This is an exciting time as the interest in topics related to aging has never been greater or more dynamic. New books, web sites, newsletters and blogs are created every day. If you have resources related to intentional aging that you wish to share, please offer it here.
Here are two items worth a look:
Positive Aging Conference in December
The 4th National Positive Aging Conference will be held in Los Angeles from Dec. 7-10, sponsored by the Fielding Graduate University and co-sponsored by AARP. Speakers include Marc Freedman and George Vaillant, with presentations from Tipi Hedren ("The Birds") and the original Gigi, as well as many breakout sessions and workshops on creativity, community, wellness, life transitions, and much more. For more info click on Positive Aging Conference:
Note: Jenny will be presenting her story about "Fred's Fig" at the conference. Hooray!!
Human Values In Aging Newsletter:
This is a monthly electronic newsletter published by Rick Moody under the auspices of The Gerontological Society of America and National AARP. If there is only one newsletter I read every month it is this one. Often provocative and always chalk full of good information and comment. A wonderful resource for both individuals and professionals. To subscribe send and email to hrmoody@Yahoo.com
Monday, November 1, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Spirituality and the Ageless Questions: A series
Just a heads-up that there is a 3 part discussion series starting tomorrow (Tuesday Oct. 26th; 5:30 to 7:30 PM) on spirituality and aging. There is no cost.
The topic for the first session is Finding Meaning and Purpose
November 9th will focus on Learning From Faith Traditions and Secular Perspectives
December 2nd will focus on Contemplation, Action and Community
Featured speakers/facilitators are Jack Kennedy, Mary Lonergan; Bob Epstein; and Stephen Ristau.
All events will be held at the Main Branch of the Multnomah County Library; 801 SW 10th Ave; Portland. Sponsors are Multnomah County Library and Life By Design N.W.
Hope to see you there!
The topic for the first session is Finding Meaning and Purpose
November 9th will focus on Learning From Faith Traditions and Secular Perspectives
December 2nd will focus on Contemplation, Action and Community
Featured speakers/facilitators are Jack Kennedy, Mary Lonergan; Bob Epstein; and Stephen Ristau.
All events will be held at the Main Branch of the Multnomah County Library; 801 SW 10th Ave; Portland. Sponsors are Multnomah County Library and Life By Design N.W.
Hope to see you there!
Four weeks later.
It has been almost four weeks since Dr. Mary Catherine Bateson came to Marylhurst University to give a presentation on her latest book, Composing a further life: The age of active wisdom. Almost four weeks, and some of us are still talking about her presentation. Like fans reliving a rock concert, we remind each other of especially powerful ideas she offered us, paraphrasing her phrases as closely as we can. Some of Bateson’s ideas have even popped up in the blog posts, on Facebook walls, and in the academic papers of my friends, colleagues and students.
In 1989, when the prequel to Bateson’s current book was published, I was completing my senior year at Willamette University majoring in psychology and music. The book was titled Composing a life, and in it Bateson, the daughter of anthropologists Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson, wove together an extraordinary portrait of five women’s life journeys, using their comparative biographies as a way to take face-on the complexities of women’s lives as they travel through the life course and attempt to balance work and love, their own and others’ development. The way Bateson lovingly represented the lives of the women she studied, the gentle and precise attention she gave to her interviews with them, so deeply moved me in my early adulthood; reading and rereading her book cleared space in my heart and mind so that I could imagine a different life-course for my self than the one my family history had fated me for.
I was also jarred and deeply impressed by the form of Bateson’s inquiry, the way in which she wrote, the way her sensibility enveloped every word on the page. In my infancy as a Human Scientist, in my still relative newness as a human adult, and even though I was not yet in graduate school, I knew enough to know that the kinds of questions she was asking, the way she approached her research, and the way her sensibility enveloped every word on the page was, well, somehow transgressive and radical. And sane and beautiful and hope-filled. To me, Mary Catherine Bateson was a major rock star, an imaginary friend and yearned-for mentor, a model for the kind of scholar and teacher I aspired to become.
So, after her significant and insightful presentation four weeks ago tomorrow, when she’d finished signing books, as she was gathering her people and things in preparation to leave, I had a moment to tell Mary Catherine how much she’s meant to me for over twenty years. She embraced me, which brought tears to my eyes, and thanked me for making it possible for her to come to my university to give a presentation. I told Mary Catherine Bateson that for a long time I had wanted to be her, but at a certain point in the last few years I had decided instead to be inspired by her to continue in my becoming the best me I could possibly become.
