“Grandparenting isn’t a parent redo—that ship has sailed,” Coffield says. “You already had your shot to parent, but grandparenting is an entirely new gig.” 

The founder of The Culinary CureTM, Coffield, 66, has been in the women’s culinary wellness space for two decades. A chef since her college days, Coffield had a catering company for many years. She switched her focus to food as medicine when her mom’s cancer came back in 2009. Coffield also developed healthy subscription meal plans for high-performing athletes and executives—this was way before Blue Apron. Most recently, she coached women going through midlife changes to energize their lives.  

About a year ago, when she became a grandparent for the second time, Coffield shared a video on Instagram that catapulted her in a new direction.  

“I posted a video of me picking up a baby, holding a baby, sitting down on the floor, and standing up without using my hands,” Coffield says. “I talked about the importance of being fit for grandparenting, and the Instagram reel went viral.” 

It now has 1.2 million views, one of six or seven of hers in the millions of views category. 

“It struck a chord with women who hadn’t been motivated to get fit and be healthy,” she said. “Women tend to put everybody else first, but when you put self-care in the context of being a better grandparent, it’s a different story.” 

According to Coffield, active grandparents are more capable—they have more mobility, stability, flexibility, and strength—and are more in-demand as you become a helpful contributor to your children and their families. Being fit—physically, emotionally, and psychologically—will not only help you to grandparent better but also it will help you age better.  

It’s a game changer for grandparents and Coffield’s career.  

“Parents are overwhelmed and stressed out,” she explains. “When we can show up as a helpful support system, it changes our relationship with our kids and in turn gives us more access to the grandchildren.” 

“Your kids don’t want your advice—they can get all the parenting advice they need in two seconds on the internet—they want your help,” she continues. “This is a new job with a new job description and a new boss.”  

Coffield created the Active Grandparenting 101 training program, an online course with videos, worksheets, and resources on wellness, exercise, communication, tech, and family activities and recipes. She is, after all, still a chef. She also put together an Active Grandparenting Cookbook, and, twice a year, runs a virtual 21-day active grandparenting wellness reset. Hydration is a huge part of her platform. 

“Hydration affects your sleep, your mood, and your energy,” she explains. “If you can’t get hydrated, you’re going to have a hard time because you won’t have the muscle pliability that it takes to get up and down off the floor 50 times a day.” 

On Grandfluencing 

A year ago, Coffield’s email got a ton of new subscribers. Her Instagram, which went from 20,000 to 215,000 engaged followers, also blew up. Her audience likes that she is a real person, who understands their struggles and challenges.  

“There’s a big learning curve for embracing modern grandparenting, but grandparents—especially grandmothers—want this information,” she explains. “What’s really interesting is for this demographic on Instagram, a lot of these accounts are private. Most of these women are on Instagram for information.” 

Since the kids of GenXers and Baby Boomers are getting married later and having kids later, her followers are becoming grandparents later.  

“Since they’re older when becoming grandparents for the first time, people are highly motivated to get healthy and get in shape,” she says. “That way, they have more years to spend with this new, delightful human that’s just come into their lives.” 

For third act-ers who’ve got something to say and want to develop an Instagram following, Coffield suggests starting with a good mindset. Social media can make you feel bad, when you compare yourself—and your follower count—with other people. 

“I was on Instagram for a solid decade, working really hard to reach my audience, so I could share incredible value,” Coffield recalls. “I bet I had 3,500 posts on my Instagram, not including my live videos and my stories, so I’m no overnight success. I worked hard for a long time before ever getting noticed.” 

If you decide to go on social media, Coffield believes it’s vital to really know who you’re talking to—you can’t talk to everyone—and to understand who will resonate with your message, if you can. 

“Before Active Grandparenting, I was using Instagram to talk about how women could use fasting as a tool to live younger, longer, and better,” she recalls. “I had a whole angle with reverse fasting because I don’t think anybody should go through the whole day without eating. I got a little traction with that and then a lot of traction with the grandparenting angle.” 

Coffield is a perfect example of niching down. 

“When I went from targeting women over 50 to active grandparents, suddenly I was resonating with my demographics,” she says. “Suddenly all those people who I worked so hard to create messaging for could hear me because now I was speaking their language.”  

Coffield’s friend, a meditation specialist, had a message too broad for her to get any traction. Once she niched down and focused on how to use meditation to combat the stress of artificial intelligence, she noticed a vast improvement. 

“You can’t speak to the masses, you have to speak to your narrow margin of people,” Coffield says. “When you do that, it’s easier for them to find you.” 

Then, of course, you need to put yourself out there. For most people, that’s the biggest stumbling block. 

“Whether it’s becoming a social media influencer or losing five pounds, the first step is to decide to do it,” Coffield says. “Then, you tell everybody, so you can’t back out … and you figure it out.” 

When Coffield first went on Instagram, her children were horrified. “They’re like, ‘Mom, you can’t say that, you can’t do that on Instagram,’” she recalls. “And I’m like, ‘Well, why not?’ I just did it and learned along the way.” 

Part of being a social media influencer, at any age, is becoming a brand. Coffield says to take a good photo—even a selfie—and make sure it’s distinctive.  

“Pick some colors you like that pop on your little avatar and create a good bio,” she says. “People who want to follow you need to know why and what you are offering.” 

For instance, Coffield’s Instagram is @KristenCoffield, and you can tell from her bio what she does and who she serves. She offers a free hydration training, so people can take action right away. And her posts and videos offer value on her expertise. 

“The biggest mistake that people make on social media is not educating their followers or people who just find them on who they are,” she says.  

“People are on Instagram either to be entertained or to gain knowledge, so decide what it is you’re doing and do it,” Coffield continues. “Don’t be shy about letting people know how you can help them and don’t be shy about self-promotion—that is what Instagram is. It’s truly a marketing tool.” 

You Are Never Too Old 

Whether it’s a new endeavor or a social media persona, don’t limit yourself. It’s never too late to try something new.  

“First of all, every day is a miracle that you get to wake up and have another day,” Coffield says. “You can just wake up tomorrow and decide to be the next Grandma Moses of painting.” 

Coffield believes the best time to decide to do something new is first thing in the morning. She has her own powerful, 15-minute routine. 

“The first thing I do when I wake up in those first seconds is I acknowledge that I am awake,” she explains. “I take a deep breath and I flip the switch from my subconscious unconscious mind into my conscious mind where the first thoughts that I feed my mind are positive. 

