Ageism is pervasive in our culture. Yet with the number of Americans age 65 and over expected to almost double to 83.7 million (20% of the population) by 2050, it may time to face aging differently.
According to sociologist Anne Karpf, writing in the New York Times earlier this year, age stereotyping is pervasive, infecting social media and social mores with 'gerontophobia' that we internalize. We see age as a defining characteristic and become guilty of prejudice against our future selves.
Yet an emerging age-acceptance movement seeks a different view. "How to enable the growing numbers of old people to live comfortable, meaningful lives is a fundamental issue of equality, with benefits for all," Karpf writes. "If we make the world better for old people, we make it better for everyone, from stroller-pushers to wheelchair-users."
Karpf equates age resistance with "a futile kind of life resistance." Yet when we marshall the skills and the mindset to see ourselves differently as we age and overcome our internalized prejudices, we develop the power to prepare--to build our resilience, navigate the challenges, and most importantly, discover new areas of vitality, joy, and promise.
In their forthcoming book, Wise Aging: Living with Joy, Resilience, and Spirit, Rabbi Rachel Cowan and Dr. Linda Thal demonstrate the tools we need to age well. With warmth, humor, and wisdom they explore a wide range of issues around aging, including:
- Investing in relationships with adult children and spouses
- Befriending an aging body
- Offering and seeking forgiveness
- Cultivating gratitude and other aspects of well-being
- Learning to live with loss
- Shaping one's legacy, becoming stewards of the future
Wise Aging was conceived as the guidebook for workshops held by the Institute for Jewish Spirituality. It is an inspirational, effective relationship building tool for clergy- and lay-led groups in a lifelong learning program.
Find out more about Wise Aging. The book will be available in June; you will get a preview copy when you sign up for Golem Express.
For additional support and resources to live the later years with spirit, resilience, and wisdom, click here.
