Michael Clinton is CEO and Founder of ROAR Forward, a best-selling author, new longevity expert, thought leader and keynote speaker on the changing face of what it means to live longer. He was previously president and publishing director of Hearst Magazines and now serves as a special media advisor to the CEO of Hearst.
This is an excerpt from his new book, “Longevity Nation: The People, Ideas, and Trends Challenging the Second Half of Our Lives.”
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“Paul Theroux is one of my favorite American writers. You might know some of his most famous works: The Mosquito Coast or The Great Railway Bazaar or Dark Star Safari. He has also written short stories, magazine articles, essays, and so much more. One that you’ll want to read is his New Yorker essay “Facing Ka’ena Point,” which contains his reflections on turning 80.
Now in his mid-80s, he continues to be as prolific as ever. When I reached out to him to tell him I was working on a book about longevity and how creativity can continue to thrive as one ages, he reminded me that Picasso never stopped creating, and neither did da Vinci. Somerset Maugham was active into his 80s, ditto Doris Lessing. Ned Rorem was composing music in his 90s, and Philip Glass continues to be active in his 80s.
“I have always felt that the key to creativity is continuity— working uninterruptedly in as much serenity as is available—because the imagination expands with concentration.”
I was curious how he felt about his creativity now. When I asked him if it was different than when he was in his 60s and 70s, he responded, “I have always felt that the key to creativity is continuity— working uninterruptedly in as much serenity as is available—because the imagination expands with concentration. In other words, don’t stop. I have not stopped, and my age has not mattered.”
When I asked him where he finds his inspiration for a new project, he said, “The germ of inspiration arises from one’s inner life, one’s past—and in an older creative person the past is greater, with so much more to stimulate thought. The greatest gift for a creative writer is the ability to listen (and remember) and to observe closely (and remember)—these require patience and humility and reflection, which are almost absent in the young, fairly rare generally, but often traits of older people.”
Theroux recommended that I read Sir Kenneth Clark’s essay “The Artist Grows Old,” Simone de Beauvoir’s book The Coming of Age, and a book by Nicholas Delbanco called Lastingness: The Art of Old Age. All of them deal with the subject of old age and creativity.
Other Creative Role Models
Another one of my favorite writers is 82-year-old Isabel Allende, who produces a new work almost every year, including her 2025 novel My Name is Emilia del Valle. Her TED Talk “How to Live Passionately—No Matter Your Age” has had more than 4 million views. One of her great comments is that “the spirit never ages.” As a creative writer, she continues with her craft, delighting readers like me and millions of others with her beautiful storytelling.
Theroux and Allende are just two examples of creatives who continue to express themselves well into their later years. They are joined by other role models, including Gerhard Richter, a painter in his 90s who continues to work in his native Germany. Helen Mirren and Harrison Ford have thriving careers in their 80s. Eileen Kramer was an Australian dancer and choreographer who died in 2024 at the age of 100 and was known as one of the oldest working dancers.
I asked Theroux if he thought people could begin a creative journey after the age of 50. “You can ‘begin’ the creative journey, but it won’t be easy, because the apprenticeship takes so long. Nonetheless, that should not be a deterrent. My advice would be to get busy, read, write, paint, sculpt—it will matter more than playing golf,” he answered.
It’s good advice when you consider that Frank McCourt published his first book, Angela’s Ashes, at the age of 66 and won the Pulitzer Prize. Similarly, Delia Owens was 69 when she finished her first novel, Where the Crawdads Sing, a book that stayed on the New York Times bestseller list for 168 weeks, sold 15 million copies, and became a successful movie. Grandma Moses began painting at 78 and lived to 101. At 83, her painting Sugaring Off sold at Christie’s auction house for $1,360,000.
In his book The Real Work: On the Mystery of Mastery, Adam Gopnik dispels the myth that we can’t learn new things as we age. His thesis is that we can accomplish anything at any age if we set our minds to it through a series of learning scenarios. Over the course of the book, Gopnik tells the reader how he takes on new creative pursuits like ballroom dancing, drawing, and even boxing lessons.
The takeaway? If you were told that you couldn’t learn to play the piano over 50, think again. In so many ways, we block our own potential creative expressions through our own self-imposed ageism.
