30 Ways To Grow Old Disgracefully

There are more than a few ways to grow old, so why not choose disgracefully? This book features original artwork from Beryl Cook, accompanied by lovely suggestions from dressing inappropriately to naked hot-tubbing. A perfect gift for those living on the lighter side of life.

You are never too old to live life with self-esteem and playfulness. Written by six women between the ages of sixty-four and seventy-seven, this book challenges stereotypes and suggests ways to make life at any age more joyous and creative.

As we age, our outlook on life alters, teaching us that no matter how hard we struggle to hold back the clock of time. We find the golden years are stress-free, offering a greater sense of freedom. Many find the ageing experience tells you that you really are as young as you feel. They see little reason to turn into caricatures of their parents, or worst still - their grandparents! What was once regarded as 'old age' has become the new 'middle age'. This is the time of the sixties generation, revealing there is a lot to be said for enjoying yourself - just for the hell of it! The creators of rock music, the ageing pop stars that see little reason to sit back and collect their pension, now dance to a more exciting tune. People over a certain age discover there is a mischievous inner self waiting to come out to play. This book offers new insights into what people mean when they say they enjoy growing old disgracefully.

As we grow rich in years we have begun to pity those who follow behind, recognising they face all the difficulties of their thirties and middle age before them. The joyful arrival at retirement brings with it the delight of newfound freedom, of finally being in control of life, rather than life being in control of us.Strangely enough, what was old age to previous generations has now become the new 'middle-age', a time of refreshment, encouraging us to change our pace and take life as it comes For the first time since childhood we are welcome to do all the things we were unable to do whilst tied to the relentless demands of career and family.The joy of growing old means that more and more people have bought into the opinion that age is simply a state of mind. This belief tells us that as long as we remain active and interested in what is happening outside the home, we are in control of how the passage of years affects us.On our television screens we are able to see many film and pop stars who have remained at the pinnacle of success since the seventies and eighties. We view them as people still in the fullness of life, not as old codgers looking forward to a well-earned retirement. In these modern times, we see life differently; see it as it really is, and certainly not as our parents and their parents imagined it should be. The Baby Boomers of the Nineteen Fifties, Sixties and now the Seventies, have transformed their thinking to look upon life as capable of still surprising and delighting us all.

Does your mother think it's really charming to talk to every rose bush on the street? Has your father taken up obsessive fundraising for a donkey sanctuary on retirement? Does he collect elastic bands because 'you never know when you'll need one'? Do your parents make jokes about sheltered housing? Have they guessed that you've already sent off for the brochures? Do they seem to be having too much fun for a couple with two fake hips, a pacemaker and three steel pins between them? Then you need Rohan Candappa. The man who bought you The Little Book of Stress, The Little Book of Wrong Shui and The Autobiography of a One Year Old has hit the nail on the head once more. Full of wit and wisdom, Rohan will give you a much needed laugh in the face of your parents' increasingly barmy behaviour. Just one thing, you'll probably find your parents have bought it too. And they'll probably think its really funny.

A doctor was once heard to say that it is a pity we know our own age; otherwise, we could just say that we are as old as we feel. The populations of most countries are ageing, and because of this we can anticipate many years of retirement. We need to make the most of this opportunity, but we are faced with exhortations such as "act your age." Does this mean that older people should not have fun anymore, but should instead conform to conventional stereotypes such as being unproductive, conventional, inflexible, serene, and no longer interested in intimacy? In other words, should people have to grow old gracefully? The answer is no. Instead, we should enjoy ageing while still having fun and living life to the fullest. The author, Dr. Mike Lowis, is a psychologist and theologian who has numerous academic publications to his name, including over sixty articles in peer-reviewed journals, two books and two book chapters. His vast research experience, plus being himself in the 'third age' of life, adequately qualifies him to write on the topic of making the most of the retirement years. He delights in debunking the myths and stereotypes of ageing, and gives many examples of individuals who have achieved great things in later life. The book includes details on several ways that can help older people to cope with life, including making full use of both music and humour. It also reviews biblical texts that refer to the virtues of, and the respect for, older people. This book is written in an accessible style that should also appeal to the interested general reader. The book also includes some simple self-test exercises that readers are invited to complete, the results of which should help those interested to gauge their own levels of progress toward life satisfaction.