Comments on: The Dark Side of Positive Aging

By: Kristopher Jestis

Kristopher Jestis — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 14:58:30 +0000

This is the guidance I was looking for. Impressive blog. Pretty inspirational! Your posts are so very helpful and detailed. The links you feature are also very useful too. Thank you

By: Michelle Gennaro

Michelle Gennaro — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 22:30:15 +0000

I loved your article! You have such a great voice, eloquence, and insight into aging that I have never considered! I really look forward to being a part of the Chicago Bridge.

By: Ann Fry

Ann Fry — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:49:46 +0000

Thanks for raising the issue. Aging isn’t for wimps, but guess what, it hits all of us unless we end up leaving this planet early. My concern is that the media and advertisers perhaps represent us in ways that are untrue to our desires. My hope is that we age appropriately, with dignity. At 65, although a public figure, I’ve let my hair go natural (silver) and I speak about aging as a time to find the happiness and fulfillment that has perhaps eluded us. It’s our time… no rules, no demands or expectations. The advertisers only use us for drug, illness, nursing home ads. That’s sad. They obviously haven’t seen the statistic that by 2015 about 40% of the population will be over 50. How about a little respect for our vitality, passion, intelligence? That’s what I’m hoping for. We have much to do. And for those of us who grew up in the 60′s, it’s still time to raise our voices and to change the world.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 21:32:49 +0000

Some wise words Michael! I believe you are right on when you say it takes resilience and connecting with others around us to age successfully!

By: Peggy Best

Peggy Best — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 04:04:44 +0000

Thanks Michael! I look forward to learning as much as i can about “courageous acclimation and resilence” as I “strategically” plan for my future. I appreciate your ability to eloquently and fairly discuss the dark and positive sides of aging. Wonderful job!

By: Kay Stark

Kay Stark — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:00:37 +0000

Well done, Michael. My husband & I are both seniors. This past weekend we visited with two of my husband’s aunts both in assisted living quarters. They were both positive and content. However, they both said that they were ready to die and were actually looking forward to that. That is the result of positive aging in my opinion. You live a good life and that life has taught you to let go. I laugh at all those “beautiful people” in the positive aging ads. I have never believed that so much self focus is healthy. No matter how old you are, there are always people who need to be listened to and cared about.

By: Marcia Schak

Marcia Schak — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:04:29 +0000

Michael,thank you,thank you. You are addressing me and my thoughts. I am so tired of the “positive elders” who have every privilege this society offers including financial security and good health. As I am a young elder (74.5 years) and recently not employed my life has changed and I have not suddenly become Grandma Moses or discovered some heretofore hidden talent. I have been presented with the opportunity to be more of who I am in some ways and to be grateful for this. I am so aware that the invisibility of aging and this culture’s attempt to paint this inevitability with very soft focus does most of us a great disservice and gives this nation an excuse to not face the needs that occur for the great majority of Americans as we age. Michael, continue your good work. I will as well.

By: Chris Rey

Chris Rey — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 12:43:25 +0000

If it can’t be marketed and sold, generally there is little use for it in the public eye. There’s lots of commercial appeal connected with ‘postive and successful’ aging and the aging baby boomers are eating it up.

By: Ralph Parthie

Ralph Parthie — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 00:21:21 +0000

Thank you for your insights, Michael. As one of those aging boomers I appreciate your insight regarding the importance of seeing this journey as an opportunity for creativity and growth. It’s kind of like the rest of life in that way. We continue to ask the questions of how to connect with the people around us and how to contribute to others in our own way, how to see and respond to the signs of the times, how to be generative and share life with others as we can even when we hurt or fear.

By: Rosann Corcoran

Rosann Corcoran — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 15:07:38 +0000

Wonderfully stated, Michael. I often think of Morrie Schwartz (Tuesdays with Morrie) as my role model for positive aging. Despite his ALS diagnosis and his eventual decline to complete dependency on others phsically, he was able to maintain a phenomonal spiritual core on which he structured his life. His abiltiy to maintain this in himself and to share it with others was inspirational. From his example and from my work with other debilitated older adults facing the “dark side” of aging, I have learned that it is the physical health, stregnth and independence that make for positive aging. It is a much more core spiritual issue, creativity certainly being one expression of this.