Clint
Eastwood just turned 86. I still see him young and handsome as Harry Callahan in 1971, with that
sharky smile as he looked over the barrel of his .45 – “You’ve got to ask
yourself one question: do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?”
Eastwood
is more than the iconic Dirty Harry, of course. He is a producer, Oscar winning
director, musician, and businessman. At 86 he is weathered and lined, but certainly
not at all a frail old man. He could still whisper ominously, "Go ahead,
make my day!” and be believable. Especially accompanied by his old friends,
Smith and Wesson.
So
how does he continue to engage life at such a high level? When asked that
question, Eastwood tells a story about a friend of his who was, at the time, 95 years of age and going strong. Clint asked him his secret, and his friend said,“I never let the old man in.”
For
Clint that means banishing the idea that “your life is finished, you’re too
old, all you’ve got is nostalgia.” So he keeps producing and directing movies, and writing music. Living life.
