Creative Aging: Rethinking Retirement and Non-Retirement in a Changing World

Bankson, Marjory Zoet

ISBN 10: 1594732817 / ISBN 13: 9781594732812

Published by Skylight Paths Publishing, 2010

Former library book; May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less 0.51. Seller Inventory # G1594732817I4N10

Synopsis:

Discover Your Unique Gift

"Creative aging is a choice.... If we remember that transition always begins with endings, moves on to a wilderness period of testing and trying, and only then do we reach the beginning of something new, then we can embrace this encore period of life with hope and curiosity, remembering always that it is our true nature to be creative, to be always birthing new ways of sharing our planet together."
―from the Epilogue

In a practical and useful way, Marjory Zoet Bankson explores the spiritual dimensions of retirement and aging. She offers creative ways for you to share your gifts and experience, particularly when retirement leaves you questioning who you are when you are no longer defined by your career.

Drawing on stories of people who have reinvented their lives in their older years, Bankson explores the issues you need to address as you move into this generative period of life:

• Release: Letting go of the vocational identity associated with your career or primary work
• Resistance: Feeling stuck, stagnant, resisting change
• Reclaiming: Drawing energy from the past, discovering unused gifts
• Revelation: Forming a new vision of the future
• Crossing Point: Moving from stagnation to generativity
• Risk: Stepping out into the world with new hope
• Relating: Finding or creating new structures for a new kind of work

Review:

Drawing on stories of real-life people, this practical, useful book develops the spiritual dimensions of aging in a way that makes what the author calls "the generative years" count. Bankson develops her book around seven themes. She begins with "Release": letting go of vocational identity; and continues with "Resistance": resisting change; "Reclaiming": drawing energy from the past; "Revelation": forming a new vision for the future; "Crossing Point": moving from stagnation to generatively; "Risk": stepping out with new hope; and "Relating": creating or finding new structures for a new kind of work. The book is a valuable tool for those beginning to think of retirement, forced into retirement by the present economy, as the situation forces the reader to look at how s(he) looks at her(himself) as a person or as a worker. Each chapter is followed by a reflection on the spiritual dimension and questions to ponder related to the topic. The epilogue, "Living Wholeheartedly," focuses on the attitude necessary to age creatively, being grateful for the gift of this extra time to receive the grace that surrounds us every day. In simple language the author presents considerations that will give the reader a choice between growing old and creative aging as s(he) reworks her/his identity associated with a career, making peace with what has or has not been accomplished to discovering who s(he) is now and enjoying the freedom. She calls readers to remember that “we are human beings not human doings.” This valuable book is strongly recommended for anyone facing the reality of retirement. Ann Lynch, SSJ

(Ann Lynch Catholic Library World)

Bibliographic Details

Title: Creative Aging: Rethinking Retirement and ...
Publisher: Skylight Paths Publishing
Publication Date: 2010
Binding: Paperback
Condition: Very Good
Dust Jacket Condition: No Jacket