8 books to help cope with ageing

Ageing is inevitable, but to grow old gracefully is a choice. While we know that getting old is unavoidable, how we perceive this natural process depends greatly upon us. It is important to keep a positive, even humorous, perspective on aging.

The retired years are a great opportunity to utilize all the new found time we have on our hands, and one way to enjoy this time is to pick up or explore some new leisure activities. Age does not eclipse one’s ability to continue learning or to explore something new. Getting older is tough, but if one has a good companion, even a good book it can help lift one’s mood.

A person will never be alone if she has books as companion, books enlighten us deep within. Feeling low, gloomy or depressed? Pick up the book of your favourite author or a book written by some author in the humour category and it will swing your mood from gloomy to bright and cheerful. Also as the saying goes, “little reading is all the therapy a person needs sometimes”. Books are like the 24/7 kind of a partner, whichever situation or condition, they are always there to accompany you in your journey.

Books are like shoes, they need to be a good fit for you! Being a Senior Care Specialist I keep suggesting books to my elderly clients as reading, not only helps expands knowledge but it also keeps one mentally stimulated and helps fight unhealthy stress hormones. A good self-help or autobiography book can help overcome our personal barriers and motivate us to act and meet our own goals.

I have read quite a few books that talk about the challenges and surprises of aging. Presently I am reading a book called “The Art of Aging, A Doctor’s Prescription for Well Being” by Sherwin B. Nuland. This book sets out to explore the influence of aging on our mind and bodies. Here is a list of 8 good books for seniors to help cope with aging :

1) From Age-Ing to Sage-Ing: A Revolutionary Approach to Growing Older  by Zalman Schachter-Shalomi

This is an inspiring and informative guide where the writer shares his wisdom and experiences with the readers. This book inspires the readers to create an aging process for themselves that is full of excitement, thrill, passion and fulfilment rather than negativity, anxiety. Writer also explains how elders can embrace the power of their wisdom, knowledge to guide those around them. Zalman Schachter also gives his readers ways to use their experiences to change the stigma surrounding aging.

2) How Did I Get to Be 70 When I’m 35 inside?: Spiritual Surprises of Later Life by Linda Douty

Linda Douty a spiritual director, in this book she talks about the challenges and surprises of aging and how it actually feels than what you are supposed to feel. Unlike other authors, Linda Douty encourages to face the inner changes of aging and to learn how they can help find meaning in your later years. How did I get to be 70 when I’m 35 inside portrays aging as an unchartered adventure instead of a prison sentence.

3) The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully by Joan Chittister

Joan Chittister is an author and international speaker who have written numerous books but through this book she turns the society’s attention to the stigma, stereotypes about aging. In this book she describes the last stage of life as “capstone years, the time in which a whole new life in the making again’. She adds: “The gift of these years is not merely being alive — it is the gift of becoming more fully alive than ever.” 

4) You’re Only Old Once: A Book for Obsolete Children by Dr. Seuss

You’re only old once was Seuss’s first adult book since the “The seven lady godivas”.  Though Dr. Seuss is well known for his great work in books for children, this comical book shows what it’s like to get old is a must read. The book beautifully portrays Seuss’s many visits to the doctor in the later part of his life. You’re only old once also reached at number 1 position on the New York Times best sellers list and remained on the list for over 60 weeks.

5) The Wonder of Aging: A New Approach to Embracing Life After Fifty by Michael Gurian

Michael Gurian is an American author and social philosopher whose several books were in New York Times bestsellers, offers a holistic look at the emotional, spiritual, cognitive, psychological dimensions of aging and how to beautifully celebrate life after fifty.

He talks about how the years after fifty are generally discussed only in terms of physical health. Through this book, he describes aging as something positive and miraculous and has divided life after fifty into three stages: The age of transformation (from our late forties to mid sixties), The age of distinction (from sixty five to eighty), and The age of completion (which involves completing one’s life journey). Gurian, also provides with a general description of the difference in the ways men and women age.

6) It’s Never Too Late to Begin Again: Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond by Julia Cameron

Cameron inspires people who are into retirement to embrace the adventure these years bring along. She portrays readers that retirement can in fact be the most fulfilling and creative time of their lives. The life someone had has changed and the life coming ahead is yet to be defined. In this book, Cameron tells inspiring stories of retirees who discovered new artistic pursuits and passion that nurtured their souls.

It’s never too late revolves around a twelve week program that includes simple tools that will guide and inspire you to make the most of this time in your life.

7) Aging Wisely: Facing Emotional Challenges from 50 to 85+ Years by Viola Mecke

Viola Mecke 85 year old widow, retired clinical psychologist and a cancer survivor through this book tries to share not only what she has learned from 40 years as a teacher and practitioner but as someone who has actually lived the subject of her book.

The author turned her personal experiences into a slim guidebook that has divided the aging years into four parts: The initiation (age 50-65), Retirement (65-75), The Age of Compassion (75-85) and The Curtain Call (85 and up). Viola explores the physical, mental and social changes that are likely to happen as we get older. In the second half of Aging Wisely, she talks about the emotions we often face and offers tips for being strong, dispelling loneliness and how to deal with other issues.

Through this book the author strives to aid everyone by focusing on, preparing for, adapting to and coping with the inevitable changes with the best spirit possible.

8) Life Gets Better: The Unexpected Pleasures of Growing Older by Wendy Lustbader

Wendy Lustbader is the author of several books and essays that have earned her a national reputation in the field of aging. Through this book she focuses on the value of aging.

From our earliest life, we have been told that our youth will be the best time of our lives and that everything that comes after that will be a sad decline. Also people wonder what could be possibly be good about getting older. So through this book she shares how we move from our youth where we are still “trying to figure out what are we good at” to a point where we actually know what we are good at and may therefore find it easy to make decisions, to explore other new things and to take risks.

Based on this optimistic view point, Wendy writes a book that consists of 24 short essays categorized into three sections “Labeled Hope, Transformation and Peace”.