What does it mean to age with purpose, curiosity, and conviction — especially while living in another country?
In this episode of Don’t Be Caged By Your Age, I sit down with Robert W. Norris, a 75-year-old Vietnam War conscientious objector, longtime resident of Japan, retired university professor, and author of multiple novels and memoirs … two of which he wrote in his seventies.
Robert shares his extraordinary life journey, from growing up in Northern California to refusing to fight in the Vietnam War and serving time in a military prison, to settling in Japan in 1983. We talk about what it’s really like to age as a foreigner in Japan, how older adults are viewed, and the realities that exist beyond the romanticized version many of us imagine.
We also explore the power of writing later in life, the influence of his mother on his memoirs, the importance of staying physically active and socially connected, and why intergenerational Relationships matter so deeply as we age.
Robert’s story is a powerful reminder that aging isn’t a closing chapter … it’s an invitation to keep showing up fully.
To learn more about Robert's wonderful memoirs, please visit his website here.
If you found inspiration from this conversation, please rate, review and share this episode.
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