Tag Archives: older adults

When Your Adult Child Won’t Talk to You

Posted on September 26, 2016 by Bob Ritzema

“What to do when your grown child won’t talk to you?” asked a recent article at Next Avenue. The author, Jill Smolowe, states that she takes the following approach to close relationships: “For as long as I can remember, I’ve … Continue reading →

Posted in Relationships | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lessons from a 93 Year Old

Posted on September 8, 2016 by Bob Ritzema

Originally posted on BeautyBeyondBones:
I had one of those experiences last night that’s going to stick with me for a long time. Sunday night. 7:30pm. And I was going to a church I had never been to. I moseyed in…

Posted in Spirit | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Bloom Anyway

Posted on September 2, 2016 by Bob Ritzema

This spring, I planted sunflower seeds in my mom’s yard. I planted them in three places: in the backyard, alongside the driveway, and in a mostly-fenced garden area. The seedlings soon pushed their heads out of the dirt, then grew … Continue reading →

Posted in Psyche, Spirit | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Retirement and the Post-Olympic Letdown

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Bob Ritzema

The quadrennial glut of athletic excellence known as the Olympics is over. The sports fans among us are going through withdrawal–our televisions have been emptied of cyclists, runners, rowers, sailors, wrestlers, swimmers, and the like; no one is counting metals; … Continue reading →

Posted in Psyche | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Do You Need to Grieve Your Unfulfilled Expectations for an Adult Child?

Posted on August 17, 2016 by Bob Ritzema

As a therapist, I work regularly with people who are grieving some sort of loss. One of the most difficult losses handle is death of a child. Families used to be much larger than they are now and, prior to … Continue reading →

Posted in Relationships | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Death Then and Now: Providential, Suicidal, or Just Regrettable?

Posted on August 7, 2016 by Bob Ritzema

A few months ago I read Thomas R. Cole’s book The Journey of Life. I was especially interested to learn about attitudes toward older people throughout U.S. history; here are a few thoughts about the topic. In reading Cole, I noticed that attitudes toward the … Continue reading →

Posted in Death | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

What Life Goals Are Worth Having?

Posted on June 7, 2016 by Bob Ritzema

Over 60 years ago, psychoanalyst Erik Erikson identified what he considered to be the key psychological issue of late adulthood. According to Erikson, as someone realizes that death is drawing closer, he or she looks back over the entire span of life. … Continue reading →

Posted in Psyche | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Learning About Life From The Obituaries

Posted on May 30, 2016 by Bob Ritzema

Do you read the obituaries? Though I’m getting to the age where I probably should, I seldom do. Just as pedestrians tend to depend on others to look for traffic when crossing the road, I depend on my mom and … Continue reading →

Posted in Death, Relationships | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Bring an Item That Holds Great Personal Value”

Posted on May 14, 2016 by Bob Ritzema

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 , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is It Just About The T-Shirt? Experiences Of A Race Day Volunteer

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Bob Ritzema

I’ve been a runner/jogger for over forty years, and am thankful that my old hips, knees, and ankles still can churn along faster than walking pace. Last year, I ran in a local 5-kilometer race (the Calvin Spring Classic). As … Continue reading →

Posted in Body, Psyche | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment