Dr. Thomas V. Taylor & Mastering The Joy Of Retirement

The extraordinary life of Dr. Thomas V. Taylor, former doctor and professor, enthusiastically embraces a distinguished, well-celebrated adventurous retirement way of life. As a former Professor of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine at the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas, he is far from ending a career educating others. In fact, Dr. Thomas Taylor is a shining example of a life well lived as a prominent Doctor and Professor. He was well prepared for his emergence as a discriminating hobbyist embracing a wide variety of interests, prior to his retirement.

Dr. Taylor spends his time at his home in Houston, Texas in the U.S., and travels “across the pond” to his place in Manchester, England. He revels in the activities that bring him the most joy, or presents him with a great challenge.  Thomas V. Taylor champions many of his interest such as, playing his guitar or singing classical music as a tenor with the Houston Choral Society at the Houston Symphony, or the Saint Vincent’s Church in Cheshire, England.

No matter which side of the pond that he is engaged with, Dr. Thomas Taylor immerses himself in his retired amusement with great satisfaction. The Professor has continued to educate others by living retirement with an exemplary zest for life. He demonstrates a true mastery in the joy of retirement.

Tell us a bit about what you do.

I spend half of my time in the United States and the other half of the time in Great Britain. I have spent a lifetime in the medical industry. I am truly enjoying life in my retirement. I am an author, I play the guitar, I am a member of a performing arts organization where I have the unique pleasure of singing classical music. I have met many talented people along the way and socialize with the other performers. I amuse myself in watercolor painting. I am a steam engine train enthusiast.  I appreciate sports of all kinds but have a special interest in baseball, cricket, and the NFL. I am a member of the Manchester United Football Club Supporters and a staunch supporter of the Houston Astros.

What gave you the idea for writing? How did it start?

A good portion of my career was spent doing research. Writing came naturally as I documented all my research. Based on that research, I began to write. I have written ten books. The earlier books were entirely medical books. My most recent book is on lifestyle and longevity and identifying the factors of people predisposed to living longer. We look for factors such as eating a healthy diet, non-smoking, avoiding too much alcohol, and other information along those lines.

What’s your favorite thing about sharing your knowledge through writing?

I have always enjoyed teaching and spreading knowledge. I was a teacher throughout my professional career. I also get a lot of enjoyment out of writing, studying, and keeping up to date with various topics. I am interested in current affairs. I am interested in most sports. This is all part and parcel of everything that I do now.

What keys to being productive can you share with us?

I believe the keys to being productive in your career is hard work and dedication to your profession. But the key to a greater more productive life is a balance. It is knowing that there is a world outside of work. It is getting involved with hobbies and interests that bring you enjoyment and relieve stress. It is building your career without giving up a joyous and interesting life.

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned through the course of your career?

I have always tried to be professional and conduct my practice in a very honest way. I’ve put a lot of effort into learning the skills of doing my work as a surgeon. I have always had a lot of other interests and activities.

What advice would you give to others aspiring to succeed in your field?

The single most important thing that I would tell anyone who aspires to work in the medical field is to make sure that they truly want to commit themselves to the medical industry before they actually do so. It is a hard life. And it is a very demanding life in terms of time and dedication. It is hard work. However, if that is what you truly want to do, by all means, go ahead. Work hard and be single-minded and you will succeed.

What are your favorite things to do outside of work?

I have many interests in life. I enjoy nearly all sports. I like soccer. I am a member of the Manchester United Football Club Supporters. I am interested in baseball. We support the Houston Astros. I am interested in the National Football League (NFL) and the Houston Texans. I use to play cricket years ago. I still follow cricket. As of right now I am following their matches daily on the radio and keeping up to date. I have many other interests as well. Another interest is singing. I am currently singing with the Choral Society. It is a choir of about one hundred and thirty people. We sing Choral music and a mixture of more serious classical music, coming down to more popular music. In addition to that, I sing in a church choir.

Name a few influential books you’ve read and/or websites you keep up with that you’d recommend to readers.

I have always had a career in the medical industry and so I have always read books related to the medical profession. However, in my retirement, I must say, that the books I am most interested in now, are the books on factors of aging, diet, health, and longevity of life. I am interested in learning more about the prevention of diseases that have become all too common, such as obesity and diabetes. I have read many books outlining these topics.  As far as reading books for entertainment, I enjoy reading novels with a crime or thriller genre. I have a broad and very general interest in entertainment reading.

Regarding websites, I do nearly all my research online. I do not have any specific single website that I use for my research.  I simply google my interests and ask questions. There is not a specific website rather it is a gathering of information that a google search provides. Research has changed so much with the advent of the internet. In the earlier days, I’d have to go to the library and look up texts. I’d have to identify topics within the library, it was a daunting experience. Now with the availability of information on the internet, it is quite a bit better.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Looking back, I would tell myself to be single-minded, be honest and dedicated. But, to have a broad and general experience with interests outside of my career. The reason for Individuals to have many outside interests is that career burn-out will occur very quickly if they neglect to separate one from the other. It is something that I have done. It makes for an enjoyable retirement.  It is very important to have other interests. The dilemma is not having enough hours in a day to do all that I want to do.

Check out Dr. Thomas V. Taylor’s Facebook page and follow him on Twitter @drthomasvtaylor.