[PERSPECTIVE by @katharinajanus] ON JOY

What a year – full of joy and inspiring encounters, but also sadness and pain. Memories have been made in our family in 2025 and lost as well – as my dad moves down the inevitable path of cognitive decline. With that came many difficult decisions to make but also the heartfelt will to share & leverage what we have learned to make life easier (and more joyful again!) for other families caring for loved ones and preparing better for our own FourthQuarterLife – that’s how we call our “newborn” family venture. A public benefit initiative built in public for the public. If you are not already connected (Instagram & Facebook @katharinajanus and @fourthquarterlife) follow us on LinkedIn and join our LinkedIn Group to share your experiences and help us to shape our community platform. Stay tuned to be among the first to be invited once our platform goes live!

Why am I putting my personal savings & sweat into this adventure?

First, I always aspired to make a difference in this world and may have succeeded in doing so on a small scale. But there is more work to do, especially since societies are aging and governments have largely withdrawn from ensuring #agingwithdignity for their populations. However, this should become a #UnitedNations #sustainabledevelopmentgoal.
Second, I got really scared about my own old age – as are many old and new friends who care for their aging parents and are “learning by drowning” – and, therefore, I intend to create a space for “joyful preparedness” besides helping with coordinating care & life for loved ones.
Third, it is my dad’s legacy. While it is terribly sad and cruel to see someone who used to play Father Christmas for children not knowing anymore what and when Xmas is, it inspires me that my dad lived his entire life a bit like “Santa Claus” and was the incarnation of the Xmas spirit. He owned a toy store and his mission for Xmas was to put all his effort in, so that every child got his or her desired toy in time. He often left our own Xmas eve to be Santa for others (and he looked like Santa for most of his late life). Maybe, that was his real vocation.

You pass on what you believe in with confidence. My dad’s joy for life. “Carpe diem” – seize the moment – was his motto. Live in the moment. He certainly did. Overspent but never underjoyed. He created memories that last. Memorable moments for us. Not shy to make a fool of himself if he could make his loved ones laugh from the bottom of their soul.

And this is very much related to the spirit of Xmas to be generous in your heart & mind and service others without building up own expectations. To keep your child soul and not to take yourself too seriously. Live & laugh & love wholeheartedly. Most importantly, to do it now and get started right away as Anne Frank said: “How wonderful it is that nobody needs to wait a single moment before starting to change the world.”

My dad was maybe not a big game changer, but instilled this sense of positiveness in me, this joyful optimism to make good use of talents, resources, and time; to take on the difficult tasks and turn things around. This spirit drives and nurtures me in all my doings and most recently in building FourthQuarterLife.

I’d like to close this year’s Xmas letter with a wonderful quote of Catherine Newman’s book We all want impossible things (a must-read!) that serves as my motto for 2026:

“Because life is about squeezing the joy out of every moment, about building a powerhouse of memories, about learning when to hold on, and when to let go.”

I am letting go peacefully because my dad’s Xmas spirit inspired my doings and through those lives on. If any or all my above-named reasons for our FourthQuarterLife resonate with you I’d love to hear from you and would love your support.

Once a month I share my perspective on the state of the healthcare world and beyond with thousands of global leaders. Subscribe to be part of this community and receive invitations & complimentary insights upfront!

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/joy-prof-dr-katharina-janus-i4lnc

Take care, be safe, and enjoy what you can in this holiday season.

Happy Holidays and a Joyful 2026!

#perspectivebykatharinajanus #fourthquarterlife

Sincerely,