"There is so much to do in our later years," according to Ann Arbor aging expert Dr. Theresa Reid, who shares a lot of information about the possibilities in this month's "Modern Aging" with WEMU's Lisa Barry.
DR. REID'S THOUGHTS ON OUR LATER YEARS
What do we have to look forward to in our later years? Once we graduate from work and childrearing?
All through life, until retirement, there’s a road map of sorts: childhood, primary school, college or career prep, family-building and child-rearing for many, career consolidation, and you’re busy busy busy busy then whoosh! Out the other end with 20 or 30 years of life left and plenty of energy, but “nothing to do” – at least, no signposts saying “This next.”
This is your graduation! Into a life phase with no specific requirements, where you get to self-create. Very exciting!
You may need to go through a process to discover your purpose for the next phase: Richard Leider maybe (several books on the power of purpose), Jeri Sedlar (Don’t Retire, Rewire). Or you can go with trial and error.
A FEW SUGGESTIONS
Continuing education, including in creative arts
- Osher Lifelong Learning Centers
- Washtenaw Community College – photography, painting, music, writing, etc.
- Road Scholar – a nonprofit. And they have scholarships for caregivers who need a break.
Social life
- Senior Centers – a friend recently took up bridge at the A2 Senior Center and loves it! Also exercise, creative work, education, including health education. Search “senior center [city name]”
- Places of worship (UU church is non-denominational)
Continued work
Spiritual seeking
- Places of worship
- Sage-ing International
- Conscious aging -- IONS
- Center for Conscious Eldering – Conscious Living, Conscious Aging
- Other books: Aging as a Spiritual Practice (Lewis Richmond), From Age-ing to Sage-ing (Rabbi Schacter-Shalomi), Still Here, by Ram Dass.
Volunteerism
- Volunteermatch.com
- Operation Warm – 25 volunteer jobs you can do from home
- Elders Action Network and Elders Climate Action
- My activism page – for social justice activism opportunities in environmental protection, stopping mass incarceration, child protection, gun violence prevention, and several more.
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— Lisa Barry is the host of All Things Considered on WEMU. You can contact Lisa at 734.487.3363, on Twitter @LisaWEMU, or email her at lbarryma@emich.edu
