The genesis of this blog is an e-mail from our oldest daughter, Stephanie. Dad, she said, I’ve been doing a lot of research on the powerful effects of gratitude, which led me to a blog about finding meaning and happiness in old age.
The blog, by Jane Brody, was posted on The New York Times Personal Health website in March of this year. In the blog, Jane mentioned two books. One is authored by Marc E. Agronin, M.D. and titled “The End of Old Age: Living a Longer and More Purposeful Life.” The other is “Happiness is Your Choice to Make” by John Leland.
I found Dr. Agronin’s book prominently on display in the Health and Wellness section of the Palatine Public Library, with the blue and orange lettering popping out of the book’s sunburst yellow front cover.
What I discovered from reading the book is that Dr. Agronin has served as the director of mental health services, clinical research and the outpatient memory center at Miami Jewish Health for nearly 20 years. His book is filled with insights, observations and stories based on his experiences as a geriatric psychiatrist working with patients whose average age is in their mid-to-late 80s and early 90s.
As Dr. Agronin writes in the first sentence of his “A Note from the Author” at the front of the book, the book’s message is simple: Aging brings Strength.
In the book, he goes on to say we should embrace and celebrate aging, not fight it and view it as an enemy.
One of the benefits of aging that Dr. Argonin cites is the wealth of knowledge and wisdom that comes from many years of accumulated experiences, successes and failures.
He challenges the notion that we should be looking for magical Fountains of Youth or miraculous potions and pills that purport to reverse or delay the aging process. He also challenges our traditional view of retirement as a time to sit back and rest.
He talks about aging as time in which individuals can reinvent themselves, thrive, pursue a new purpose and focus on creating a legacy.
We can choose to make aging better, Dr. Argonin says, despite the possibility of experiencing the challenges that result from more limited abilities and choices. And, research shows that as individuals and as a society, we should. Studies indicate that the survival rates for individuals with positive attitudes about aging are significantly better than among people with negative attitudes.
What I love most about “The End of Old Age: Living a Longer and More Purposeful Life” is that in Part IV of the book, Dr. Argonin provides advice on creating an Action Plan to make aging the best possible experience for you.
I strongly recommend you check the book out.