Our
Wisdom Years
Charles Garfield PhD
Hardcover:
256 pages
Publisher:
Central Recovery Press (April 21, 2020)
Language:
English
ISBN-10:
1949481182
ISBN-13:
978-1949481181
Product
Dimensions: 6 x 9 inches
Psychologist
and best-selling author Charles Garfield Share an uplifting vision as
he takes us on a journey of a lifetime.
Description
Some
of the most profound growth of our lives can happen in the home
stretch, the years after age sixty or so. It’s a time when we can
finally crystallize the meaning of what we’ve been and done so far
and fully expand into the self we’ve always intended to be, guided
by the voice of the soul. But, says psychologist Charles Garfield,
that can only happen if we first loosen the grip of the life we’ve
led so far, the one that’s been focused outwardly―on activity,
achievement, and the idea of success―and let our souls lead the
way.
In
Our Wisdom Years, he skillfully and practically guides readers
through nine tasks that can transform the struggles of aging,
bringing fulfillment, joy, and serenity. Drawing on the
understandings that come from both his work as acclaimed “success
guru” in the 1980s and the truths distilled from long-term work
with those at the end of life, Garfield offers a fresh, uplifting
vision of the wholeness that awaits us in our wisdom years.
Our
Wisdom Years is unique among books in the “conscious aging” genre
in its understanding of how challenging it can be to make the shift
from the ubiquitous values of drive and achievement that infuse our
contemporary “success culture” to the inner orientation that
gives richness to later life. Because of that, Garfield is well
positioned to offer considerable expertise on retirement, its inner
challenges for people leaving the work force, and the promise of
transformation that can come with a turn from a focus on achievement
to a focus on satisfaction.
Filled
with the author’s insights and life experiences, the reader is
taken through the nine tasks of transformation. Dr. Garfield shares
how we can gracefully let go of the younger selves we’ve been and
walk through the opening that keeps beckoning toward this soul-driven
version of later life. He encourages us to take the risk of being
fully alive as our years pass. This is no small task―aging is not
for the faint of heart! The beautiful paradox of growing older is
that none of the gifts of age are available without the kind of loss
that forces us to confront mortality in a way we can’t deny. In the
face of loss, we’re changed and expanded by truths that come from
the heart, not the mind. We learn that we’re more than our bodies,
part of something much larger than we are; that love and kindness
matter most of all.
My Review
Well,
hello there! I was hoping for some sunshine and instead
we
got
hit
with snow. We are currently under a snow emergency and schools are already canceling for tomorrow.
So,
I'm sitting
down
with a cup of coffee to
finish the ARC
for Our Wisdom Years by Charles Garfield, PhD. This book is
geared for those
'Growing Older with Joy, Fulfillment, Resilience and No Regrets'.
This inspirational book starts off with us growing beyond who we've been.
I flagged the page that talks about the importance of joy being born of nurturing our connection to what has meaning for
us.
I expect many equate joy with love and physical interaction with others. I'm big on snuggling and cuddling so I concentrated a bit on the section that speaks to Bring Our Closest Ones Closer because I like that it takes a look at long term relationships and helps us recognize that it is easy to fall into the rut of comfortable routines.
I'm definitely guilty
of this! Sometimes, I come home from work and head to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. My husband and I share brief
conservations about our work schedules and then I head off to another room to read. Don’t
get me wrong. I’m still very much in love with my husband. I think
sometimes it is so effortless that I fail to recognize all that needs to be
said.
Four Ways to Broaden and Deepen The Love In Your Life, helps me think about what it is that I value and cherish about our relationship and how to go about verbalizing it more.
My favorite section in this book deals with helping us realize how many times we meet strangers who give us encouragement or offer kindness and generosity. This gives us the freedom to express our gratitude in writing gratitude letters or visiting those we know to express our gratitude.
The book ends by making us aware of what we gain in our senior years and offers a quote from Mary Sarton who was a gifted writer of thought-provoking poetry, novels, and journals. Though this book is geared towards seniors, it is useful for anyone wanting to strengthen relationships.
My favorite section in this book deals with helping us realize how many times we meet strangers who give us encouragement or offer kindness and generosity. This gives us the freedom to express our gratitude in writing gratitude letters or visiting those we know to express our gratitude.
The book ends by making us aware of what we gain in our senior years and offers a quote from Mary Sarton who was a gifted writer of thought-provoking poetry, novels, and journals. Though this book is geared towards seniors, it is useful for anyone wanting to strengthen relationships.
About
the Author
Charles
Garfield, PhD, is the founder of Shanti, an internationally honored
volunteer organization dedicated to the care of the dying, the
elderly, and those living with cancer and AIDS, For his work with Shanti and for originating the
Shanti model of peer support, Garfield was named National Activist of
the Year―one of America’s highest awards to individuals making
voluntary contributions in public service.