The greatest generation was raised to look forward to a relaxing and quiet retirement. Baby boomers are having none of that; for them, life is something to be experienced fully by remaining active and contributing to the world. They have an unstoppable drive to accomplish extraordinary things. These are the people that teach the rest of us we can do anything we set our minds to. One of the most notable is former President Jimmy Carter. At age 95, he volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and has won three Grammy Awards for audio recordings of his books.

Another impressive baby boomer is author Gisela Hausmann. As a young widow, Hausmann learned that the secret to success is "making work what you've got." Having to support her family during the recession of the 1980s, she learned she had to rely on her strengths and focused on her strongest talent: communications. Later on, she used that same knowledge to write a book about the most effective email communications. Within a few years, Hausmann began to write nonfiction books to help indie authors find their way through the writing industry.

Now age 57, Hausmann is an award-winning author, a self-publishing industry veteran of 29 years, an email evangelist and an Amazon top reviewer. Her work has been featured in regional, national and international publications, including the magazines Success and Entrepreneur, and on multiple podcasts. She is a proud mother of two and grandmother of one. Hausmann says: "The brutal truth about success is that nothing ever works out like we plan. To become successful, we must not allow ourselves to dwell on what went wrong but look for what worked and 're-use and re-purpose' that knowledge to shoot for the stars."

Charmaine Gordon is another empowering female author -- and, yes, she's a senior, too! Now in her 80s, Gordon transitioned from acting to writing when she lost her voice and wrote her first published novel 14 years ago. When asked about her inspiration for writing, she said, "I'm a senior ... (I) decided there are a gazillion stories about slim women and hunks in love but none about Mature Romance. So I wrote one ... and instead of writing the End, I wrote 'The Beginning ... Not The End.'" Her books all run on a common theme, "stories of women who survive ... and thrive," as she has done in her own life. Fast forward to the present; she lives in upstate New York, still writes every day, enjoys taking walks and helps care for a menagerie of household pets.

You don't have to be an inspiring author to remain active and engaged as a senior citizen. Meet Betty and Michael, both in their 90s and married for almost 70 years. They volunteer in their suburban town with their church and various civic groups. Both serve as Board of Elections poll workers each year. Michael also volunteers as a clown for various local charity functions. They also like to travel in their recreational vehicle and visit national parks across the country. In their spare time, they keep busy with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Randy, 66, is yet another woman who embarked on new adventures later in life. In her late 40s, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and decided to take charge of her own health rather than undergoing the mastectomy and chemotherapy that was recommended. Through her journey and eventual remission, she developed a feeling of empowerment. Determined to remain active and healthy, she joined a bicycling club and rode through New York City's five boroughs. Later, she embraced a different passion by joining an African drumming group.

After working as a graphic artist for 24 years, Randy's company restructured. It was a few years before she had planned to retire. "I started enjoying some newfound freedom. I met friends for gym outings. I had coffee out and strolled. I took classes and explored new interests," says Randy. She also did a short stint as a Medicare counselor in order to help others navigate their way through a perplexing time.

"Finally, I met my ultimate community. I am on a competitive dragon boat racing team -- 20 women paddling powerfully in sync to win medals -- and all of us are breast cancer survivors," Randy added. "Have enjoyment in your quirks; they're perfectly you. Try things, and be curious. It's all about exploring, not performing. Join groups, extend yourself to others, and choose to be delighted in things. Don't believe everything your mind tells you -- either about yourself or someone else. Get your body moving. It's good for the head."

Randy's persistent optimism allowed her to discover a new community and an unexpected passion. As time goes by, it's important to remember the stories of these inspiring seniors; age is no excuse for failing to take full advantage of life's offerings!