AROUND THE WORLD IN 60 YEARS
John Wolfe, a retired journalist who enjoys travelling, had an idea as he approached his 60th birthday in 2024. He decided it would be intriguing to locate men around the globe who are his age.
Why? By sharing the experiences and wisdom of 97 gentlemen about 60 years young in 63 different countries across the globe, John wanted to find common ground.
As a true Amsterdammer, I am proud to have contributed to John’s publication – reflecting on life whilst turning 60 in 2024 was a spiritual journey. Thank you, John.
At its essence, Around the World in Sixty Years is a book that aspires to unite people for a better understanding of humanity.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT WHERE YOU LIVE?
After the Second World War, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands added the motto ‘Heroic, Determined, Merciful’ in 1946 to the coat of arms of the City of Amsterdam as a tribute to residents’ resistance. It says a lot about the intrinsic values of “Amsterdammers” – and I am proud to be part of that mentality.
Nowadays, Amsterdam is a unique melting pot of history and modernity—an open and liberal society with outspoken inhabitants. And it’s the people who make the city. Almost all nationalities can be found in Amsterdam: the whole world in a compact city, full of different cultures—mixed and intertwined, with the intention of equality and mutual respect.
HOW HAS LIFE CHANGED IN YOUR COUNTRY SINCE YOU WERE A CHILD?
Born in the Sixties, coming of age in the Seventies and starting a career in the Eighties. It was the time of the Cold War, the start of Personal Computers, game consoles and MTV, to name a few.
My local fellow generation members and I were involved in various political and social developments. As a real Amsterdammer, I participated in big political demonstrations, houses being squatted, and riots in historic areas against capitalist influences—just like the queen’s motto. In the end, we were able to save a lot of cultural heritage for generations to come.
WE WORRIED ABOUT THE COLD WAR, NOT THE PLANET WARMING UP
That was not a thing to worry about. I believe we were truly socially engaged rebels. We were not ignorant, just totally uninformed about how capitalism can ruin our planet.” The shift in mindfulness is not only needed but an intrinsic part of my life and of the younger generations. I embrace the inspiration I get from them.
Demonstration in the mid 70’s for building houses instead of a very expensive metro system. Historic houses were torn down to develop this system in one of the oldest parts of Amsterdam.
Demolition damage is seen from above. The protestors stopped the city planners’ proposal to create a highway through this part of Amsterdam, even though the metro system had been implemented.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST IMPORTANT EVENT IN YOUR COUNTRY IN YOUR LIFETIME?
Not so much one event, but more a well-needed string of events. Call it a cultural movement.
“May you live in interesting times”—this old Chinese proverb is an ironic curse. If we look back in time to a couple of centuries ago, slavery and exploitation of people overseas are things we cannot be proud of as Dutchies. Yes, we need to apologise for slavery and other wrongdoings. We even need to compensate those whose ancestors suffered and perished. And yes, we need to stop with folkloristic events that offend ethnic groups in our society. And yes, I firmly believe in change via radical new ideas. But no, not when this leads to bashing and stigmatising others.
HOW HAS YOUR VIEW ON WORK CHANGED OVER THE YEARS?
It absolutely has. Over the decades, things that are important to business people have changed. My career started in the mid-80s as a banker and later on as an advertising/marketing/web guy.
It was a material world. We talked in terms of shareholder value, outsourcing, offshoring and increased profitability.
Today, we talk about reputation/branding, corporate social responsibility, storytelling, and work/life balance. We went from plain capitalism to human capitalism. And that’s really good.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR FAMILY
My parents reflect the melting pot that is Amsterdam. My mother has French roots, and my dad was an American country boy. They met when my dad was stationed in the army in Germany in the early Sixties. With a salary in dollars and a great exchange rate to the Guilder (our currency before the Euro), he would visit Amsterdam with his army friends.
That’s how they got together—in the end an unfortunate clash of cultures. Dad missed the States living in the Netherlands, and Mum could not plant her feet in America, missing out on the Dutch culture, friends and family.
