As Long As I Have Breath, I Have Purpose: A Lesson from Tun Dr Mahathir at 101
By Coach Amirul Iskandar Mannan
What would you do if you knew you had only a little time left to live?
Would you stop working? Spend more time with family? Travel? Rest? Or continue doing the things that give your life meaning?
Recently, I came across a picture of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, now 101 years old, returning to his office.
The image was accompanied by a statement attributed to him about continuing to work even if he had very little time left to live.
Whether or not those were his exact words, the picture and the story behind it made me stop and reflect.
Not about politics.
Not about his achievements.
But about life, purpose, resilience and the desire to keep contributing.
A Man Who Has Just Lost His Life Partner
On 28 September 2026, Tun Dr Mahathir lost his beloved wife, Allahyarhamah Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, at the age of 100.
They had been married for 70 years.
Seventy years!
Imagine sharing your life with someone for seven decades. The memories, the experiences, the challenges, the victories, the ordinary moments that become extraordinary simply because you shared them.
And then, one day, that person is no longer there.
I cannot imagine how difficult that must be.
Yet, on 13 October, reports showed Tun Dr Mahathir returning to his office, attending a tahlil for his late wife and resuming his familiar routine.
We cannot know exactly what he is feeling or how he is coping with his loss.
But the image reminded me of something deeply meaningful.
Even in difficult seasons of life, having a sense of purpose can give us a reason to keep moving forward.
What Is My Excuse?
I looked at that picture and started thinking about myself.
Like everyone else, I sometimes feel tired.
There are days when things don't go according to plan.
There are challenges in business, training, leadership, and life.
Sometimes opportunities don't materialise. Sometimes people don't respond. Sometimes the effort seems greater than the results.
And yes, sometimes I wonder whether I should just slow down.
But seeing a 101-year-old man returning to his desk reminded me to ask myself a simple question:
Amirul, what is your excuse?
Not because everyone must continue working until they are 101.
Not because rest is a weakness.
But because I still have the ability, the opportunity and the desire to contribute.
And that is something I should never take for granted.
I Don't Want to Stop Learning
Throughout my journey as a trainer, coach and speaker, I have always believed that learning is a lifelong responsibility.
It doesn't stop when we leave school.
It doesn't stop when we graduate.
It doesn't stop when we become managers, directors or CEOs.
And it certainly doesn't have to stop when we retire.
Today, I spend much of my time helping people understand AI, improve communication, develop leadership capabilities, and become more confident in applying what they learn.
But here's something important.
Every time I teach, I learn too.
Every participant brings a different experience.
Every question challenges my thinking.
Every training session allows me to improve.
That is what keeps me excited.
I don't want to become someone who believes he already knows everything.
I want to remain curious.
I want to keep discovering.
I want to keep growing.
Because every master was once a disaster.
And regardless of our age or experience, there is always something new to learn.
AI Can Make Us Faster. But Purpose Makes Us Human.
We are living through an extraordinary period of technological change.
Artificial intelligence is transforming how we learn, work, communicate and create.
I often tell my participants that AI is a tool.
A powerful tool, yes.
But still a tool.
It can help us organise information, prepare presentations, analyse data and generate ideas.
But it cannot decide what gives our lives meaning.
That responsibility belongs to us.
In my training, I often explain this through the idea of Bits vs Bricks.
AI can help us with many of the Bits — the tasks, processes, and execution.
But humans must own the Bricks — our purpose, values, judgement, relationships and accountability.
And perhaps the most important Brick of all is our desire to make a positive difference.
Technology may extend our capabilities. But purpose gives those capabilities direction.
Retirement from Work Is Not Retirement from Life
I believe we need to rethink what retirement means.
For some people, retirement means spending more time with family.
For others, it means travelling, volunteering, mentoring, teaching or pursuing a passion.
And for some, it means continuing to work because they genuinely enjoy what they do.
There is no single right answer.
What matters is that we continue finding meaning in the life we have been given.
You may no longer hold an official position.
You may no longer run a company.
You may no longer have a classroom full of students.
But your knowledge, experience, and wisdom can still help someone.
A young entrepreneur may need your advice.
A student may need your encouragement.
A colleague may need your guidance.
A community may benefit from your experience.
You don't need a title to make a difference.
You just need the willingness to contribute.
My Personal Commitment
I don't know how many more years Allah has planned for me.
None of us does.
But I know what I want to do with the time I have.
I want to continue learning.
I want to continue teaching.
I want to continue sharing.
I want to help people think better, work smarter and create impact.
I want to spend meaningful time with my family and the people I love.
I want to take care of my health so that I can continue doing the things that matter.
And most importantly, I want to leave something useful behind.
Not necessarily wealth.
Not necessarily recognition.
But knowledge, values, encouragement, and opportunities that help others become better versions of themselves.
If one person becomes more confident because of something I taught, that matters.
If one leader becomes more compassionate because of a conversation we had, that matters.
If one student discovers their potential because someone believed in them, that matters.
That is the legacy I want to build.
A Question for All of Us
When I look at Tun Dr Mahathir's picture, I don't see a message that everyone should work until their last breath.
I see a reminder that our lives can continue to have meaning at every stage.
We don't all have to live to 101.
We don't all have to achieve extraordinary things.
But while we are here, we can choose to make our time count.
So perhaps the question is not:
"When can I stop working?"
Perhaps the better question is:
"What meaningful contribution can I still make with the life I have?"
As for me, my answer is simple.
As long as Allah grants me the health, ability, and opportunity, I want to continue learning, sharing and making a difference.
As long as I have breath, I have purpose.
Selagi ada nafas, selagi itu ada tujuan.
And if you are reading this, I invite you to reflect on one question:
What knowledge, experience, or kindness can you share with someone today?
Don't wait until everything is perfect.
Start with what you have.
Start where you are.
Make today meaningful.
Coach Amirul Iskandar Mannan
Trainer | Coach | Speaker | Author
Helping people THINK BETTER → WORK SMARTER → CREATE IMPACT.
#CoachAmirul #LifelongLearning #PurposeDrivenLife #Leadership #NeverStopLearning #PersonalGrowth #Mentorship #HumanCentredAI #MakeADifference #SelagiAdaNafas
