"One, remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Two, never give up work. Work gives you meaning and purpose, and life is empty without it. Three, if you are lucky enough to find love, remember it is there and don't throw it away."
— Stephen Hawking
I have immense respect for Mr. Hawking, and I offer a mild disagreement with his first point. For me, it is necessary to do both. I've seen wonderful things looking down, and also avoided missteps by watching where to place my feet. I firmly believe in his second point. When I retired the first time, I slowed down, but continued work as a consultant. After a season of time doing that, I retired again and my work became photography and writing, which gives me a purpose. The key is to continue to redefine what work is for you. To have a loving partner brings a richness to life like nothing else. Tend it, cultivate it, and you will get to reap the joy of your labors every day.
There is hope for the world when a theoretical physicist and cosmologist can distill his wisdom into three doable steps for the rest of us.
