Blog by Ellen Ryan

Why age? To grow in wisdom

Why survive? To realize a purpose

 Why thrive? To create something new

                    ~ Marc Agronin

Aging well calls for spiritual growth, including
practicing gratitude
harvesting life lessons,
maintaining and building new personal connections,
creating meaning and purpose, and
passing on our legacy.

The questions Agronin identifies above are worth pondering in our later lives. Older adults benefit from talking about these and related questions with others – within the family, with friends, and in small groups.  Writing in a journal is also a useful strategy for delving into who we have been, how our lives have been shaped, and who we wish to be in our later years.

These books can be useful resources for exploration.

               

Aging with Spirit Readings

Agronin, M. E. (2018). The End of Old Age: Living a Longer, More Purposeful Life. DaCapo Lifelong Books/Hachette Group.

Chittister, Joan (2008). The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully.  New York: BlueBridge.

Freedman, M. (2018). How to Live Forever: The Enduring Power of Connecting the Generations. New York: PublicAffairs.

Hoblitzelle, O. A. (2017). Aging with Wisdom: Reflections, Stories and Teachings. Monkfish Book Publishing.

Johnson, Richard (1998).  12 Keys to Spiritual Vitality: Powerful Lessons on Living Agelessly. Liguori Publications.

Miller, R., & Schachter-Shalomi, Z. (1995). From Age-Ing to Sage-Ing.  New York: Warner.

Moore, T. (2017). Ageless Soul: An Uplifting Meditation on the Art of Growing Older. Simon & Schuster.

Nepo, M. (2018). More Together Than Alone: Discovering the Power and Spirit of Community in Our Lives and in the World.
Simon & Schuster.

Palmer, P. J. (2018). On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old.  Berrett-Koehler Publishers.

Pipher, M. (2019). Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing As We Age. Bloomsbury Publishing.

Tippett, K. (2016). Becoming Wise: An Inquiry into the Mystery and Art of Living. New York: Penguin.

Weber, R., & Orsborn, C. (2015). The Spirituality of Age: A Seeker’s Guide to Growing Older. Park Street Press.