“I think about all the exciting opportunities for my day.” 

Whatever you feed your mind and body is so powerful. Positive thoughts lead to good things. The opposite is also true.  

“Let’s say, your alarm goes off, but you go back to sleep. Now you’re late,” she says. “Next thing, the shampoo bottle drops on your toe, then you run into the kitchen and spill coffee. You get in your car and it seems like you hit every red light,” she says. “That day is not going to get better because you set into motion the negative.” 

When you flip the switch and feed your mind positivity—affirmations, positive self-talk—those thoughts become your reality.  

“More people smile at you in a store, the person in front of you in line buys you a cup of coffee, you get a parking meter that’s already got money on it, you hit all the green lights,” Coffield says. “That’s how it works.”  

You’re never too old. It’s never too late. 

“Life is not linear, it’s circular,” Coffield says. “Every day, when you wake up, it’s the beginning of the circle. The mistake we make is thinking it’s linear and we’re running out of time instead of seeing it as circular and that every day is a fresh start.” 

Debra Eckerling is a freelance writer, goal-strategist, workshop leader, and award-winning author and podcaster. The creator of The DEB Method for Goal-Setting Simplified, Eckerling hosts the GoalChat and Taste Buds with Deb podcasts and is the author of Your Goal Guide and 52 Secrets for Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting. 

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The post Kristen Coffield—Champion of Active Grandparenting appeared first on 3rd Act Magazine.

Traveling is fun, but more than that, it is vital for our mental health, says Kathleen Cameron, Senior Director of the National Council on Aging. For many of us, however, that becomes more difficult as we age and, as a result, we may become more isolated and less inclined to do so, even though the urge may be present. Some 30 percent of older adults 65+ have mobility issues including arthritis or respiratory problems. Although physical limitations may limit travel to some degree, there are ways to make it more feasible, say travel experts. Whether traveling nationally or internationally, the key is to plan ahead and to have backup plan.  Do your research and look to the travel pros for advice.    

To consider:  

• Follow public health guidelines. 

• Travel expert Rick Steves suggests purchasing travel insurance even though expensive since older adults are more likely to need it.  

• Know where and if your medical insurance works if you are traveling overseas. According to Steves, since Medicare is not valid outside the U.S. except in very limited circumstances, check your supplemental insurance coverage. He also recommends considering evacuation insurance, which covers the substantial expense of transportation for medical care in case of an emergency, especially if it is not possible to fly commercially. 

• Pay attention to your medication needs and make certain that your vaccines are current. Carry medications with you in their original containers since filling a prescription can be time-consuming in another country and may not be available in the same form. Learn TSA rules about carrying on medications including anything liquid, pumps, or IV bags. Bring spare batteries if you wear hearing aids.  

• Whether traveling near or far, learn about the lodging where you are staying. Are bathrooms handicapped accessible? Are there steps or ramps? What kind of transit is available for sightseeing?  

• Look for tour groups that are designed to meet your needs. 

The list goes on. Although traveling is possible with sufficient planning, many of us are so sensitive to our limitations and the need for assistance that we may be reluctant to let family and friends know the extent of our actual and perceived constraints. Have you missed opportunities to be with family or friends because of such concerns only later to regret not looking for ways to make it possible?  

You may find it easier than you think to take the plunge back into the travel arena. Search for local groups that provide short travel excursions that can accommodate special needs. Look for a travel buddy who has special needs and travels.  

So, how strong is your gene and how badly do you want to travel? Yes, it takes courage to travel with limitations. But aren’t the rewards worth it?       

Linda Henry writes regularly on topics related to aging, health care, and communication and is the co-author of several books, including Transformational Eldercare from the Inside Out: Strengths-Based Strategies for Caring.  She conducts workshops nationally on aging and creating caring work environments. Her volunteer emphasis is age-friendly communities. 

America’s Best Idea – Our National Parks

The post Do you Have the Travel Gene? appeared first on 3rd Act Magazine.

Four years after the death of my husband and travel partner, I’ve embraced traveling on my own. 

By next summer I will have traveled to more than 100 countries. Many of these trips were with my late husband, but for the last four years I have traveled solo and learned many lessons along the way. He and I saw travel as much more than ticking off boxes on a bucket list and more about developing a world perspective. We can learn so much from other countries and the world is often smaller than it seems. 

My husband used to devour historical fiction books about the destination to which we were headed. I, on the other hand, have found I enjoy reading similar works once I have returned home and can mentally see the places I’ve been. After a recent trip to South Africa, James Michener’s saga The Covenant was a wonderful read, albeit incredibly long! 

I like to get off the beaten track and enjoy wandering through a new city stopping at a local cafe (preferably sitting outside) to watch that particular world go by. This allows me an opportunity to engage with the locals, which can be far more enlightening than a headphone bus tour. If you prefer group tours, ask lots of questions of the guide. It is amazing how much you can learn about local customs and mores. On a recent trip to Oman, our guide gave us an in-depth look at the wedding engagement process in his country. This included a tutorial on the dowry process, which sadly meant he had to wait several years before he had enough money to propose marriage. 

I have learned the importance of respecting the religious and cultural traditions of the country you are visiting, especially in places of worship. Once home, I take some time to write down all I have gleaned from my trip—focusing on things that were different, things that were the same, and what made the greatest impression on me. 

It’s taken time, but I have learned to enjoy traveling alone. I often join tour groups and am always pleasantly surprised at how many other single travelers there are. I have met some wonderful new travel companions and now am coordinating future adventures with several of them.  

Taking solitary weekend road trips to beautiful historic inns or weeklong art workshops in the U.S. and abroad is one of my favorite pastimes. I have come to appreciate how freeing and empowering this can be. As much as I miss my favorite travel companion, sometimes it is nice to go wherever I want, whenever I want. Even eating alone—the biggest solo traveler hurdle—can become a pleasure. My trick, when possible, is to choose a seat that looks out on something.  Just try it once and it won’t ever seem as daunting. 

There is life after the death of a loved one. It takes time, but when you are ready the key is to activate your curiosity, embrace new things, and open your mind! 

After losing her husband in 2021, Marilee Clarke began writing her book on navigating grief. Excerpts from the book (still in progress) often appear in this magazine. Her passions include mixed media creations and traveling the world every chance she gets. She currently splits her time between Issaquah and the California desert enjoying the best of two very different and beautiful locales.

Rolling with the Changes

Travel Solo? Why Not?

