PEARLS: Women's Wisdom on Growing Older($18.99Value)

Description

What's it like to grow older? More than 80 American women from across the country, aged middle 50s through late 90s, offer thoughtful insights on many aspects of advancing in years--the ups as well as some downs, joys along with sorrows, happy memories from the past plus contentment with much of the present. Life is worth living, they agree, even as relationships, health, and responsibilities may change. Lessons learned from a lifetime can enrich one's later years; talents and wisdom gained from experience can be blessings to others as well. Attitude is the key, they say, and at every age one may chose how to live during the time ahead.PEARLS addresses practical everyday realities as well as major issues, and readers are encouraged to note their own responses to the questions raised--and to discuss them with friends or family when possible. The book's contributors are neither afraid nor ashamed of the later stages of life, despite whatever troubles they may have encountered. Some of their quotes and comments are serious, some amusing, some heartbreaking, and some just plain sensible. They show, from the point of view of women who have "been there, faced that," how to put everything into perspective and make a worthwhile life. They tell what they have discovered, how they've adapted to physical challenges and dealt with losses, what brings them joy, and how they create and sustain family relationships and friendships. While these women differ from one another, as well as from those who will read their words, nearly any adult American female will find something here to bring at least a nod of recognition. Dot Nuechterlein is similar to many women in her age group: her education--at Valparaiso University, Queen's University of Ontario, and the University of Chicago--took place with gaps in between. Rather than one career path, her life's work has included counseling, education, social services, administration, and writing. She has served as an elected official in her home city and has been a volunteer for community projects and events. On the state level she is an alumna of Indiana's Richard G Lugar Excellence in Public Service Series, and nationally she was selected for membership in Leadership America, the forerunner of today's Leadership Women. Dot is a faculty retiree from Valparaiso University, where she taught sociology classes for thirty years along with holding administrative positions in the Graduate School, the Chapel, the Department of Music, and several affiliated organizations. The Life Cycle, including Aging, was one of her special teaching areas; another was the Family, including Women's Studies. Dot was one of the first females to serve as official scorekeeper in NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball, her hobby of more than three decades. She and her husband especially enjoy spending time with their three adult children and their families.