Finding Meaning in the Second Half of Life

Gary Carlson, PhDCharlotte Carlson, PhD, Jungian Analyst

Session 1Introduction and Life Review

• Welcome, introductions and personal goals

• Workshop activities

• Background, sage-ing concepts

• Life review

Life Expectancy—United States

In 1800 ~35 years

Life Expectancy—United States

In 1800 ~35 years

In 1900 ~47 years

Life Expectancy—United States

In 1800 ~35 years

In 1900 ~47 years

In 2000 ~77 years

“…What will you do with your one wild and precious life?”

Mary Oliver

Images of Aging

Tunisia

New Mexico

Bhutan

Rose and Vincent Pepitone--New York

Kenya

J. Ray

Acoma Pueblo

Tibet

Three Models of Aging

• Disengagement (Get out of the way)

• Status quo (Stay middle-aged forever)

• Conscious Aging (Sage-ing)

Rabbi Zalman Schachter Shalomi

A Definition of Sage-ing

Sage-ing is the process of becoming an elder; of reviewing one’s life; of coming to terms with mortality; of finding one’s personal truth and the meaning of one’s life; of effecting intergenerational healing; of transmitting one’s wisdom learned through life experience; of creating one’s legacy; and of being a mentor to others.

The Four Flames of Vital Aging(from Richard Leider,

Claiming Your Place at the Fire)

“Grow whole, not old”

• Identity• Community• Passion• Meaning

Life Review

• Why is it important to do Life Review?

• What is the role of Life Review in preparation for our Elder years and our Elder work?

Through Life Review:

1. We open ourselves to our past.

2. We RE-member and RE-collect ourselves to healing splits caused by repression and denial.

3. We understand what our life has been about by perceiving the larger and often surprising patterns that can emerge only when we take the long view.

Stanley Kunitz“The Layers”

“Live in the layers, not on the litter.”