Five Ways to Enjoy Eating Solo at Home

The post Navigating Grief – Traveling Solo appeared first on 3rd Act Magazine.

Last Christmas my daughters gifted me with the Storyworth app, which sends me weekly prods to write about different aspects of my life. Recording stories of my life for my kids and grandkids is a great idea and I am happy to do it.  

This week’s question is a difficult one and gave me pause: “How has the country changed during your lifetime?”  

There are so many ways I could try to answer that question. But the topic that is foremost on my mind is the dramatic evolution of media platforms. During my lifetime, media dominance has shifted from radio, to TV, to computers, and on to the Internet, social media, smart phones, and artificial intelligence. I worry the country is worse off because of the way media has evolved and proliferated, because it makes us more vulnerable to propaganda and disinformation. I worry that modern media is eroding our ability to think straight. 

In the 1960s, when television was king, philosopher Marshall McLuhan observed that “the medium is the message.” The idea is that the specific character of a media platform is more than a neutral conduit of information. The structure of the media platform itself, and the specific way it disseminates information, has just as profound an impact on people as does the content. In the last century, the proliferation of media platforms has given propagandists a broad range of tools with which to spread their disinformation.  

Now, more than ever, propagandists use the nature of the media itself as mechanism of mind control. In 2018, when Steve Bannon was running former President Donald Trump’s campaign, he told a reporter that “The Democrats don’t matter. The real opposition is the media.” Bannon’s strategy for neutralizing legitimate news coverage was to “flood the zone with shit.”  

Modern day propagandists use the fragmented media landscape to overwhelm the public with a firehose deluge of disinformation. Historian Heather Cox Richardson says that both foreign and domestic propagandists disguise their wrongdoing and malicious intent by overwhelming people with outrageous and often contradictory information. The goal is to cognitively exhaust their audiences and dissuade them from even trying to figure out what is real. People willingly expose themselves to nefarious content simply because it is embedded in an entertaining package and is delivered by stimulating media celebrities.  

Cox makes an interesting distinction between misinformation and disinformation. Misinformation is simply information that is incorrect. We all make mistakes or come to conclusions that we later discover to be mistaken. But, when our error is realized, we strive to replace the erroneous information with facts and ideas that are more accurate and adaptive. The objective is to improve our understanding of the world.  

Disinformation, on the other hand, is “a deliberate lie to convince people of things that are not true.” Authoritarian propagandists use disinformation, the “big lies,” to undermine the ability of individuals to think clearly or to trust the idea that truth even exists. They deploy disinformation to destabilize the social norms and undermine the social institutions that have been constructed to support rational discourse and to protect democratic principles.  

This authoritarian playbook was articulated, and deployed demonically, by Adolph Hitler. Cox reports that the U.S. Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the precursor of the CIA, summarized Hitler’s techniques as follows: “His primary rules were never allow the public to cool off; never admit a fault or wrong; never concede that there may be some good in your enemy; never leave room for alternatives; never accept blame; concentrate on one enemy at a time and blame him for everything that goes wrong; people will believe a big lie sooner than a little one; and if you repeat it frequently enough people will sooner or later believe it.”  

This sounds disturbingly familiar.  

Modern day propagandists can choose from a much broader array of media platforms than could Hitler. And they are taking full advantage of the expanded opportunities to spread disinformation.  Arizona Senator Mark Kelly (D), who serves on the Senate Intelligence Committee, estimates that Russia, Iran, and China are now generating between 20 percent to 30 percent of the political content and comments on social media. MAGA Republicans are making things worse by willingly echoing foreign propaganda to their constituents.  

The largest purveyors of disinformation, however, are home grown. Elon Musk is a prime example. The billionaire purchased the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to distribute his own self-serving brand of disinformation without restraint.  

Our media landscape will continue its rapid evolution. It is likely to become increasingly fragmented, niche oriented and, as such, more susceptible to misuse by malevolent propagandists. So, how can we protect ourselves from pervasive and powerful disinformation?  

We can become familiar with standard disinformation techniques, recognize when they are being deployed, and continue to express moral outrage at their duplicity and evil intent. Hitler’s rules for authoritarian disinformation are a good starting point.  Examples abound in our current political climate and we should all be outraged and act accordingly. 

Authoritarian propagandists use disinformation to mess with our minds. They want our minds to degenerate into credulity or cynicism. They use a flood of disinformation to turn our minds into mush, becoming so pliable that we believe whatever nonsense they feed us. If that doesn’t work, they want us to become so overwhelmed and disenchanted that we give up, lose faith in cooperative and collaborative action, and trust no one but the designated authoritarian father-figure, the cult-leader, the strongman. 

We can guard against credulity and cynicism by cultivating compassionate, open-minded skepticism; a mindset that is comfortable with ambiguity and uncertainty, that encourages careful evaluation, intellectual flexibility, and curious inquiry in the service of the common good. We can model compassionate skepticism for our grandchildren, and prepare them, as best we can, to recognize and deflect the disinformation that is likely to fill the media landscape of their future. 

DISINFORMATION TRICKS
Learn to identify common tricks used to spread disinformation: 

AI (artificial intelligence) and Deepfakes: Highly believable AI-generated photos, videos, or audio clips show people saying and doing things they haven’t done. Check with Politifact or Snopes.com to verify.  

Fake News Sites: These sites and reports look like news but are really propaganda. Don’t Google to verify weird stories—you will just find the same or similar propaganda articles. Check credible sources like Snopes.com, the BBC, The AP or PBS. 

Astroturfing: Fake comments, blog posts, and news articles repeat lies and conspiracy theories to make them seem true and popular. Ignore and don’t respond. 

False Equivalence: These are comparisons that sound plausible but don’t really make sense. [“Taxes are like armed robbery. They both take your money by force.”] They are designed to get us to agree without thinking it through. Take the time to think it through.  

Attacking the Person, Not the Issue: This trick deflects attention away from the real issues and triggers emotion responses that can cloud our judgment. Bring your attention, and the conversation, back to the issue.  

Rage Farming: Making outrageous and offensive statements are designed to infuriate us, capture our attention, and get us to respond and expand the reach of the offensive lies. IGNORE THEM.  

Lying With Science: Science is hard to interpret. Liars use confusing science jargon and bad research to support their false claims. Check with multiple science experts.  

The D.Y.O.R Trap: Liars will bolster their lies by challenging us to D.Y.O.R.—“Do Your Own Research”—knowing most of us won’t. If you do, don’t just Google outrageous statements. Google a conspiracy theory and you will find more conspiracy theories. Fact check with FactCheck.org or Snopes.com. 

