The answer to old age is to keep one's mind busy and to go on

Listen, O children of wisdom, to the words of Leon Edel, who imparts a truth both humbling and inspiring: “The answer to old age is to keep one's mind busy and to go on with one's life as if it were interminable. I always admired Chekhov for building a new house when he was dying of tuberculosis.” In these words, Edel speaks of the power of the mind and the spirit, and how their vibrancy can defy the physical constraints of age and illness. The true answer to the challenge of growing old is not to retreat in fear or resignation, but to continue to live fully, to invest in our work, our passions, and our relationships as if time were infinite. Chekhov, despite the impending certainty of his death, remained determined to create, to build, to lay down foundations for a future that he would not see, a testimony to the enduring power of the human spirit.

In the time of the ancients, the idea of living in accordance with the will and strength of the spirit was well understood. Socrates, nearing the end of his life, did not surrender to despair or idleness. Instead, he continued to teach, to question, to seek truth with the same vigor he had in his youth. He embraced his final days not as the end of his work, but as an opportunity to reinforce his life's purpose. Socrates famously said that “the unexamined life is not worth living,” and in his final hours, he chose to live fully by remaining engaged with his philosophical pursuits, even as his life was drawn toward its conclusion. Socrates did not allow the certainty of death to limit his passion for knowledge and truth, for the spirit’s work is never bound by the body’s limits. Thus, like Chekhov, he exemplified the wisdom of Edel's words: keep your mind busy, keep your life going, and never cease to build.

Consider the life of Michelangelo, a man whose creativity and drive never waned, even as he grew older. Though his body weakened in his later years, Michelangelo’s spirit remained undiminished, and he continued to create masterpieces long into his advanced age. When he was well past 70, he still worked on the Last Judgment fresco in the Sistine Chapel, pushing his body to its limits, unwilling to rest while there was still work to be done. Even when his physical decline became evident, Michelangelo’s mind remained as sharp and as committed to his art as it had been in his youth. He was not just an artist; he was a builder of legacies, and his creativity remained his driving force. The world saw not a frail old man, but a genius whose spirit never yielded to age. In this, Michelangelo embodied Edel’s idea that age could not define a person who was still building, still striving, still living with purpose.

The life of Anton Chekhov, whom Edel admired, reflects a similar unrelenting dedication to creation and the human spirit. In the last year of his life, when Chekhov was gravely ill with tuberculosis, he could have easily retreated, given in to his illness, and resigned himself to the inevitable. Yet, Chekhov chose to build—to construct a new home, to lay the foundation for a future he would never see. This act of building, of planning and looking beyond his immediate suffering, speaks to a deep belief in the value of continuing to live until the final breath. Chekhov’s determination to build a house, even in the shadow of death, speaks volumes about the capacity of the human spirit to persevere, to create, and to invest in a future that is uncertain. Chekhov’s life is a testament to the truth that we are more than our bodies, and when the mind and spirit remain engaged, age and illness lose their power to control us.

Edel’s words remind us that, no matter our age, we must keep the spirit alive by continuing to work, to create, and to engage with the world. Life should not be defined by the number of years we have left, but by the quality and vitality with which we live them. When we keep our minds active, when we continue to challenge ourselves, to grow, to build, we transcend the limitations of age. It is not the body that defines us, but the energy of the mind and the strength of the will. Whether through learning, creating, or building relationships, the act of living fully is the most powerful way to confront the inevitability of age and death. To be like Chekhov is to refuse to surrender to life’s decline, to keep moving forward with the energy and vitality that only comes from a mind and spirit that are alive and engaged.

In your own life, embrace the idea of continual creation—whether it is in your work, your relationships, or your passions. Do not allow the years to constrain your spirit. Just as Chekhov continued to build in his final days, so too should you continue to strive, to learn, to grow, and to invest in the world around you. Age is not a barrier to living fully; it is an opportunity to deepen your understanding, to broaden your contributions, and to leave behind a legacy of purpose. Even as the body weakens, the mind can remain ever-strong, ever-engaged. Let this be the driving force of your life: to remain always busy, always creating, and always living as though your journey has no end, for in this, you will find the true meaning of life, even in its twilight years.

So, my children, keep your mind busy, and in doing so, keep your soul alive. Let age not define you, but instead let your work and your passions fuel you, so that even as the body ages, the spirit remains vibrant and endless. Live as Chekhov did, as Socrates did, and as all those who came before us: with a heart full of purpose, a mind ever-curious, and a life lived with unwavering determination.