Pope Leo XIV was recently selected to lead one of the most demanding institutions in the world—at 69 years old.

It’s the top job in his field, and he’s taking it on at an age when most people are encouraged to slow down, retire or simply get out of the way. He’s not easing into anything. He’s stepping up, full throttle, with no clear end date in sight.

That got me thinking.

I’m 68. Not pope material, but I’ve been around a while. I’m a public relations consultant and lobbyist with a 20-year government background. I also teach communications at Nassau County and Suffolk County community colleges, where I’ve been an adjunct professor for 15 years. And like many people my age, I’m constantly fielding question — directly or indirectly — about when I’ll retire.

The truth? I’m not sure. I don’t feel done. I’m still curious, still engaged, still contributing. And there’s been no inner bell telling me it’s time to stop.

For years, I imagined I’d eventually let go of my consulting work and just continue teaching. That would make sense, right? It fits the familiar narrative: You leave the hustle of business and embrace the quieter, more noble second act. You become the veteran educator, the elder statesman, imparting wisdom to the next generation. That’s what we’re told retirement should look like.

And maybe that is what mine will look like. Or maybe not. Maybe I’ll keep doing both. Maybe I’ll dial back the PR work. Or maybe I won’t. The point is, I’m still in a rhythm that works — teaching, consulting, engaging. And I’m not convinced there’s a compelling reason to stop.

Which brings me back to the pope.

If the pope can take on a new chapter — arguably his biggest and most pressure-filled — at 69, why are we still clinging to this rigid model of aging out at 65?

In fact, we’re already seeing that model crack. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 30% of Americans aged 65 to 74 are projected to still be working by 2031. Some do it out of necessity. But many, like me, do it because they want to. Because they still have something to say, something to offer, something to build.

We’re living longer, healthier lives. And more and more of us are using that time not to fade away, but to reinvent ourselves. Some start businesses. Others get involved in nonprofits. Others write books, teach classes, or serve in roles that would have once been deemed “too much” for someone their age.

So maybe the old script — education, career, retirement — needs to be retired. Maybe the real question isn’t when to retire, but whether to retire at all.

As for me, I’m still figuring that out. Maybe I’ll scale back my PR work. Maybe I’ll keep teaching. Maybe I’ll find a third path I haven’t even considered yet.

But I do know this: I’m not done working, thinking or growing. Not at 68.

After all, if the pope can take on the top job at 69, I can probably keep chasing meaning in mine at 68.

Mark J. Grossman