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6/11/2021 0 Comments Fierce with Reality When you truly possess all you have been and done, which may take some time, you are fierce with reality (Florida Scott- Maxwell, 1968,p. 42) The work we need to do in the latter part of the life course is just as important as everything before that. The life experience we accrue can be used to re-assess the challenges and outcomes of our earlier life. Hindsight IS beautiful!
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6/10/2021 0 Comments Reconciliation Life review at any age involves a comparison between life as it has been lived to the present and life as it might have been lived. It offers an opportunity to reconcile past values and goals with present realities…like cleaning out a closet. Reminiscing can invite us to make choices about what to keep and what to throw away.  6/9/2021 0 Comments Invincible or Resilient? In the depth of winter, I finally learned there was within me an invincible summer. (Albert Camus) More than physical decline, we must focus on the potential of developmental growth; emotional, spiritual, psychological. It is the first time in human history that we have a burgeoning older adult demographic. We are learning how best to cultivate all seasons of life that Camus referred to. 6/8/2021 0 Comments Transitions Like the beat of a drum, add rhythm and texture to life. Each life has not only its own rhythm but also a melody line that moves forward from one phase to the next. The melody line includes those aspects of the self and personal history that we choose to carry forward. These personal assets and our external support systems can provide continuity and help us adapt to new situations. Wise words from James Birren…. I love the analogy to music. By reviewing your life story, you can always create a new song. 6/7/2021 0 Comments More on Story Telling Kierkegaard said, “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” Autobiography can serve as a bridge that helps us travel more easily from our past to our future. Do not hesitate to share your stories! OR encourage others to share by asking questions like, "What role did money play in your life". Birren developed 8 other themes to elicit conversation. Try recording them! 6/5/2021 0 Comments Seniors Week! There are so many reasons and ways to celebrate growing older. One of the greatest and often underestimated is sharing life stories. The field of narrative studies is flourishing across disciplines. Researchers like James Birren, Robert Randall, and Gary Kenyon have set the foundation for practical applications like ‘guided autobiography’. It is a “semi structured process for life review that incorporates individual and group experiences with autobiography method” (Birren; “Telling the Stories of Life Through Guided Autobiography Groups” p. 5) These experts believe that we understand ourselves through perception, memory and imagination as we exist and interact in our worlds. In other words, our identities are fluid; evolving as we blend our past and present to make meaning of ourselves and our lives. Check out the stories and consider sharing some of your stories! https://www.growolderwithme.net/ #abseniors |
AuthorMary Whale is an artist and nurse advocating regard for the beauty of the ageing process. Archives
May 2024
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