False Choice: These are misleading either/or constructions such as “Do you want to save the climate, or save the economy?” Reject either/or scenarios. We can have a strong economy and protect the environment.  

Cherry Picking: This trick supports a lie by using a carefully chosen bit of data and ignoring the rest of the story. “It snowed in April. So much for climate warming!” Is it data, or just a story (anecdotal)? Put things into context and look at the complete picture.  

Michael C. Patterson had an early career in the theater, then worked at PBS, developing programs and systems to support the educational mission of public television. Patterson ran the Staying Sharp brain health program for AARP, then founded MINDRAMP to continue to promote physical well-being and mental flourishing for older adults. He currently explores these topics on his MINDRAMP Podcast and his Synapse newsletter. His website is www.mindramp.org. 

Immortal Me

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The post THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON DISINFORMATION appeared first on 3rd Act Magazine.

Clearly a useful device and one that has undergone a tectonic shift over the years. “Growing up, our black desk phone was a party line, shared with another family down the block,” recalls Bob Brodfuehrer, 77. “I finally convinced my parents that for a few dollars more we could have our own line.” He also remembers the family’s 1950s television set. “Back then, who could imagine a 60-inch, flat-screen TV?” 

A career in telecommunications gave Brodfuehrer a bird’s-eye view of changing technologies and how they shaped our lives. “Smartphones allow you to call and text and send pictures anywhere in the world. GPS tells you where you are and how to get where you’re going, search engines and the web puts the world’s knowledge at your fingertips,” he says. “What’s next? Artificial intelligence with all its possibilities and liabilities.” 

Mary Bicknell has also seen head-spinning technical advances in her 92 years. Born in Northamptonshire, England, she became a teacher in decidedly low-tech classrooms. “We used things like slide projectors,” she recalls. “Report cards were made out by hand. Computers were just coming in when I left teaching, so I never had to learn to use them in class.” 

However, Bicknell fully embraced tech for her personal use. She relies on the latest iPhone 16 to send texts, emails, and take photographs. Her computer is an iPad and keyboard. With that she takes online Zumba classes, keeps in touch with a ukulele group, and downloads books. “I’m most proud of creating a family history on my iPad: researching, writing, typing it up. I’m working on volume two now,” she says.
The one thing Bicknell rarely does is shop online. “I like to go into a store, browse around, talk to a real person.” As for eye-popping tech on the horizon, Bicknell is unimpressed. “I don’t particularly want to learn something new.”  

Should she change her mind, there are ample ways to explore what’s new. One of the best is Senior Planet from AARP. “We harness technology to change how we age and thrive in a digital world,” says Tom Kamber, executive director of the organization. It offers in-person classes at four Senior Planet centers and partner sites across 35 states (not currently in Washington), as well as dozens of free, online courses covering everything from tech to tai chi. And it’s done with flair. “If you sound like an engineer, fewer people want to come,” he says, “so we design compelling, engaging programs for people, to embrace opportunities that can reshape their lives.” 

Kamber hopes this community will reshape the very future of aging. “The biggest affliction we face is age discrimination and segregation. Tech historically exacerbates the problem,” he says. “We can turn the corner on all of that.” 

For Sandra Driscoll, 73, technology is nothing less than a tool for survival. Once a driven, ambitious attorney, her life and career were upended at the age of 40 when she lost much of her eyesight due to complications from diabetes. “My use of technology was entirely shaped by the changes in my vision. I had to throw myself into whatever technology existed at the time if I wanted to stay independent and be part of the world.”  

Software that enhances the size of print on her computer remains a big help. “Audio books were essential because I couldn’t read otherwise,” Driscoll says. Although selections in the ‘90s were not extensive, technology expanded her choices exponentially. “Now I can download hundreds of books, podcasts, and music on a device the size of a deck of cards.” 

Smartphones are a major upgrade. “Huge,” Driscoll says, pointing to an app that uses the camera to describe surroundings or objects. Lyft and Uber apps keep her mobile, and as someone who loved to drive, Driscoll might one day do it again in an autonomous vehicle summoned to her doorstep.  

Tech innovations gave 63-year-old Amy Bowers her entire career. “I’m a computer programmer. I write code for a website and it’s always changing,” she says. “I remember when I had to carry 18-inch tapes to client sites then upload changes to the computer. Now I send it via the Internet.” To stay current, the Sunnyvale, Calif., resident constantly adapts. “I work hard at learning new technology, including computer languages. I don’t want to fall behind.” Not likely. As she nears retirement, Bowers looks forward to the next big thing. “I’m full-on Star Trek,” she says. “Beam me up and flying cars!” 

Not so farfetched when you consider that science fiction now routinely, and at warp speed, becomes science fact. To paraphrase another Star Trek truism, we will go where no one has gone before. 

Connie McDougall is a former news reporter and current freelance writer of nonfiction and personal essays. A lifelong student and proud English major, she has pursued lessons in flying, scuba diving, tai chi, Spanish, meditation, hiking, and Zumba.  

Tech Tools – Advanced Technologies for Agers

Just Enough Tech – Bring Balance to your Digital Life

Lost in (Tech) Translation

The post Embracing Tech: From Ma Bell to AI and Beyond appeared first on 3rd Act Magazine.

“Don’t trust anyone over 30.” 

If that statement resonates with you in a gut way, chances are you are one of 76 million Americans like me who were born between 1946 and 1964, known as the Baby Boomers. 

Never before in our nation’s history was a group of people defined so clearly as a generation and that’s understandable. We came of age during a post–World War II time of huge economic growth and surging mass communication, in which the medium of television vied with and eventually overtook print and radio as the major cultural conduit for American identity.  

We were the very first cohort of children to be marketed to directly, via kiddie shows, Saturday morning cartoons, breakfast cereals, and advertisements urging us to convince our parents to buy us Mickey Mouse wristwatches, Lone Ranger and Howdy Doody lunchboxes, Barbie dolls, and Superman and Cinderella Halloween costumes.  

In public school classrooms and auditoriums, many of us were thrilled to witness Alan Shepard become the first American astronaut to be launched into space and later, three more astronauts walk on the Moon. We were shocked by the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and five years after that, the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy. 

These are just some of the events that impacted Boomers’ formative years. Other events of equal impact can be ascribed to any previous or subsequent generation (think the Depression and World War II for the Silent and Greatest generations, personal computers and the energy crisis for Gen Xers, and social media and Sept. 11 for Millennials). 