If they had met in 2024, things could have turned out quite differently. The Dutch Calvinist attitude 50 years ago and the present liberal and progressive feel of our society could have led to them being successful as partners. Besides, the USA is no longer the promised land it was for Europeans half a century ago – it’s a lot more congruent now.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON YOUR FAMILY TAUGHT YOU?
The most important life lesson was never manifesting my life the way my parents did. The melancholy, the cultural gap, the search for happiness—I am grateful for this lesson they gave me, which gave me the right insights into finding a chosen family, being a good Dad to my kids, and being a loving partner. Hopefully, my kids will pick up on my ‘mistakes’ and weave this into their lifestyle—the circle of life.
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Fear is not in my vocabulary – let’s call it concerns. Twofold:
- Climate change in The Netherlands. We are below sea level and are known for our engineering skills in water management, including dikes, canals, and windmills 🙂 (or, nowadays, advanced ICT water management environments). As a citizen of Amsterdam, everyone contributes to a so-called Water Management Authority. Is our historic city still untouched by water in 100 years?
- The European Union is an institution that is not well organized and still practices old-school capitalism. Global developments may hit EU countries hard, and a shift of power is well underway. How will Europe manage to adapt to global developments and circumstances? And what does that mean to our small but still powerful country?
“Prophecies for the future are hard to make. Most of us cannot foretell what lies ahead in one year, let alone ten years or more.” Was it Bill Gates who said that?
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST PRIDE?
After realising that my generation set the premise for the mass exploitation of our fellow people, animals, and earth, I grew determined to be the change I wanted to see in this world. I simply wanted to be aware of the choices I made in life.
Buy only the stuff you really need, give your possessions a second life, and stop mindlessly consuming. Think, then act.
I also started a plant-based diet four years ago. Those are recommendations I picked up from the conscious lifestyle of youngsters and I am proud to implement it into my lifestyle.
WHAT WAS THE FAVOURITE TIME OF YOUR LIFE?
Was it, or is it?
It’s often said about our generation that we are the first to really look after our parents AND our children. Maybe it is true for the (Western-styled) capitalist societies, but other communities and societies around the world have been doing this for millennia. What I am trying to say is that the present time is one in which three generations face each other and need to live in harmony whilst existential decisions need to be made. For the generations to come. I am proud to be part of that and have a firm belief humankind will overcome all crises. Live now, and embrace the past as a learning tool.
WHAT WAS THE BEST DECISION YOU MADE?
Do you flow through life, or does life flow through you? A good friend asked this philosophical question during a day of visiting bars downtown. I answered unequivocally: Life flows through me. If you are able to stand still, be in silence and see what life has to offer to you, choices can be made without compromise. Like Walt Disney used to say:
“When the vision is clear, decisions are easy.”
DO YOU HAVE A HIDDEN TALENT?
I was born with creative genes. I am a creator: writing, designing, and all sorts of things. I love to create inspiring environments—either to live in or do business in. This has been a well-hidden talent for a long time.
Recently, my partner Kisa and I started a marketing and business consultancy company in which we use a method called “Attention, Love, and Encouragement”—creating better businesses by applying the human touch.
My partner gave me a well-needed push. You are never too old to expose your hidden talents.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION?
I haven’t been brought up in a world where sustainable choices were made. It wasn’t even an issue you would think about. We consumed unconsciously in a world where everything seemed possible because we were simply not aware of the impact of our behaviour. As said: We weren’t ignorant, just not informed.
My generation may still have some credibility towards the younger generations Y, Z and so on. So if I show my ability to improve and change, it’s noticeably a good thing. And I have to say, younger generations are so friendly and respectful to me. We were not to our parents; to my generation, they were obsolete, old-fashioned, and understood nothing of modern life ;-).
Nowadays, that sentiment no longer seems to live on, which is a big compliment to younger generations.
“Younger generations are entitled to say bad things about mine. But they don’t; instead, they show respect and empathy. For me, this was fundamental to changing my lifestyle and empowering theirs.”
They act as an example for old people like us :).
Age is but a number – However, my ability to remember song lyrics from the 80s far exceeds my ability to remember why I walked to the kitchen.