WATCH: Discovering the Surprises of Retirement … and Unretirement

Stories about retirement and unretirement are perennially popular on Next Avenue; readers are always curious about just what the transition, or “graduation,” to a new phase of life will hold. Sometimes, the answer is: “Not what was expected.” In this s… Continue reading

The Extraordinary Life of Jacques d’Amboise

On a chilly Monday in New York City, legendary dancer and choreographer Jacques d’Amboise and I meet in his cramped, book-strewn office at the National Dance Institute (NDI). We go back a long way. In the early ’70s, when the dance boom made household … Continue reading

The Framework of a Love Story

“I know someone I think you should meet,” my friend Kathleen blurted out almost as soon as I answered the phone. “Her name is Connie and she photographs nudes under water.” That caught my attention. “I just have a feeling,” Kathleen continued. “Here’s … Continue reading

Put These Tech Gifts Under the Tree

Staying in touch with the people you love can be challenging if they’re far away. Anytime you are separated from a child, grandchild, sister or close friend, maintaining closeness can be hard, no matter how often you text, call, or video chat. Never fe… Continue reading

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year…for Regifting

Q: What do a used breast pump, a gunky hand blender and a bottle of wine have in common? A: They were all regifted to people I know. And yes, you read those items correctly. Chances are, you’ve been the recipient of, or a giver of, a regift. According … Continue reading

Mo Rocca Has a Few Obituaries for You

You could say that an obituary is the definitive “origin story.” Short or long, it’s a commemorative piece of writing that offers a story of a life from beginning to end. For Mo Rocca, it’s the details, which he says can be “either mundane or prophetic… Continue reading

Facing Loneliness and Isolation While Living With a Disability

  For many years, Erin Loughran lived independently: she owned a home and car, worked as an adult English language learner instructor, even dabbled in online dating. She now lives with a disability. Three years ago, Loughran suffered a bleed in her bra… Continue reading

A Father’s Grief: When Love Isn’t Enough

Editor’s Note: Larry Carlat, Next Avenue’s first Managing Editor, wrote a story for  Esquire in 1998 called “You Are Me,” about adopting his son Robbie. Unfortunately, there was a tragic end to it. Carlat’s son took his own life nine months ago. He was… Continue reading

How the Science of Brain Health Inspires a Storyteller

Loneliness. Aging. Empathy. Josh Kornbluth, a storyteller whose work positions him at the intersection of art and science, explores these crucial topics in “Citizen Brain,” a series of engaging short videos about what current research in brain health c… Continue reading

How the Science of Brain Health Inspires a Storyteller

Loneliness. Aging. Empathy. Josh Kornbluth, a storyteller whose work positions him at the intersection of art and science, explores these crucial topics in “Citizen Brain,” a series of engaging short videos about what current research in brain health c… Continue reading