How old is “older”? Well…I don’t know what the exact entry point is, but being in my mid 60s certainly puts me in in the “older adult” demographic. I can say with certainty that life is more beautiful than ever right for me right now. I’m not going to pretend that everything gets easier as…
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Finding Common Ground
-by Bill Plake- To say that we are living politically and socially turbulent times these days would be an understatement. As differences in our values and worldviews come into sharp contrast, so too do we tend to grow ever more passionate and (in many cases) inflexible about what we believe and hold dear to us.…
Wisely Growing Older
“If I knew I was going to live this long, I would’ve taken better care of myself.” -Eubie Blake, jazz pianist One the whole, we human beings are living longer than ever before. But we’re not necessarily always living better. Much of our increased longevity can be attributed to advances in science and technology. Modern…
Coming to Terms with the Light and the Gloom.
-by Bia Plake “Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word ‘happy’ would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.” – Carl Jung When I was 5 years old, my parents had a terrible car accident that made my dad stay in bed for over a year.…
My (Not So) Secret Fountain of Youth
-by Bill Plake At the college where I teach, I reveal my age to the students on the first day of class. Most of them are somewhat surprised to find out I’m in my early 60s, figuring me for being years younger. So I ask them what it is that makes me appear younger to…
Not Being Afraid of Being Afraid
-by Bill Plake- “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” -Anaïs Nin I’ve struggled with anxiety for as long as I can remember. Things that raise a mild concern in most people can too often bring me into a state of…
Becoming a mom for the first time at 43 yrs old
-by Bia Plake- It is a warm summer day in Brooklyn NY. I am at the park babysitting a little girl. A mom comes up to me and asks me the question that I always get when I was babysitting:” What is your daughter’s name?” One more time I smile and say: ” She is…
The Most Nourishing of All Feelings
-by Bill Plake- “I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness – it’s right in front of me, if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” – Brené Brown The past year or so has been one of the most challenging periods in my life so far. Lots of setbacks, losses and disappointments. Many…
51, A Good Idea!
(by Bia Plake) Why is 51 a good idea? My Brazilian friends will immediately know what I am talking about. But I will explain to my non-Brazilians friends, because it is an important part of my process. In the ’70s in Brazil we had a TV advertisement that went viral. It was about a Cachaça…