But our culture raises a bigger issue when we’re talking about any age-based group of people: Is it valid to make generalizations about them beyond the fact that they grew up at the same time? Do they all think and act the same? Do they all want the same things? Are they all equally healthy and successful? 

What Makes a Generation? 

According to Janine Vanderburg, CEO of the strategic consulting firm Encore Roadmap, “Technically, a generation is a group of people born within the same time period, within 15 to 20 years. I think it’s important to note that the idea of generations shaping behavior … is relatively recent in history.” 

A case in point regarding Boomers’ overall behavior: We grew up in a time of great domestic social turmoil with the Vietnam War; Woodstock and the counterculture; nuclear proliferation; women’s liberation; and the Civil Rights and environmental movements. Many of us marched and protested. But many more of us didn’t. We were so diverse and huge in number that pundits and advertisers have tried to define the Boomers, but ultimately can’t. Still, they keep trying.  

What’s behind this impulse to stereotype us? 

“It’s a cultural shortcut,” says Vanderburg. “It’s easier to look at people in buckets, than to look at individuals and all that they might bring to the workplace or any other setting (their experience, insights, values, interests). And it’s great clickbait! Think of all the headlines that pit Boomers vs. Millennials in some way, suggesting that we are competing for jobs and housing.” 

So, the false assumptions about attributions start to add up, justifying the “OK, Boomer” dismissals. All Boomers are selfish, greedy geezers who can’t handle technology and resist change. Let’s tackle each of these. 

 The Stereotypes Don’t Hold 

First of all, research shows that as people of the same age group get older, they actually become more different from one another. That’s because our lives vary greatly in experience and challenges, as well as how we react to them. That’s why it’s absurd and demeaning to lump Boomers into a group called “the elderly.” 

When it comes to the “selfish, greedy geezers” label, it just doesn’t apply. True, Boomers possess almost 52% of all wealth in the U.S., but it’s not equally distributed among us. One in 10 of us live below the poverty line. Only a little more than half of us have retirement accounts, and about 50% of us are working or plan to work past the age of 70—82% of whom list finances as a main reason. And selfish? Within the next 20 years, affluent Boomers will be passing down about $72 trillion in assets to their Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z heirs.  

Can Boomers handle technology? According to the Population Reference Bureau, more than 80% of us use high-speed Internet, own a computer, laptop or tablet, and have a smartphone. And 80% of us are on social media at least once a day. 

As for resisting change, we’ve had decades of experience accepting and adapting to all kinds of iterations of cars, appliances, economic upturns and downturns, physical changes in our bodies, and the loss of peers to illness and death. Resistance has always been an impossibility and the overwhelming majority of Boomers have a history of eagerly embracing—and creating—change. 

What’s True About Generations? 

This same form of takedown of Boomer stereotypes can be applied to any other age cohort. Are all Gen-Zers money-obsessed and lacking a work ethic? Do all Millennials feel entitled and are they really glued to their smartphones? Behind all generational stereotyping is lazy thinking that discourages us to examine and accept the statistics that would disprove any of these claims.   

Adds Vanderburg, “[The] Pew Research [Center] made a huge statement about this whole issue when it announced last year that it would move away from generational labels in its research and instead look at factors like life stage, historical context and period effects.” In other words, our personal perspectives and behaviors are affected not so much by the chronological age we share with others but by whether we were children, teens, or adults when we experienced powerful social events. 

Extensive studies done by Pew have led the organization to rethink how people should talk about generations. Its president, Michael Dimock, has offered these considerations: 

“Generational categories are not scientifically defined.” Sources can differ in their time parameters for each generation, such as assigning 1950 to 1965 birthdates for Boomers. Furthermore, people themselves vary in how they self-identify. For example, many late Boomers may actually see themselves as members of Gen X.  

“Generational labels can lead to stereotypes and oversimplification.” You’ve already seen proof that these impulses are problematic. 

“Discussions about generation often focus on differences instead of similarities.” If we really think about it and look closely enough at the people of all ages whom we actually know, we find that we all care about being happy, finding meaningful work, supporting ourselves and our families, and staying engaged in the world.  

“Conventional views of generations can carry an upper-class bias.” In every generation there are millions of exceptions to the stereotypes, mostly among marginalized subpopulations, such as minorities and low-income and poor people. 

“People change over time.” If you’re a Boomer now who didn’t trust people over 30, have you changed your mind now that you’ve become one? 

So, what’s the best way for us to understand whether we’re biased against any generation different from ours? Vanderburg offers an answer. 

“My STOP and ASK rule: When a stereotypical thought about someone of another age pops into your head, STOP and ASK, ‘Why do I believe that? Is there another possible explanation?’  

“Works every time.” 

Jeanette Leardi is a Portland-based social gerontologist, community educator, and author of Aging Sideways: Changing Our Perspectives on Getting Older. She promotes older adult empowerment through her popular presentations and workshops in journaling, memoir writing, ethical will creation, brain fitness, creativity, ageism, intergenerational communication, and caregiver support to people of all ages. Learn more about her work on her website. 

The Boomers are Here

Ageism and Older Women: Beating the Stereotypes

Our Inner Ageist

The post Who Are the Boomers … Really? appeared first on 3rd Act Magazine.

      I’ve lost count of how many times one of my fellow Boomers has made that proclamation, often aimed at a young person’s behavior or attitude. I often want to agree with them but stop myself knowing that I prompted similar statements from older people when I was young.  

     In 1973, while hitchhiking around Europe, my hippie friends and I found ourselves in Vienna. We had just bought some sandwiches and decided to eat on a lawn outside St. Stephen’s Cathedral. We ignored the sign saying Keep Off the Grass, stepped over the low fence, and plopped our bell-bottomed selves down. Oh, the looks and tsk-tsks we got from the elderly Viennese matrons who witnessed our transgression. I’m sure we thought it ridiculous to not be able to sit on the grass, and that the rule was stupid and unreasonable.  

     This attitude of the young has a long history. In the 4th century BCE, it was noted by Aristotle when he wrote this concerning youth: “They think they know everything and are always quite sure about it.” (Rhetoric, Book II, Chapter 12.) 

     It’s important for us, as elders, to remember that what we observe about the generations behind us, our elders also observed about us. The situations and forms may have changed, but the behaviors and attitudes haven’t.  

