Forever Young: From Age to Age

1. Forever Young: From Age to Age Norman Amundson University of British Columbia

2. Life Expectancy in Canada • 1920-22 Males 59 years Females 61 years • 2007-09 Males 79 years Females 83 years Note: In BC add one year LIFE BONUS: 20 YEARS

3. The Four Ages – W. Sadler • Preparation • Achievement • Second Growth and Fulfillment • Completion

4. The Third Age The Third Age is a time for something other than retirement. retirement: to withdraw (orig. French)

5. The Third Age (50’s, 60’s, 70’s) • ‘Looking forward’ rather than withdrawing • Generativity • Finding one’s voice – Following passions and interests. • making choices that aren’t rooted in the expectations of others

6. Third Age (Continued) • a period of commencement • growth and renewal • creating a legacy • vision driven

7. Metaphors • Second Age: • linear; • climbing the ladder; • on track; • moving up the ranks • Third Age: • hubs and spokes; • web; • starbursts; • new identity: a “career ensemble”; • second growth

8. Moving from “D” to “R” Words • Decline, Degeneration, Disease, Despondency, Disability, Decrepitude • Renewal, Reinvention, Rejuvenation, Redirection

9. Third Age Options • Encore careers • Entrepreneurship • Survival Jobs • Less demanding jobs • Education • Pursue special interests • Leisure • Travel • Social Contribution • Caregiver role

10. Barriers • Age Discrimination • Weak Economy • Health (Self and Significant Others)

11. Principles of Growth for the Third Age • Mindful Reflection and Risk Taking • Realistic Optimism • Positive Third-Age Identity • Redefining and Balancing Work and Play • Greater Freedom / Greater Intimacy • Expanded Capacity to Care

12. Principle 1: Mindful Reflection and Risk Taking • Self evaluation • Break from routine • Imagine new possibilities • Take charge • Seek opportunities for active engagement and “flow” • Move from “what if” to “why not” • Commit to action

13. Principle 2: Developing Realistic Optimism • Cultivate an informed optimism • Hope affirms a vision of what can be • “I can and I will” • State what you want to have happen • Ask for help and accept encouragement from others • Planning and discipline as well as dreams • Learn to laugh at yourself

14. Principle 3: Create a Positive Third-Age Identity • Listen to your inner voice and identify barriers to its expression • Consider which roles / life patterns to be set aside • Discard myths / age stereotypes • Recover youthfulness • Accept mortality alongside growth • Reaffirm your gender identity • Independence and connection • Redefine success

15. Principle 4: Redefine and Balance Work and Play • Determine priorities and life passions • Enlarge work to include volunteerism, learning, hobbies • Risk doing something new • Express talents, spirit, creativity and values • Restructure work to express interests and values • Balance work with playful activity

16. Principle 5: Personal Freedom and Intimacy • More freedom and new patterns of intimacy • Redefine relationships (intimate interdependence) • Freedom from … and freedom to… • Greater emotional awareness • More authentic relationships

17. Principle 6: Building a Caring Life • Balancing various forms of caring • Self care • for the body (exercise, health); • for others (family and friends); • for the earth (ecological spirituality) • More compassion, altruism and generosity. • Albert Einstein on spirituality: “we need to widen our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

18. Personal Reflections

19. The Rebuilding Process • The limits of imagination • Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us • Giving up control – letting my wife control my food intake (recognizing addiction) • Ongoing diet, exercise, facial relaxation exercises, stretching

20. The Rebuilding Process (Continued) • Spending more quiet, reflective time • Listening to my body – the body tells its own story • Learning to listen more closely for the small inner voice (the voice of the Spirit) • Find quiet spaces for reading and reflection (being confronted by my own words – Physics of Living)

21. Lessons from Physics of Living • The need for BALANCE. Balancing Length, Width and Depth • Energy transfer. The transfer between ‘hot’ and ‘cold’. Managing energy drain - avoiding burnout. • Energy Re-generation

22. The Rebuilding Process (Continued) • Confronting trauma reactions (flashes) • Small Steps • Not only shedding pounds, also shedding extraneous work tasks • Feeling less responsible to meet the needs of others – staying calm; relaxing; learning to chill out • Playing and Exercise

23. Looking Ahead Then Now • The Intentional Career • Choosing Why • Choosing How • Choosing Whom • Choosing When • The Intelligent Career • Knowing Why • Knowing How • Knowing Whom

24. Writing a New Story • Searching for a new title • Writing new chapters • Exploring how to dwell more in the “present”

25. Metaphoric View Ebbing (Being) Flowing (Doing) • Reflecting • Acquiring Insight • Being Open to Possibilities • Strengthening • Committing • Expending Energy • Implementing • Acting • Applying • Adapting

26. Self Care • If there are problems when flying in an airplane the oxygen mask comes down and you are instructed to put on your own mask before trying to help others. If you are gasping for air you aren’t in any shape to help anyone. • Apply this same principle to your life and the work you are doing with others.

27. The Conversation Continues • Contact • Norman.amundson@ubc.ca