One of the reasons I first began thinking about life in “thirds” came from an unexpected place: my son’s youth hockey career. He played goalie, and I learned how much games can change in the third period. What happened in the first and second didn’t always predict the ending. The lesson was clear: stay engaged until the final buzzer, because focus and skill matter throughout the entire game.
I think about aging in much the same way. What do we call this stage of life? Retirement? Old age? Both terms fall short. Retirement suggests withdrawal. Old age implies irrelevance. Neither fully captures the truth. I call it the third period of life. The first is growth, education, and early adulthood. The second involves career, family, and building. The third, in our 60s and beyond, is a unique stage with its own challenges and opportunities.
Thinking in “thirds” makes sense. Longevity has changed the equation. A century ago, life expectancy in the U.S. was under 50. Today, it approaches 80, with many living well into their 90s. We are living long enough to treat later life not as a footnote, but as a distinct chapter. Erik Erikson and the Harvard Grant Study have noted that this third period is different. It is a stage for reflection, creativity, and contribution, not just decline. Freed from some earlier responsibilities, many older adults find new space for pursuing creative work that leaves a legacy.
The science shows:
- Erikson’s classic “generativity vs. stagnation” describes mid-to-late adulthood as a time when giving back becomes central. Research confirms that mentoring, creativity, and community engagement are linked to both health and life satisfaction.
- Psychological studies have found that older adults often exhibit improved emotional regulation, a broader perspective, and a greater capacity for meaning-making. Freed from some of the pressures of earlier decades, they can focus more on what truly matters.
- Long-term studies, including the Harvard Grant Study, reveal that later life can be a time of renewal and connection. Far from withdrawal, it is often marked by deepened relationships and a sense of purpose.
We can keep reshaping the story. Cultural scripts might see this phase as a time of loss, highlighting what diminishes: health, energy, and memories. However, the full story also includes what grows: wisdom, perspective, creativity, connection, and legacy. The “third period of life” gives us a new perspective—one that recognizes both the struggles and the opportunities. Just like in hockey, the result isn’t decided by the early periods alone. What we bring to the third can completely change the game.
Naming it is not enough. We must choose how to live it. Will we shrink into decline narratives, or will we step into possibility by embracing resilience, creativity, and legacy as hallmarks of this stage? The invitation is clear: see the third period not as winding down, but as a new period, rich with meaning, depth, and contribution. It is not the end of the story, but a chapter that only time makes possible.
Inquiry / Action
- How does calling this stage the “third period of life” change your perspective on it?
- What stories or memories remind you that outcomes can change in the third period — that the win can come at the end?
- What is one action you can take now to shape your own “third period” with purpose and possibility?
As I reflect on the “third period of life,” I’m struck by two themes: how we carry forward what came before, and how we focus our energy on contribution. These themes come alive in the books I’ve chosen to highlight here.
The Innovators
Walter Isaacson
The Innovators tells the story of how breakthroughs in technology were never the product of one person alone, but the accumulated, collaborative work of generations. Isaacson’s lesson for the third period of life is clear: wisdom, experience, and mentorship matter because innovation itself is always built on what came before. Later life offers us the chance to ensure that what we’ve learned continues to empower those who follow.
Life’s Great Question
Tom Rath
Life’s Great Question helps us shift from focusing on “What do I want from life?” to “What can I give?” Rath provides a practical framework and assessment for identifying the ways we contribute, reminding us that meaning in life is found in impact on others. His work is especially relevant to the third period of life, when contribution, legacy, and generativity become the truest measures of flourishing.