     I live in a senior housing complex, and often when sitting with other residents, one of them will get going on how “in our day things were better,” or “things like that didn’t happen” when discussing popular culture or the news. I manage to hold my tongue, but how I want to respond is by saying things weren’t better in our day. They were different, perhaps, but not better in the sense of higher quality or more appropriate. Music wasn’t better, nor motion pictures or, for that matter, politics.  

     Perhaps why we think this is because we aren’t engaging fully enough with contemporary trends and culture. With limited exposure to what is currently popular we don’t understand the appeal it has to younger people. Also, we now live in a multicultural society with a diversity of offerings in pop culture and the arts.  

     Don’t live in the past. And, as the late Ram Dass wrote, “Be here now!”  

     If we wish to have the respect of younger generations, we must quit kvetching about them so that we, to them, don’t become stereotypical “Old People.” 

     As elders, we have much wisdom and experience to impart to others, but to facilitate being seen and heard by them, we need to live gracefully and act with dignity no matter our circumstances. It is then that the young will take notice of us and want to learn from us. 

     In our American culture, respect for elders is not universal, despite all religious and spiritual traditions teaching this. In the Hebrew book of Exodus is the commandment to, “Honor your father and mother,” and in Leviticus we are instructed to “Rise before the aged and defer to the old.” Confucius taught extensively about filial piety and how moral development is facilitated by learning from the wisdom and experience of elders.  

     If we want to continue to have influence in our families, a voice in our communities, and in general, the ability to affect change, we must learn to listen to younger people and not judge them for expressing themselves differently or having opinions and beliefs that, on the surface, conflict with our own. When young people feel they are being dismissed, they adopt the attitude: “They’re old, they don’t understand.”   

     In the interest of bridging the generation gap, it is necessary for us to find common ground.  We have more similarities than differences. For instance, we jointly hold the fate of this planet in our hands. Together, we must defend democracy. In short, it is imperative that no matter our age or generation, we must care for one another.  

     That day in Vienna, a security guard was eventually called to make us get off the grass. These many years later, I wonder if we would have gotten up on our own if one of the women had simply walked over and said, “Hello.”  

Stephen Sinclair holds a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago and is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister. He’s been a pastor and chaplain at a number of churches and hospitals in the U.S. and has worked with the homeless. He lives on Capitol Hill in Seattle. 

The Aging of Aquarius

Keys to Successfully Navigating Your Future

Culture Shock and Wiggle Room

The post It’s Time to Let Go of “The Good Old Days” and Challenge Our Own Ageism appeared first on 3rd Act Magazine.

BY STEPHEN SINCLAIR 

I was eight years old sitting on a booster seat in the barber chair at Frank “Penny” Rich’s barbershop in Spooner, Wis. While my dad and mom waited, he gave me a quick haircut and then took out a “Kennedy for President” button and pinned it onto my shirt. 

Mr. Rich was the county Democratic Party chair and we had gone to his shop so my parents, who were Democrats, could talk with him about the upcoming presidential election. Most of the families in our farm community were Republicans and it seemed that the county and state would be won by Richard Nixon. 

In hindsight, what was remarkable about this is that just the weekend before the barbershop meeting, my extended family had probably gotten together for Sunday dinner—our grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins. During the meal there would have been no talk of politics or the election. Everyone knew that we all held various views and had different political affiliations, but what was most important was that our family remained united so we could continue to look after one another. Therefore, talk centered on the harvest, cattle, and the general goings on in the community and church. 

How different things are today when families are torn apart by partisan politics and rigid allegiances to political viewpoints. 

Disagreements in families are as old as time. In the Hebrew book of Genesis, the sons of Adam and Eve engaged in a long quarrel that ended up with Cain murdering Abel. Later, it is written that Esau and Jacob were already at one another as “the children struggled together” in their mother’s womb. 

In both the Mishnah and Talmud (two of the Jewish oral traditions) there is the term machloket l’shem shamayim, which refers to an argument or debate “for the sake of heaven.” It’s a principled struggle where people are honest, direct, and compassionate with each other while striving for something greater than themselves. The goal is to reach a conclusion that aligns with religious ideals and ethical principles, and to deepen understanding of the divine. The rabbis believed that arguments for the sake of heaven will endure, while those that are not, won’t. 

Using this concept as an inspiration for how we might best enter conversation over contentious issues with friends and family, I suggest the following: 

1. Don’t engage in an argument via texting, email, or social media. Do it in person or if necessary, a phone or video call. Nuance and subtlety get lost when communicating remotely with only written words and emojis. 

1. Enter the conversation from a place of love and a desire to respect and understand the other person rather than to win. Keep in mind if you would rather be right or be happy. Or if an argument is with your spouse, do you want to be right or do you want to be married? Being victorious often means the loss of something that is valued. 

1. Begin the conversation by recognizing some shared values or hopes for the future. This will help to remind you of what you have in common before starting to disagree. 

1. Listen with intention. When appropriate, repeat back what was just said (“I hear you saying”), which will assist the other person in knowing they’re being heard. Also, their response will assist you in knowing you comprehended correctly what they articulated. 

1. Admit when you may be wrong about something or that your view may have flaws. Perhaps you didn’t realize an underlying factor had been affecting the person’s world view or position on a matter. We all have unresolved issues that we may or may not be getting help with through therapy or counseling (e.g. family of origin issues and past traumas.) 

1. Be mindful of the fact that others’ views may have something to teach us. 

1. Walk away or take a timeout when things get heated. No good can occur when one is no longer listening and has become defensive. 

      In the 1960 election, John F. Kennedy beat Nixon. A few weeks later when our family sat down for Thanksgiving dinner, I doubt anyone grumbled about the outcome. Afterall, we were gathered there together to give thanks to God and not to argue over the fleeting matters of this world. 

Stephen Sinclair holds a Master of Divinity from Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago, and is an ordained Unitarian Universalist minister. He’s been a pastor and chaplain in a number of churches and hospitals in the U.S. and has worked with the homeless. 

Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini

Que Sera, Sera

Make the Right Move

The post Where’s the Beef?  appeared first on 3rd Act Magazine.

“Are there other ways to get the tractor to town besides driving it yourself?” I asked Dad before going to bed. The late hour and residual jet lag were not optimal conditions for meaningful discussion but I asked anyway because I was anxious. For months, we had discussed, long-distance, his decision to sell the tractor and now we were at the point of disposition. How was “it” going to get to town? One more decision. 

