It’s curious how, at certain moments in life, you start hearing questions that reflect what people think and expect of you. “Have you retired yet?” “So, what are you doing now?” “Are you reinventing yourself?” “What’s next?” I’ve found myself facing these kinds of questions, or some variation of them, more than once. As we often say in my country: “Mae, are you finally living the pura vida (‘the good life’)?”

These questions carry preconceived notions, and sometimes even prejudices.

“Still in pyjamas at 10 AM on a Thursday?” I remember once I was asked this question, loaded with a healthy dose of humor and no ill intent. I couldn’t help but laugh. Sometimes, teasing is a sign of true genius and affectionate friendship.

In a way, these questions push you to think about change, about leaving behind who you are and what you’ve done, as if there were a need to close chapters and step into a new phase – one they call retirement. But not for me. That’s not how I feel.

I’m neither retired nor reinventing myself. I don’t find myself at a point where everything I’ve done must be set aside to start from scratch, as some of those non-compete agreements I’ve signed might suggest. In every business sale, there was the “non-compete” clause, which I found unnecessary because if there’s one thing I wasn’t going to do, it was more of what I’d already done.

At this stage of my life, I prefer to call it “arrival.” It’s not an ending, nor a rest. I’m neither retired nor washed up, despite what society might think of those of us who have reached the so-called  third age. I can simply say that I’ve arrived where I always wanted to be. With joy and bits of stomachal vertigo, we made the choice of living this stage in a completely different way as we lived the previous one, exercising the art of letting go.

And so, filled with joy, I declare (and in bold, to emphasize it even more): I have arrived to our «promised land» in constant movement.

The Myth of Reinvention

There’s a lot of talk nowadays about the need to deconstruct and rebuild oneself. In the media, companies, and social circles, the idea of constant change is promoted as a way to adapt and avoid falling behind. However, there are voices that question this trend, like the IE Business School in Spain, an educational institution that offers a more realistic and natural approach: vital recycling. This concept suggests that instead of discarding what one has built, we should reuse and value what already exists, something I learned from Professor Teresa Martín-Retortillo a few years ago in Madrid.

It makes a lot of sense. I am not at a point in my life where I need to become someone entirely different. Quite the opposite. With all the experience accumulated over these years, recycling is the way forward.

I’m convinced that everything I’ve lived through, every lesson, every achievement, and every mistake, has made me who I am today. My wife Álex and I have summed it up many times like so: “We had to go through all that to get here.” Not even God can change the past. Therefore, to summarize my perspective, it’s about building on the accumulation of experiences, and I have no shortage of those, now that I’m 67.

Vital recycling doesn’t mean erasing the past, but refining it, taking what’s useful from it, and making the most of it. Life is a continuous cycle, offering us lessons and experiences. What was once a challenge can now become a powerful tool to overcome any barrier. In this way, the past becomes an invaluable resource for building a more fulfilling future.

The Concept of Arrival

When I say I haven’t retired, but rather arrived, I say it with intention. Hand on heart, I can say that I feel I’m finally where I wanted to be. Throughout life, I’ve had various goals, dreams, and great plans… and although the path hasn’t always been linear or smooth, I’ve always managed to reach the destination I was aiming for. But this isn’t a moment to look back and rest on the laurels of “success,” but to strengthen everything that’s been built thus far.

Getting here wasn’t easy. It required adjustments, a lot of patience, and, above all, the ability to realign myself without losing sight of what I truly longed for. It’s in this process that vital recycling becomes important. I don’t need or want to discard everything to feel like I’m progressing; I can reevaluate what I already have and apply it in new ways.

I reached a dream place that’s dynamic and real, and I celebrate it, not just for the achievement itself, but for everything I learned along the way. Every challenge was a lesson that allowed me to grow and improve.

Vital Recycling in Practice

Vital recycling, as defined by the IE, is about making the most of what we’ve already done, experienced, and learned. Radical change is not necessary to find a new direction in life. Everything we’ve accumulated—skills, knowledge, experiences—has value. It’s just a matter of knowing how to reuse what we’ve learned and experienced, and adjust it to our new circumstances.

I take myself as an example. Many of the skills I developed throughout my professional career in the world of advertising and as an entrepreneur in different businesses are just as relevant now as ever. The difference is that now I apply them in a different way. Before, my focus was on innovation and change; now, I’ve redirected it toward mentorship and legacy, taking care of my nutrition and sleep more than before, as well as going to the gym and lifting weights. I’m not a new person, I’m the same; I’ve just found new ways to use what I’ve learned and am exploring new possibilities.

And something important: I decided to become a permanent learner. In fact, Professor Martín-Retortillo herself highlights lifelong learning as a key factor for survival in the business environment, though I’d say it applies to life as a whole. Just like how in today’s competitive work world, employees must be proactive in developing their skills, this same practice should be applied to personal life.

Here’s a fun fact: I graduated from the Global MBA program at Georgetown University at 62. The only grandpa in the group.

I often look around and realize there are very few gray-haired people in the room at this or that conference, class, or meeting. I take it as a good sign that I’m making that lifelong learning a reality.

The world today is very different and changes at lightning speed. Technology has disrupted business models and completely transformed how we live. However, the essence of what’s most important remains the same. The foundations of acquired knowledge are still applicable and relevant in new and daring combinations. That’s why I believe it’s a good idea to embrace the concept of continuous vital recycling.

It’s not reinvention, it’s (r)evolution

Some believe that to stay relevant, one must change radically, but that’s not always the case. The key is to evolve, to adjust the course without abandoning who you are and what you’ve learned. This evolution isn’t a break, but an integration of the lessons learned along the way.

In this process of vital recycling, what matters is understanding and maintaining continuity for the changes required. It’s not about abandoning anything we’ve been, but about reusing everything we’ve learned and applying it more intentionally. This is how I see this moment in my life, and it can be applied to any other moment as well.

Arrived

For those wondering if I’ve retired or if I’m in the process of reinventing myself, here’s my answer: neither. I’ve arrived. I’ve reached the place I’ve always wanted to be and I enjoy my freedom responsibly.

It’s not about reinvention, but about recycling, making the most of everything I already am to keep growing. More will be added as I go.

Recycling is the path I’ve chosen, because everything I’ve experienced so far has value. It’s neither necessary nor would it make sense to start from scratch. I move forward with the certainty that everything I’ve been until now continues to serve me for what’s to come. By sharing this with you, I intend to serve as a stepping stone and encourage you to take this idea and this step, one that has no age limit or date on the calendar.

The journey doesn’t end; what’s been achieved is the foundation for new adventures, with the wisdom that only time and experience can give.