We introduce you to people who shape their retirement with purpose, commitment, and vitality.

Three stars adorn her name tag. One for each decade spent at Budni. Hannelore Labitzke, 82, has moved the store within the Poppenbüttel shopping center three times. When she reached retirement age, she decided: "I will continue one day a week." She still cycles the five kilometers from Bergstedt, where she lives, to the AEZ every Thursday. Only in storm, snow, and downpour does she occasionally take the bus. "I am happy that I can still do all of this so well," she says. And her customers agree. "When she is not there, for example because she is spending her annual vacation on the Canary Islands, customers miss her and ask for her," says store manager Meike Sussmann. If an age researcher were to scientifically examine Hannelore Labitzke's daily life and attitude towards life, he would probably come to the conclusion: just right! Curiosity, social contacts, and staying active all help us to age healthily and happily. When Ingrid Willnat, 69, told her family and friends that she wanted to go abroad as an au pair, everyone was thrilled. However, many also said that they "wouldn't dare to do it at their age." "My life motto has always been never to say from the outset, 'That's not possible'," says the travel agent, who has also traveled alone through Canada for three months. She approached her time with the Barry family in Irish Headford with experience and composure. "The advantage of age: one becomes more tolerant and sees things less black and white," she says. The Barrys and Ingrid Willnat immediately got along. It just clicked. So much so that the woman from Kiel will embark on another six-month journey to the nice family with three children in a few weeks. When Claus Günther, 86, is asked about his recipe for "healthy" aging, the answer is: humor, cheerfulness, creativity, and curiosity. "I fear that if I stop being curious, my zest for life will leave me," he says. For his 70th birthday, his wife Ingrid, to whom he has been married for over 60 years, gave him a Low German dictionary. He then began to learn Low German. And most importantly: to write! His first book "Limericks Plattdüütsch" was published in 2005. Two years later, he had his first appearance at a poetry slam, and he is now considered one of the local scene's greats. Since 1997, he has also been volunteering as a witness of his time. He visits schools, answers questions, and tells the younger generation about his experiences during the Nazi era. "My wife sometimes says, 'One thing is certain: we all have to die!' I then reply, 'That may be true, but I don't believe it.' It may sound arrogant, but it's meant humorously - knowing well that every day, every hour, every minute is a gift," says Claus Günther.

EXPERTISE

"Age" is not a fixed concept Business economist Sven C. Voelpel researches the demographic change

You write "Aging is a mindset." But it is inevitable that we decline in areas like hearing, vision, or memory as we age. Yes, but we underestimate how well we can compensate for deficits and, for example, offset the diminishing memory and processing speed with an increase in knowledge, experience, and routine. Figuratively speaking: While the processor loses speed, we have an ever-growing, well-organized database where we can confidently find what we need to solve problems. Everyone can do something for that. For example? Thinking about how daily life should look after retirement, setting goals even in retirement. This could be volunteering. Or someone might want to realize a business idea or learn a new sport. Being involved with joy and enthusiasm is important. How will aging change in the future? "Age" does not exist even today, and there will be even less of a uniform third stage of life in the future. Why? We are increasingly aware of what influences how we age. Regular exercise, balanced nutrition, and an active, curious life with and for other people. Our lifestyle and attitude towards life have a stronger impact than our biology on how healthy and eager for life we are - whether at 30 or 70 years old. Continue reading? Sven C. Voelpel teaches at Jacobs University Bremen and is the founding president of the WISE Demography Network. He has written an insightful book about aging: "Decide for Yourself How Old You Are". Link: https://www.amazon.de/Entscheide-selbst-wie-alt-bist-ebook/dp/B01F6CGEHO