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Category Archives: Culture
The Christian Communist
I’ve been writing recently about stuff–our tendency to acquire too many things, our difficulty letting go, our need to simplify as we get older. Recently I ran across a quote on possessions and spirituality by Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk. … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Spirit
Tagged Christianity, communism, faith, possessions, purpose, Simone Weil, Thomas Merton
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The Changed Lines of Generational Power
I have been reading Being Mortal by Atul Gawande, who is a surgeon, a staff writer for the New Yorker, and a Harvard Professor. He’s a busy guy! His book explores how medical advances have changed aging and death, not … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Psyche, Relationships
Tagged adulthood, aging, Atul Gawande, elderly parents, older adults, seniors
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Living in an Age of Accumulation
George Carlin may be right about a house being a place to keep our stuff, but, nowadays, we’re less inclined to leave home in order to get more stuff. That’s because more stuff regularly appears magically on our doorsteps while … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Psyche
Tagged consumerism, decluttering, faith, materialsim, older adults, simplification
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Seniors Without Savings
I’ve written previously about the difficulties faced by older adults who haven’t saved for retirement. For example, in this post from 2013 I wrote about the large numbers of Americans who will either have to delay retirement or work during … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Resources
Tagged affordable housing, aging, elderly, older adults, poverty, retirement
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An Art Show and an Old Friend’s Vocation
I recently went to an exhibit of paintings by Franklin D. Speyers, one of my college roommates. Frank currently has a show entitled “West of the Imagination” at the Center Art Gallery of Calvin College, the school where we both … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Psyche, Spirit
Tagged aging, art, Charles Taylor, faith, Franklin D. Speyers, transcendence, Western art
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“Touch Me”
There’s an interesting incident near the end of David Foster Wallace’s magnum opus Infinite Jest that says a lot about how humans treat each other. It’s the story of Barry Loach, the head trainer at Enfield Tennis Academy. Earlier, Barry’s … Continue reading
Relocating to a Retirement Community: “Settling In”
I recently read Richard Morgan’s 2006 book Settling In: My First Year in a Retirement Community. At age 74, Morgan, a retired Presbyterian minister, moved from Morgantown, North Carolina to a retirement community in Western Pennsylvania. He and his wife … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Relationships, Resources
Tagged aging, elderly, living arrangements, loss, older adults, regret, relocating, retirement communities
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“Bring an Item That Holds Great Personal Value”
The psychology practice where I work part-time recently had a one day retreat. Everyone who attended was asked to bring a bag containing: 1) A favorite hat, scarf, or other personal item (tee shirt?) that you enjoy wearing 2) One … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Psyche
Tagged aging, driving, health, mementos, older adults, reminiscence, valuables
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Ageism Through the Ages
Ageism is prejudice or discrimination against those who are middle-aged or elderly. Psychiatrist Robert Neil Butler coined the term in 1969, but of course ageism existed well before that. What attitudes did people have toward the elderly a hundred or … Continue reading
Posted in Culture
Tagged ageism, aging, attitudes, elderly, faith, history, older adults
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Aging Well the Puritan Way
Where should we look for models of how to age well? Who has a good understanding of what makes for good psychological, social, and spiritual functioning in old age? Well, how about the Puritans? That, at least, is where Maxine Hancock … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Psyche, Spirit
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