Talks
I've honestly lost count of how many talks I've given over the years, on how many subjects, and - alongside that - of the range and numbers of people and organisations who've listened, watched, and asked questions.
My talks now focus on ways to think through how you might, with an older relative or friend, have conversations that feel difficult to you (or to them); make decisions at tricky times - especially if health or ability is rapidly or unexpectedly changing - or plan ahead, as far as possible, for those future times; and enjoy, as much as possible, life as it's now being experienced (by both of you).
You may find these talks also help you in how you feel about coming into later stages of your own life.
"Old age ain't no place for sissies," is the often quoted line said by Bette Davis's character in the film All About Eve. That's true for many people. Older stages of our lives can - and do - bring multiple twists and turns to the 'script' of our lives we've so far followed (or not!). Hence the 'snakes and ladders' photograph at the top of this page, especially since not all the twists are bad!
We don't get a manual at any stage of our lives that tells us how to be older, we mostly just suddenly find we are now identified (by others!) as 'older people'. For most of us, that's a shock and a half - firstly because you get to that point so quickly (hard to believe it'll happen at all in your 20s; much easier to believe the speed by your 50s or 60s); secondly, because of the mismatch that can arise between how you feel and what you want, how you live now, and how others treat you. It's the sort of mismatch you may have not felt or witnessed since adolescence.
If you'd like to know more, or to discuss a possible talk, please get in touch.
I've honestly lost count of how many talks I've given over the years, on how many subjects, and - alongside that - of the range and numbers of people and organisations who've listened, watched, and asked questions.
My talks now focus on ways to think through how you might, with an older relative or friend, have conversations that feel difficult to you (or to them); make decisions at tricky times - especially if health or ability is rapidly or unexpectedly changing - or plan ahead, as far as possible, for those future times; and enjoy, as much as possible, life as it's now being experienced (by both of you).
You may find these talks also help you in how you feel about coming into later stages of your own life.
"Old age ain't no place for sissies," is the often quoted line said by Bette Davis's character in the film All About Eve. That's true for many people. Older stages of our lives can - and do - bring multiple twists and turns to the 'script' of our lives we've so far followed (or not!). Hence the 'snakes and ladders' photograph at the top of this page, especially since not all the twists are bad!
We don't get a manual at any stage of our lives that tells us how to be older, we mostly just suddenly find we are now identified (by others!) as 'older people'. For most of us, that's a shock and a half - firstly because you get to that point so quickly (hard to believe it'll happen at all in your 20s; much easier to believe the speed by your 50s or 60s); secondly, because of the mismatch that can arise between how you feel and what you want, how you live now, and how others treat you. It's the sort of mismatch you may have not felt or witnessed since adolescence.
If you'd like to know more, or to discuss a possible talk, please get in touch.