In 1989, when the prequel to Bateson’s current book was published, I was completing my senior year at Willamette University majoring in psychology and music. The book was titled Composing a life, and in it Bateson, the daughter of anthropologists Margaret Mead and Gregory Bateson, wove together an extraordinary portrait of five women’s life journeys, using their comparative biographies as a way to take face-on the complexities of women’s lives as they travel through the life course and attempt to balance work and love, their own and others’ development. The way Bateson lovingly represented the lives of the women she studied, the gentle and precise attention she gave to her interviews with them, so deeply moved me in my early adulthood; reading and rereading her book cleared space in my heart and mind so that I could imagine a different life-course for my self than the one my family history had fated me for.
I was also jarred and deeply impressed by the form of Bateson’s inquiry, the way in which she wrote, the way her sensibility enveloped every word on the page. In my infancy as a Human Scientist, in my still relative newness as a human adult, and even though I was not yet in graduate school, I knew enough to know that the kinds of questions she was asking, the way she approached her research, and the way her sensibility enveloped every word on the page was, well, somehow transgressive and radical. And sane and beautiful and hope-filled. To me, Mary Catherine Bateson was a major rock star, an imaginary friend and yearned-for mentor, a model for the kind of scholar and teacher I aspired to become.
So, after her significant and insightful presentation four weeks ago tomorrow, when she’d finished signing books, as she was gathering her people and things in preparation to leave, I had a moment to tell Mary Catherine how much she’s meant to me for over twenty years. She embraced me, which brought tears to my eyes, and thanked me for making it possible for her to come to my university to give a presentation. I told Mary Catherine Bateson that for a long time I had wanted to be her, but at a certain point in the last few years I had decided instead to be inspired by her to continue in my becoming the best me I could possibly become.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Lessons from the Sage-ing Guild Conference
One hunded people came together a week ago at the annual conference of the Sage-ing Guild to celebrate the conscious aging and spiritual eldering work of Rabbi Schacter-Shalomi and to share life experience and learn from and be inspired by others. There are several things I took away from the conference that I would like to share with you in the next few posts.
What is it to be be a "wise sage"? Bob Atchley, an award winning and internationally recognized gerontologist, offered a new twist on this for many of us in attendance. Dr. Atchley defines Sage-wisdom as the ability to respond to a situation with clarity, compassion, deep understanding , broad knowledge, and powerful listening and interpersonal skills. It is NOT about having the correct answer or even an answer at all! How different this is from what we normally label as "smarts" or "intellectual capacity" where having the answer to a problem is highly regarded.
But how can a person have "clarity", "deep understanding" and "broad knowledge" and still not have the answer, I asked him? His response was that clarity relates to personal clarity about your sense of purpose, deep understanding relates to understanding human nature and broad knowledge comes from life's lessons, philosophy and experiences and not from anything specific learned from a book. In short a wise sage has mastered the art of "waiting" for the answer to develop.
Is there a role for Sages in today's society? Although there was no consensus among the participants I discussed this with, there was agreement on the following. Sages embody the values that transcend individual conflicts and selfishness. With the attributes listed above if modern sages were provided the opportunity and authority to exercise their advisory capabilities, they might inspire society to discard short-sighted mentalities in favor of broader spiritual values that lead to a more sustainable, peaceful, and joyful lifestyle for us all.
Can you imagine how your family, neighborhood and community might be different if more people like this were available as resources?
Blessings!
What is it to be be a "wise sage"? Bob Atchley, an award winning and internationally recognized gerontologist, offered a new twist on this for many of us in attendance. Dr. Atchley defines Sage-wisdom as the ability to respond to a situation with clarity, compassion, deep understanding , broad knowledge, and powerful listening and interpersonal skills. It is NOT about having the correct answer or even an answer at all! How different this is from what we normally label as "smarts" or "intellectual capacity" where having the answer to a problem is highly regarded.
But how can a person have "clarity", "deep understanding" and "broad knowledge" and still not have the answer, I asked him? His response was that clarity relates to personal clarity about your sense of purpose, deep understanding relates to understanding human nature and broad knowledge comes from life's lessons, philosophy and experiences and not from anything specific learned from a book. In short a wise sage has mastered the art of "waiting" for the answer to develop.
Is there a role for Sages in today's society? Although there was no consensus among the participants I discussed this with, there was agreement on the following. Sages embody the values that transcend individual conflicts and selfishness. With the attributes listed above if modern sages were provided the opportunity and authority to exercise their advisory capabilities, they might inspire society to discard short-sighted mentalities in favor of broader spiritual values that lead to a more sustainable, peaceful, and joyful lifestyle for us all.
Can you imagine how your family, neighborhood and community might be different if more people like this were available as resources?
Blessings!
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