My mom has always been one to look out for others first. She makes sure that the little kids have plenty of things to do at family gatherings. Since I’m a vegetarian, she acts as my advocate in restaurants—without being asked—making sure I’ll have enough options. It’s not in her nature to focus her attention […]
Continue ReadingToward the end of his life, I was talking to my dad about his friend Bob. The two of them had been friends for nearly 70 years and saw each other frequently, but I hadn’t heard about him coming around very much lately. I couldn’t imagine they’d had a falling out, so I asked why […]
Continue ReadingTo be able to see someone’s face from across the world is still truly remarkable, and nowhere is this more true than in a state of mourning. It wasn’t very long ago that the idea of video calls in a time of grief was impossible. I think back to when my dad was in the […]
Continue ReadingInstitute on Aging has been looking forward to partnering with Dr. Jessica Zitter to bring into the community her stirring insights and ideas about saving lives and dealing with death. Since we began communicating about the possibilities with her over a year ago, Dr. Zitter’s nationwide influence has greatly amplified as she’s become the trusted […]
Continue ReadingIt’s almost impossible to exaggerate how much the world has changed in the last 101 years. Ancient empires still ruled much of Europe, which was being plunged into war. Cars and planes were just getting off to sputtering starts. We didn’t have widespread radio, much less instant messaging. And there were less than 2 billion […]
Continue ReadingOne of the great things about San Francisco is its history—a once rough harbor joint; an international, smoky city full of sailors and dreamers from around the world. It seemed built for mystery: between the colorful characters and smothering fog, it’s no accident that it’s the birthplace of noir. All that history, throughout San Francisco […]
Continue ReadingMy friend Nicky went to her regular dance aerobics class recently, and a new teacher had taken over the class. The instructor opened with: “I was told this is a group of mostly older adults so I should plan to take it a little easier on you.” Nicky said she and the other students looked […]
Continue ReadingOne piece of advice stands out if you are caring for a spouse with dementia: Acknowledge and accept that you can’t stay positive all of the time. Remember that to believe that you can maintain constant positivity is to deny your basic human dimensions. You can’t actually bypass your negative feelings, and if you try […]
Continue ReadingWhen California voters passed Proposition 64 last November, legalizing (with restriction) the cultivation, sale, and use of marijuana, it opened up a whole new cultural and economic world for the state. New businesses are flourishing, the tax base is expanded, and fewer people are being arrested for nonviolent crimes. But it also comes with misinformation […]
Continue ReadingThe experience of rebirth doesn’t come with an age limit. The earth is four and a half billion years old, but every spring it still bursts forth with fresh growth and new life after winter’s challenges and burdens. Your life isn’t simply a straight line that gets longer with each new year; it’s a fascinating […]
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