Resilience. Authenticity. Bliss. These are important words in Mary Pipher’s new book Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing as We Age. And then there’s schlimmbesserung, a German word that means “to be worsened by improvement.” … Continue reading
Like many of us approaching retirement age, just hearing the word retirement triggers my anxiety, particularly when I hear experts say how much boomers my age should be saving. The fortunate boomers have cushions of 401(k)s, pensions and real estate. T… Continue reading
After my grandmother passed away, my grandfather casually dated several women. They were mostly from the neighborhood and had known my grandmother. My mother and her two siblings were grateful that he had some companionship, especially at mealtime, bec… Continue reading
If there’s a universal symbol for loved ones of alcoholics, I’m not aware of it. But I offer the perfect image: clasped hands tied at the wrists. My husband was a “high-functioning alcoholic,” a misnomer evoking a sense of accomplishment; a more accura… Continue reading
When Judy Beggs sat down at age 49 with a career counselor, she never imagined that 15 years later she’d be providing career counseling to girls on the edge of the Sahara. Beggs was in the middle of finalizing her divorce and had her mind set on joinin… Continue reading
Three years ago, Oro Valley, Ariz. resident Sherry Circle felt completely isolated from the world. She was diabetic and weighed more than 300 pounds. “I was an athlete in high school,” explains 63-year-old Circle, who had to wear a CPAP machine at nigh… Continue reading
I am dating a married man. His wife doesn’t know. She resides in an assisted living facility, a tragic victim of a brain disease. Like a young child, she can no longer walk alone, needs help being fed, showered and going to the bathroom. She and my fri… Continue reading
The subtitle for Grandpa and Lucy, a book by 16-year-old author Edie Weinstein, says it all: A Story About Love and Dementia. In this charming picture book, the main character, a young girl named Lucy, employs simple and loving gestures to strengthen… Continue reading
As one of the 76 million people comprising the boomer generation, I find myself luxuriating in time I never had before. I am also proud to report I hold another title, that of a newly retired person of which we are nearly 42.5 million people, growing s… Continue reading
A story based on the power of words and conversations regarding “elderspeak” provoked a robust conversation of its own on Next Avenue’s Facebook page in January. The Negative Effects of Elderspeak generated more than 2,600 reactions (from those who agr… Continue reading