Ageism
Ageism is the most widely
accepted form of discrimination. The article below by Rainesford Stauffer
(2021) is not a scholarly resource, but I found her essay captivating.
Pressured to attain arbitrary markers by age thirty, Stauffer pondered what it
means to be a “successful adult” and sought the expertise of lifespan
development expert Dr. Suzanne Deggs-White. Is ageism directly related to
capitalism? You decide.
https://www.elle.com/life-love/a36290047/ageism-hurts-all-of-us-even-young-people/
Good News About Brains
Brain functioning declines
with age, right? Probably not. In fact, two brain domains may IMPROVE! A recent
study suggests that older adults showed superior “executive inhibiting and orienting”
with increased age. The study by Verssimo et al. (2021) conducted a
cross-sectional study of 702 participants aged 58-98. This is just one study
and does not “prove” anything. However, their findings add to the body of
research on aging brains confronts the long-held assumption that aging leads to
cognitive decline. Check out the news release from Georgetown University
Medical Center. [The journal article is not free and therefore, I have included
the link to the News Release instead.]
https://gumc.georgetown.edu/news-release/key-mental-abilities-can-actually-improve-during-aging/
Verssimo, P., Verhaeghen, P., Goldman, N.,
Weinstein, M., & Ullman, M.T., (19 August 2021). Evidence that ageing yields
improvements as well as declines across attention and executive function. Nature Human Behaviour. (DOI: 10.1038/s41562-021-01169-7
Gerotranscendence
From Reason and Meaning ~ Philosophical reflections on life, death, and
the meaning of life, from the 2017 blog of author Dr. John Messerly. I
typically do not post articles from 2017 but this topic is timeless and worth
reading. Lars Torstam identified the theory of gerotranscendence as a shift
in individual development that typically happens between 52 and 97 years of
age. Level of Self, Level of Personal and Social Relationships, and Cosmic Level
are most often the result of life experiences including hardships, losses,
challenges, and self-reflection. It has nothing to do with educational
attainment, status, or wealth. Not all individuals experience inner
transformation, but those who do have been found to have higher levels of life
satisfaction. Check this out, I think you will find this theory fascinating.
On Lars Tornstam and his idea of “gerotranscendence” visit: https://bit.ly/3ueZTEm
Workshop
Sage-ing International Online
Summit Oct 29-31. Theme for 2021 is “Evolving Elders: Shifting from “I” to “We.”
The registration link is below: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ei1acy7p47e76065&oseq=&c=&ch=
More Workshops
Finally, from Top Sixty over
60, are you ready for a reset? “ReSet” is their signature program, designed
for personal growth. Questioning yourself at this stage of life? In a rut? Wondering
about what to do next? This workshop is designed to “Develop a growth mindset,
identify shifting paradigms, and gain deeper insight into yourself.” Lots of other programs for corporations and
individuals are offered. Check it out: https://www.topsixtyoversixty.com/services/services-individuals-workshops/
Thank you! Brain image from Natasha
Connell on Unsplash.
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