Search Policy & Research

Advanced Search

From the Databases

On aarp.org

Read the latest news from the AARP Bulletin
Find consumer information on aarp.org

Email Newsletter

Get updates on Policy & Research by email.

Office of Academic Affairs

Human Values in Aging

Research Report

May 2006

Human Values in Aging Newsletter
Jan. 1, 2006

AARP Office of Academic Affairs
H.R. Moody, Editor

IN THIS ISSUE

The Art of Losing
Earth's Elders: The Wisdom of Age
St. Theresa and Erik Erikson
The Beauty of Age
New Prize from Civic Ventures
Web Sites to See
Books of Interest
Calendar of Events
Understanding the Worth of Life

THE ART OF LOSING

The art of losing isn't hard to master;
so many things seem filled with the intent
to be lost that their loss is no disaster.

Lose something every day. Accept the fluster
of lost door keys, the hour badly spent.
The art of losing isn't hard to master.

Then practice losing farther, losing faster...

-Elizabeth Bishop

For more on the writing of this remarkable poem, see: http://www.english.uiuc.edu/maps/poets/a_f/bishop/drafts.htm

EARTH ELDERS: THE WISDOM OF AGE

Earth's Elders Foundation is an educational non-profit organization which has embarked on a landmark project to introduce the world to the sixty oldest people on earth. Their photo documentation project provides a window into the world of these "human time capsules," whose lives spanned more than a century reaching the outer edge of longevity. A new book, EARTH'S ELDERS: The Wisdom of the World’s Oldest People, by Jerry Friedman includes contributions by Robert Coles and Lama Surya Das. This spring, the United Nations will host a two-month show of Friedman's photographic work.

For more on this initiative, visit: http://www.earthselders.org/

ST. TERESA & ERIK ERIKSON:
On Lifespan Development

For an analysis of St. Teresa of Avila’s view of prayer, in comparison to Erik Erikson’s ideas of lifespan development, visit: http://carmelnet.org/larkin/larkin074.pdf

"This magnificent refuge is inside you. Enter. Shatter the darkness that shrouds the doorway... Believe the incredible truth that the Beloved has chosen for his dwelling place the core of your own being because that is the single most beautiful place in all of creation." (St. Theresa, THE INTERIOR CASTLE). For more, visit: http://mirabaistarr.com/interior.html

For an archetypal approach to St. Theresa, see Erich Neumann’s commentary at: http://aras.org/se_ecstasy.html

See also Lars Tornstam's new book GEROTRANSCENDENCE: An Extension of Erikson’s Theory of Identity Development, at: http://www.springerpub.com/prod.aspx?prod_id=31344

THE BEAUTY OF AGE
by Helen Redman

"Why is the beauty of old not seen? Why is my aging hand any different from that of the tree or the eroding cliff or the piece of driftwood we admire on the beach. Our bodies are touched by time and sunlight and have their own textures and lines. I think of age being recorded in my hands just as in the rings of trees...

Linking youth and sexual ripeness with beauty sacrifices a diversity of viewpoint. The effect is pernicious in the lives of women and is spread everywhere through advertising and the screens of television and movies. The more we are told to fight aging and remove all traces of it from our lives, the more it becomes necessary to see the beauty of the old. We cannot let this stage of development be cut off in our psyches as it has been in our packaged culture of marketed beauty...

New, secret and tender places are ours to explore when we move into the margins... At this time of life, we have the chance to bring all the elements of our life together rather than be pulled apart by them... The larger truth is that everything is connected."

To see artworks inspired by this vision, visit Helen Redman's website, "Birthing the Crone" at: http://www.birthingthecrone.com/

NEW PRIZE FROM CIVIC VENTURES

As the first of 77 million baby boomers turn 60 in 2006, Civic Ventures, a nonprofit organization working to help America achieve the greatest return on experience, has announced a "The Purpose Prize." The program will provide five $ 100,000 awards to Americans over 60 whose creativity, talent and experience is transforming the way our nation addresses critical social problems. Sixty semi-finalists ("60 at 60-plus") will also receive national recognition for their work.

