The New American Dream
- July 31, 2025
- by Raad Ghantous
Dispatches from Santa Fe and the frontlines of midlife reinvention
“In this issue of The Raad Life, you’ll find stories of others who are starting over, starting again, or just starting to tell the truth. You’ll find playlists, rituals, design inspiration, and reminders that it’s never toolate to get curious again.”
What does it mean to grow up—really grow up—at 60? That’s the question I found myself sitting with this spring in Santa Fe, New Mexico, surrounded by dozens of other Gen Xers. We weren’t there for a typical business retreat. There were no keynotes, no pitch decks, no LinkedIn power networking. This was something deeper, quieter, and, if I’m honest, a little scarier. It was called Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up, led by Jerry Colonna and Chip Conley at the Modern Elder Academy. Nearly a week designed not to teach us how to scale, but how to shed. I didn’t go looking for answers. I went looking for space. I’ve spent the past few years quietly laying the foundation for something new—what you now know as The Raad Life. Much more than a podcast or a personal brand, it’s a way of thinking about freedom. Reinvention. And what it means to show up as your full, grown-ass self. This wasn’t about adding more tools to my kit. It was about stripping away what no longer served. Not just in business, but in life. Becoming Less Afraid Every morning in Santa Fe began with stillness. Breath. Reflection. Followed by deep dialogue—real dialogue—with a cohort of people who’d led, created, achieved. And who were now asking: What now? What next? We talked about the stories we inherited. The ones we built our identities on. The ones we’re ready to rewrite. I realized how much I’d been carrying simply out of habit. Expectations, definitions of success, even aesthetics. And how much freedom there is in pausing—just pausing—to ask if those things still fit. It wasn’t about becoming more. It was about becoming less afraid to be who I already am. A Generation in Transition As Gen Xers, we’ve always lived between the lines. Not quite Boomers, not quite Millennials. We grew up in an analog world and adapted to digital. We were told to be self-reliant, to move on, to keep going. And we did. But now, here we are—in our 40s, 50s and 60s—checking all the traditional boxes and still feeling like there’s something more. Not more to prove. More to explore. I didn’t go to Santa Fe because I was burned out. I went because I was ready for a breakthrough. The Raad Life was born from that feeling. The feeling that midlife isn’t the end of the story. It’s the part where you get to write a new one, on your own terms.
The Free Raadicals
The group I was with became something special. We held space for each other. We asked hard questions. We let ourselves be messy, unfinished, and in process. And somewhere in the middle of it all, we started calling ourselves The Free Raadicals—a name that started as a joke and stuck because it felt like truth. We were each freeing ourselves from something. And we were doing it together. You’ll meet some of them in this issue. Flip to our inaugural “Free Raadicals” column, where they share what they’ve had to unlearn to live more freely after 50. Trust me—you’ll want to read every word. Raadar: Notes From the Field That week in Santa Fe sparked a new practice for me. I started something called Raadar—a dispatch series where I share field notes from this journey. It’s not advice. It’s reflection. What I’m noticing, what I’m unlearning, who I’m becoming. One entry reads: “I’ve designed hundreds of spaces for clients. Now I’m redesigning my own life—and realizing how much of the blueprint was inherited, not chosen.” That’s the work now. Not just designing homes, but designing a life that reflects the truth of who I am—and who I’m still becoming.
The New American Dream
The old American Dream doesn’t speak to me anymore. It never really did. Career, house, retirement? Sure, that might work for some. But for me—and maybe for you—it’s about something else now. Freedom over frenzy. Meaning over milestones. Creativity without compromise. We’re not done. We’re just getting started. That’s the new dream. This is what I believe: growth doesn’t stop at midlife. That’s when it gets interesting. Thanks for being here. And if you’re in the middle of your own reinvention, come find us. You’ve got Free Raadicals waiting. Follow my Raadar Dispatches on The Raad Life
About the Author:
Raad Ghantous is a hospitality design visionary, creative strategist, and founder of Raad Ghantous & Associates, a boutique firm known for transforming luxury environments into timeless experiences. With over two decades of global expertise spanning interior architecture, branded guest experiences, and high-end hospitality, F&B, Wellness, and residential projects, Raad brings a bold, narrative-driven approach to placemaking—where aesthetics, function, and emotional resonance meet. As the founder of The Raad Life, a lifestyle platform and forthcoming magazine, Raad leads conversations around reinvention, longevity, and generational culture. His voice is grounded in wisdom, edge, and unapologetic authenticity—traits that carry into every space he designs and every story he tells. Whether consulting for iconic hospitality brands or redefining what it means to age with style and purpose, Raad’s work stands at the intersection of legacy and innovation. Learn more at raadghantous.com and follow The Raad Life for curated content that inspires life beautifully lived.