The Benefits of Creativity
Aside from actually learning to play the piano over 50, there are other benefits to taking on a creative endeavor, including improved brain health, better stress management, and a feeling of accomplishment. Putting our neuroplasticity to work to learn more complex tasks keeps our brains active and engaged according to a report on SmartWellness called “How Creativity Echoes in Health.” Creative activities engage multiple parts of your brain, building connections between them. Your prefrontal cortex kicks in when you’re planning your approach and solving problems. Your default mode network is active when you’re daydreaming. And your limbic system governs the emotional response you have to your creative ideas and output. The report also referenced a study in Neurology that found that people who engaged in artistic or creative activities in middle or later life were 73% less likely to develop mild cognitive impairment than those who did not. In addition, a 14-year study called the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing at the University College London found that adults who frequently engaged in “receptive arts” (such going to plays or museums) had a 31% lower risk of dying than those who did not.
LifeConnect24, a company based in Britain, suggests older people learn how to play either the piano, guitar, ukulele, harmonica, or drums. But I would add, pick any instrument and open up your inner musical talent. I’ve always believed that we all have some type of creative gene in us that we should explore or develop. An October 1976 Time magazine article quoted Picasso as saying, “Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.” Although there is no primary source for this quote, I sure do like the sentiment. Fortunately, many organizations can help you begin walking your creative pathway. Some of them are in person, others are online, and some offer both options. Regardless, there is undoubtedly an organization out there that is perfect for you. It could even be one of these.
The Wallis Annenberg GenSpace
When you step inside the sleek and modern Audrey Irmas Pavilion in the Koreatown section of Los Angeles, the last thing you would expect to find is a so-called “senior center.” This is the next generation of the concept, though. The Wallis Annenberg GenSpace is a Re-Imagineer space that appeals to all ages. The philanthropist Wallis Annenberg created it to promote the idea of intergenerational engagement, encourage creativity, and blow up the stereotypes around aging. The innovative, airy space encourages all types of activities—not the typical programming you might find in other centers. “We have more than 85 classes a week from fitness to technology training, horticultural work, art classes, and more,” explained Christopher Leech, the GenSpace’s director.
Leech and his team have designed a slate of programming that requires their members to come on a regular basis. It helps build community and reduces isolation. “We have mothers and daughters who take classes together in art, dance, and more,” he said.
The GenSpace is a future-looking way to encourage creativity while also fostering new ways to learn.
“My advice would be to get busy, read, write, paint, sculpt—it will matter more than playing golf.”
The Tent Theater Company
The Tent Theater Company was founded by Tim Sanford—who spent 25 years at Playwrights Horizons—and his wife, Aimée Hayes, the former producing artistic director of Southern Rep Theater in New Orleans. Together, these Re-Imagineers nurture, support, and advocate for older American playwrights age 60 and up. The New York Times article “The Next Hot Playwright? They Prefer the Ones Who Cooled Off” states, “To [Sanford], though, age is an overlooked element of diversity—one that comes with accumulated knowledge of the human experience, and for which there is, and must be, room.”
Stagebridge
Stagebridge is an Oakland, California–based nonprofit that also focuses on including older adults in the performing arts. Their Performing Arts Institute offers courses in theater, acting, dancing, music, and more. They have produced more than thirty-five original works, as well as hundreds of workshops and performances by their students. They welcome students equally whether they participate for the sheer joy of it or hope to become a late-in-life movie star. The positivity of Stagebridge’s mission to celebrate and enrich lifelong learners shows us what is possible for a creative future.
Talent Is Timeless
If you are a New Yorker, you can participate in the “Talent Is Timeless” competition, a program created by the New York City Department for the Aging. According to Michael Ognibene, the first deputy commissioner and chief operating officer of the organization, the competition is a series of local, regional, and boroughwide shows that include singing, dancing, poetry, comedy, and more. More than a thousand people participate, and there is a citywide finale showcasing the top three acts from each borough. In 2024, the winner was 61-year-old Rosemarie Hameed, who dazzled the audience with her singing voice. “I came to life after the age of 60,” she said after accepting her well-earned trophy.
Ognibene and his team also oversee Intergenerational Groove, which is a dance party held in New York’s Foley Square for more than a thousand participants of all ages. GROOVE NYC, which leads the dancing, is a nonprofit organization that uses creativity, music, movement, dance, and art for social change, particularly within generations. In 2025, the GROOVE added Laughter Yoga, which involves a series of movement and breathing exercises to promote deliberate laughter. According to Ognibene, the session (led by Patrick Welage, a retired professor of theology, philosophy, and theatre arts who is now a certified Laughter Yoga teacher) reduces stress, makes the immune system stronger, and creates positive mindfulness.”
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