To nominate someone or apply yourself, visit http://www.leadwithexperience.org

The application deadline is February 28, 2006 and the first awards will be made in June, 2006.

WEB SITES TO SEE

PERFORMANCE ART & DEMENTIA. The TimeSlips Project has generated hundreds of stories and produced plays and art exhibits to promote connection among people struggling with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias. To learn more, visit: http://www.timeslips.org

INCORPORATING SPIRITUALITY INTO PROFESSIONAL WORK IN AGING, by Robert Atchley. Read the full text at: http://www.asaging.org/at/at-204/Atchley.htm

DANCE AND OLDER ADULTS. For a bibliography on dance and older people compiled by the American Dance Therapy Association, visit: http://www.adta.org/resources/research.cfm

BOOKS OF INTEREST

FROM OLD WOMAN TO OLDER WOMEN: Contemporary Culture and Women's Narratives, by Sally Chivers (Ohio State Univ. Press, 2003). See: http://www.ohiostatepress.org/index.htm?/books/book%20pages/chivers%20from.html

THE GRAYING OF THE CHURCH, by Richard Gentzler (Nashville: Discipleship Resources, 2004).

THE MELODY LINGERS ON: A Complete Music Activities Program for Older Adults, by Bill Messenger (Venture, 2004). For more details, visit: http://www.venturepublish.com/itemDetails.asp?ItemID=MELO151&ReferringURL=list&CategoryID=4

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

SPIRITUAL ASSESSMENT: Workshop (Jan. 19-20, 2006, Claremont, CA). Claremont Manor Retirement Community, Claremont, CA and Fredericka Manor Care Center, Chula Vista, CA. (8:30 - 4 PM, both days). Presenter: Dr. James Ellor. For details visit: http://www.spiritualityandaging.org/pdfs/Outline-Ellor-2006.pdf

ELDERSHIRE: (January 27-29, 2006, Sherburne, NY). Bill and Jude Thomas host a workshop on the Eldershire concept of housing and community building. Eldershire aims to create an elder-rich living experience that allows residents to continue to grow, learn, contribute, and age with grace and spirit. For more information, call Arthur Rashap at (607) 674-2650 or send an e-mail to: arashap@eldershire.net For details, visit: http://www.eldershire.net

HEALING RETREAT: Body-Mind-Spirit, Healing Your Illness. (Jan. 29 - Feb. 3, 2006, Leavenworth, KS). Retreat Director: Richard P. Johnson, Ph.D., leader in spiritual gerontology with at the Body, mind, Spirit Healing Center. Retreat will be held at Marillac Retreat Center, 4200 South 4th Street, Leavenworth, Kansas (30-minute ride from Kansas City Airport). For details, call: (636) 273-6898 or email: rjohnson@lifelongadultministry.org Space is limited, so register by Jan. 15, 2006 or call for space availability.

CULTURE CHANGE IN LONG-TERM CARE. (Jan. 31, 2006). "Almost Home" is a feature-length PBS documentary chronicling a year in the life of a retirement community implementing the culture change agenda inspired by the Eden Alternative. This video will be shown on 371 public television stations around the country. Check local listings for times. For more on the film, see: http://www.almosthomedoc.org/index.cfm

UNDERSTANDING THE WORTH OF LIFE

"Only the dead understand the worth of life."

-Muslim Proverb

This electronic newsletter, edited by Harry (Rick) Moody, is published by the Office of Academic Affairs at AARP (601 "E" Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20049) and is cosponsored by the International Longevity Center-USA. The Newsletter contains items of interest about humanistic gerontology; it does not publish original writing but is limited to brief and timely announcements. Please e-mail us to submit items of interest or request subscription changes.

AARP: Policy and Research Information for Professionals in Aging