a New Vision of Aging - Introduction to my blog
Aging is a natural process. Everything that is born, from the macro to the micro, from galaxies to mountains to ants, from people to entire societies and nations, comes into existence and eventually winds down, i.e., ages, and is gone. What’s up for grabs is not whether we will age or not, but HOW.
Will we do it consciously, skillfully and with positive results that enables us to reap the rich potentials of our aging? Or will we do it unconsciously, unskillfully, conditioned as we are by our society with negative attitudes about aging and older people?
Will we be passive victims to the very real challenges of aging, or will we know how to meet them with knowledge and tools whereby to use them for our own deepest growth and sense of well being?
I am a sixty three year old Ph.D. psychologist in private practice as a Life Enrichment Coach, a Clinical Consultant to the Center for Attitudinal Healing in Sausalito, CA, an author, public speaker, workshop leader, grandfather of three and married to my wife Andrea, a pediatric nurse, for 40 years.
Through my personal experience of aging as well as through my clinical work over the years, I have developed a program called A NEW VISION OF AGING, which is based on addressing five development tasks with which to step into an empowered relationship with ones’ aging process.
The intention of this blog is to address various topics about aging giving participants opportunity to dialogue with me and with one another so that we can tap our collective wisdom in a fruitful manner that benefits us all. Some of the many categories I will address are – what is conscious aging? How do I do it? What are the benefits of conscious aging?
Mind/body/spirit wellness, spiritual enrichment, creativity enhancement, finding and living your life purpose and legacy, challenges of aging, tools and skills with which to meet these challenges in a growthfull manner, relationships/intimacy and sexuality, latest research on neuro-plasticty and how to exercise the brain to help it grow in its memory power and cognitive functioning, social and environmental activism, physical activity and adventure, befriending your mortality, and living life fully, joyfully and meaningfully through the stages of aging right on up to completion.
I think the ideal person most likely to be interested in my conscious aging work fits into the category of “cultural creatives”, between the age of 50 through early 80’s, with a college education, are middle class or above, live throughout the United States but probably closer to metropolitan areas.
They are independent thinkers, seek deeper meaning in their lives, and want to have fun, be physically fit and active, adventurous, travel, grow to fulfill their potentials. They are spiritually oriented but not involved in mainstream religions. They are concerned about social and environmental challenges and want to do something to contribute to a better world.