asset if you keep learning and listening.
Make sure you surround yourself with people who tell you the truth. You’re there to take care of people. Listen to them when they’re facing difficulties. Make sure you act fairly. Remember that every decision affects someone’s real life. Lead with empathy.
Robert De Niro, 82
Oscar-winning actor, director, and producer
The Best (and Worst) Thing
I don’t view milestone birthdays as opportunities for reflection. I live my life every day, grateful for the blessings of family, friends, and work.
Advice for Donald Trump
The president doesn’t listen to advice. He’s surrounded by incompetent clowns who keep their jobs by supporting his every whim. If I could pierce through the shell of cruelty, greed, corruption, and stupidity to give him a piece of advice… I would advise him to seek good advice from good people and to follow it.
Gloria Steinem, age 92
Activist and co-founder of “Ms.” magazine
The best thing
Now that the demands of work and family are mostly a thing of the past, we may once again enjoy some of the simple joys of childhood, from appreciating pets and nature to watching family members and friends flourish in unexpected ways. For example, my friend, who used to be a makeup artist, opened a wonderful bookstore.
The worst thing
Losing the people you love.
My advice to Donald Trump
To resign.
Art Garfunkel, 84
Singer and poet, Grammy Award winner
The best thing
You gain a longer-term perspective. Time stretches out behind you, and patterns emerge. The sense of urgency subsides. You listen more carefully. You notice what endures.
For me, it’s always been the voice, the words, the quiet spaces between them, and the melody. In your 80s, you trust those spaces. You don’t rush to fill them. You let the meaning come on its own terms.
The worst thing
Your body sets limits, and you’re forced to accept them. The world you knew is changing shape, sometimes faster than you’d like. The joy of being 80 is my love for my wife, Kim, and my sons, who are the greatest joys of my life, and, of course, the joy of singing and being on stage. My age allows me to truly appreciate the greatness of love every day.
Advice for Donald Trump
I don’t give advice, because life is a mystery and none of us really knows. However, I would suggest the following to any president turning 80: Value reflection as much as action. The urge to move quickly is strong, but depth requires calm.
Seek out voices that challenge your way of thinking. Read widely. Listen carefully. A nation responds not only to decisions, but also to tone. Choose your words carefully. Let them express clarity, restraint, and a sense of shared humanity.
Dionne Warwick, 85
Grammy Award-winning singer
The Best Thing
The fact that I was lucky enough to reach 80.
The worst thing
I haven’t found anything yet.
Advice for Donald Trump
Start acting like you’re 80!
Source: in.gr