“Yeah, it would cost about a hundred bucks to tow it,” he offered, with a resistant, ‘I don’t want to pay it,’ tone in his voice. 

My “Pop” is wired for doing things himself and when he can save a dime, well, it’s like winning a lottery bet. Equipped with mechanical engineering “know-how” and a good measure of initiative and devotion, he thrives on his list of projects. A self-described tinkerer, he is always up to something, especially around taking care of the house he and Mom built together. She’s been gone for seven years, now. 

While “know-how,” initiative, and resilience have served him well, he’s managed to get himself into a few injurious situations in recent years resulting in hospitalizations and rehab stays. His journey to honesty and awareness regarding his (evolving and devolving) physical capacities has been fraught at times with stubbornness, injury, frustration, and sometimes, a touch of foolishness. This weighs on me, living so far away. 

“Dad, I know you love driving the tractor, and I just don’t feel comfortable with the idea of you doing this.” I worried about the unpredictable impacts of a 10-mile tractor ride exertion on a person with chronic spinal limitations. 

He acknowledged my concern with a nod, but no words. We retired for the night. 

On some level, I knew he had already mapped this whole trip, the route, the rest stops, and the contingency plans in the event the old ’64 International tractor might take its last gasp on the way. This project had become a dream, imagining a “last ride” out on the road. 

Chowan County countryside is beautiful in springtime, with farm fields tilled, and being made ready for planting. Farmhouses, barns, and small family graveyards of extended relatives would mark the route. Driving in the country is a spiritual experience. You can go slow. 

We met at the kitchen table the next morning. His breakfast of choice, a bowl of runny instant cheese grits, a side of sausage links, and a cup of instant coffee, all prepared in the microwave, awaited him. 

“Morning, Pop,” I plopped at the table beside him. 

“Morning sweetie,” he returned. 

We sat together, quiet moments passing. Both of us being introverts, it’s a relief to not have to fill the space between us with words so early in the day. 

It had been five months since our last visit. Sizing him up, he appeared relaxed, and less achy in his body and mood. Having my husband and I around for the last few days already seemed to be “re-filling” his reservoir. Getting up to nuke his coffee again, he moved with ease. 

Before coming down for breakfast, I rehearsed my very good reasons why Dad should not drive the tractor to town himself. To be honest, I didn’t know if I had it in me to extend emotional support and advocacy once again (across the miles) because of a bad choice made. Besides, what responsible daughter lets her 89-and-a-half-year-old parent get up on a tractor? My reasoning seemed very sensible and justified. 

Finishing breakfast, I lingered at the table, waiting for any cues from him about our exchange the night before. 

“I’ve decided I want to try driving the tractor to town … I feel up to it … you and Fred will be there if we need to make adjustments along the way … I want to try.” 

Initially, the clarity of his declaration was disorienting. I was all prepared to do another round of pros and cons with him, but obviously, he had already sized me up and determined it best to make the call for himself. 

“So having it towed is really off the table?” I ask. 

“I want to try,” he repeated himself. 

I felt my exhale, all my reasoned thoughts and exhaustion give way like water that finally gets to tumble over a cliff edge, set loose. I was slowly realizing that he didn’t just want to do this, he needed to do this. Further, the power of his need would also require me to relinquish my own urgent need to protect him. 

Instinctively pivoting, searching for a new inner footing, I heard compassion arise from within: “You can persist with your protecting, raining on his parade, or you can yield, and let be.” 

“Well, okay,” I turned, looking directly toward him. “What can I do to help?” 

Things moved swiftly from there. Having my nod of “blessing,” Dad collected himself, calling out signals for the next steps to be ready to leave around 2 p.m. 

He climbed up on the tractor, his spirit and body moving slowly but with lightness and assurance. He pressed the ignition button and the old motor turned over once again on the first try, a good sign. 

Cinching the chin strap of his straw hat, he called above the engine noise. 

“I’ll see you at the farm,” he said with a smile, and off he went with a wave, clutch smoothly released, deftly shifting to second and then third gear before reaching the first curve down the road. 

We followed him at a just-right distance, meeting him at his rest stops with the watering bottle and hoots of enthusiasm. He looked so strong, relaxed, and SO very happy. And I felt so relieved and joyful, joining him in exhilaration for the fulfillment of his dream. We were all in all the way to town. 

Agency is the freedom to choose and to act. To support (allow) this free choice in one we care for, is an act of love. 

Rev. Harriet Platts, 62, retired hospice chaplain, describes herself as an urban contemplative, seeking wholeness, balance in the “everyday” of life. Her creative outlets include iPhone photography, particularly portraitures, and writing urban field notes about what she experiences in relationship to the natural world. She loves walking, reading historical novels, and cultivating her community of friends and family.   

 The Truth About Long-Distance Caregiving 

Harriet Platts has been providing long-distance, caregiving support tracking for both her parents for more than 15 years, with episodic, increased involvement, and over-the-phone and in-person visits driven by need, medical crises, and transition. Her mother died in 2017, and she lost her only brother and sibling in 2020. She currently lives in Seattle and her father is aging in place (at this time) on the Chowan River, outside of Edenton, North Carolina. They are 2,500 miles apart. Platts remains connected with her father by phone/texting most days, and in-person visits two to three times a year. “From a distance, I had a practice of writing-mailing cards with hymn lyrics written in them of some of their favorites. Dad and Mom sang at the dinner table, as was a family custom. I also often sang to them on the phone,” she says. Platts can continue long-distance care because of the robust circle of extended family, neighbors, and local support near her father. Other long-distance caregivers are not so lucky. 

According to the “Caregiving in the U.S. 2020” study by AARP and the National Alliance of Caregiving, 11 percent of family caregivers live an hour or more away from their aging or ailing family member, with many living hours away. Long-distance caregivers spend nearly twice as much on care as those with family members nearby because of the need to hire help. If you are a long-distance caregiver, check out aarp.org/caregiving for a wealth of resources. 

FOR WASHINGTON

Your Vote Needed to Keep Long-term Care Benefit in Washington  

Working Washingtonians, and especially those caring for loved ones who are sick or aging, should be on the lookout for an important vote this November. If passed, Initiative 2124 will increase costs for working people, including nurses, teachers, and firefighters, by eliminating Washington’s long-term care insurance program.   

I-2124 will send more people into debt when faced with expensive long-term care bills and private insurance premiums they can’t afford. And more than 820,000 family caregivers in our state will lose important supports and benefits that help them take care of their families and loved ones. 

 Family caregivers are the backbone of our long-term care system, helping with everything from buying groceries and managing medications to bathing and dressing. Caring for a family member or close friend is one of the most important roles we are likely to play in our lifetime. However, the emotional, physical and financial tolls of caregiving can be profound. 

 Washington’s long-term care insurance program provides some important relief. For instance, funds can be used to help pay family caregivers to offset lost income while they are providing care. Funds can also be used to hire homecare aides and pay for home safety modifications, meal delivery, or assistive technology. If passed, I-2124 will strip away these critical supports. 

 AARP, the Washington State Nurses Association, labor unions representing home health care workers, doctors, grocery workers, teachers, and organizations like the MS Society representing Washingtonians living with pre-existing conditions are all urging a “no” vote on I-2124. 

The Virtual Family Caregiver

The Dawn of a New “Age”

Life’s Completion

The post A Tractor Tale of a ‘Last’ Ride: ‘What can I do to help?’  appeared first on 3rd Act Magazine.

In the Spring of 1970, I was cast as Prospero in an Antioch College production of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. It is preposterous that a 23-year-old could do justice to the role of a powerful elderly magician, but I was excited about the opportunity. Shakespeare’s poetry is magnificent and I was particularly drawn to the idea that Shakespeare, through Prospero, was bidding farewell to the magic of the theater and relinquishing his power and influence as a poet. 

Now my charms are all o’erthrown, 

And what strength I have’s mine own, 

In the middle of rehearsals two events shook the nation. On May 4, members of the Ohio National Guard shot into a crowd of protesting students at Kent State, killing four and wounding nine. Less than two weeks later, on May 15, police shot into a crowd of protesters at Jackson State University, killing a college student and a 17-year-old high school student. The murdered children were protesting the senseless war in Vietnam and the persistent scourge of racism in America. 

Student activists on my campus called for a general strike to protest the murders and the suppression of dissent. The entire campus voted to shut down all normal activities, including the production of The Tempest. I never got to play Prospero. 

Now, nearly six decades later, students around the country are again expressing outrage about the atrocities of violence and bigotry, including the inhumanity of the Israeli/Hamas conflict in Gaza. Yet again, some of the student protesters have been arrested by the police for daring to criticize bad behavior by those in power. 

During the Antioch strike I joined a group led by Black activists who took an interesting approach to their protests. They chose to heal wounds and bridge divisions. 

“If you honkies want to march in the streets and get your heads bashed in by the police, go ahead. We are going to Wright-Patterson air force base to talk with military families.”  

Talking, or more to the point listening, sounded like a good idea to me. 

We were prepped for our trip to the military base. We were instructed to keep our political opinions to ourselves, to ask questions, and to listen. This was to be an exploration of our common humanity. 

I spoke with a number of mothers who were raising kids alone on the base while their husbands fought in Vietnam. They were painfully conflicted about the morality of the war, terrified that their husbands might be injured or killed, and felt as though they were pawns in a horrible game of global politics. I learned a lot about the complexity of life and the ambiguities of politics that day. There are no easy answers, no obvious right or wrong positions. 

I recently came across an essay by the Italian physicist and writer Carlo Rovelli, called “My 1977 and That of My Friends.” The year 1977 was the height of student protests in Italy. Rovelli says that for some of his contemporaries, that year “has become an almost mythical time. It was a moment of intense dialogue, of dreams, enthusiasm, yearning for change, of longing to build together an alternative and better world.” 

The idealism of the “Movement of 1977” was dealt a debilitating blow when student protesters and police clashed in the city of Bologna. To everyone’s shock and grief, a student named Francisco Lorusso was shot and killed by a police officer.  Another young person killed for the crime of demanding a better world. 

The dreams of young activists around the world at that time were perhaps naive and unattainable. Rovelli recalls “envisaging a world without private property, without envy or jealousy, without hierarchy, without churches, without powerful states, without atomistic closed family units, without dogma.” 

Rovelli asks rhetorically, “Was it futile to have dreamed at all?” He does not think so, because the dreams, he says, “fertilized the ground from which our lives grew.” And the lives of people around the world have improved. The seeds of democracy and equality have taken root and spread throughout the world. They have yet to flower in many places—or have flowered and been cut back—but the root systems are there waiting for the right conditions to burst forth. 

The power of visionary dreams, Rovelli says, is that they teach us that the kind of world we have is not the only world possible. Our current reality is not the only possible reality. We can, and must, continue to imagine a world without war, without poverty, without vast inequalities of wealth, without caste divisions and oppression. And we must convert those dreams into realities. 

I have one quibble with Rovelli’s language. I don’t think we need to dream of a better “world.” It’s hard to imagine a better world than planet earth. Earth is a miraculous place. Where else can we find water, oxygen, chlorophyll, trees, fruit, and such diversity of animal life. The life of our world is amazing and wonderful in its exuberant fecundity and diversity. 

What we need to visualize is a better form of humanity, an evolved version of Homo sapiens. We need to imagine human beings who, as a species, can overcome greed, selfishness, and the impulse to exploit the wonders of nature. We need to imagine and become a species with deep compassion, respect and awe for the miracle of life, one that is humble and responsible about its place in the delicate and fragile web of life. 

Toward the end of The Tempest, Prospero decides to abandon his magical abilities so that he and his daughter can rejoin normal society. 

But this rough magic I here abjure, 

. . .   I’ll break my staff, 

Bury it certain fathoms in the earth, 

And deeper than did ever plummet sound 

I’ll drown my book. 

Unlike Prospero, we elders of the realm must maintain whatever magic we still possess. We should wield the power of our dreams to spin moral and ethical visions of the better people we know we and our neighbors can become. We need to keep nudging the arc of history toward greater freedom, equality, and benevolence. We need to encourage Homo sapiens to evolve into a gentler and kinder inhabitant of our amazing planet earth. 

Michael C. Patterson had an early career in the theater, then worked at PBS, developing programs and systems to support the educational mission of public television. Patterson ran the Staying Sharp brain health program for AARP, then founded MINDRAMP to continue to promote physical well-being and mental flourishing for older adults. He currently explores these topics on his MINDRAMP Podcast and his Synapse newsletter. His website is www.mindramp.org. 

More by Michael Patterson:

Dancing to the Music of Your Age

Equanimity is the Key to Aging Well

Immortal Me

The post The Dreams of Young Activists appeared first on 3rd Act Magazine.