This book found me. “The Grace in Aging” by Kathleen Dowling Singh was staring me in the face on a recent visit to the Yorkville Library in Downtown Toronto. When I started blogging, it was my intention to cover many topics related to aging because of my own age. However, the blog took on a life of its own and evolved in its own way. Today, though, I highly recommend the above book to all the baby boomers out there who have been in the least bit concerned about aging. Notice that this book is not about aging gracefully but about “The Grace in Aging.” The concerns here are not about what’s on the outside but what’s on the inside.
There are all kinds of “jokes” and “jibes” out there about seniors, aging, and old age. In our culture, we tend to see this phase of life as less important than the phases experienced before. Many people talk about the aged as though they are just sitting around waiting for death to happen. It is refreshing that the author gives us the opportunity to open ourselves to the deeper learning that we can avail ourselves to at this age and the wisdom we can derive from this inward journey. The author is mainly coming from a Buddhist perspective but doesn’t discount the wisdom of other traditions.
Aging is about living and it is also about dying. Usually, we are very uncomfortable with any talk of death. We talk about those who have died and the viewings, funerals, memorial services, and the like we have attended. Any talk about the preparation and the work of dying is avoided in the circles of people that I know. I’m glad that this book offers an opportunity for looking at both living and dying.
In the Afterword of the book, the author talks about doing an inventory to see where we are. Some of the kinds of questions that she lists are:
What do I need to clear up or let go of to be more peaceful?
What are my resistances to vulnerability?
What are my resistances to being fully present?
What are my distractions?
What are my fears?
How deep is my gratitude?
How generous is my heart?
Those are just a few of the questions. I feel that it’s important to do this kind of work if one is able. I don’t know Kathleen Dowling Singh and have never read any of her other books so my endorsement of this book as a good read is unbiased. I hope whatever little information you have gleaned from what I have said here may have you wanting to read more. You will not be disappointed.
I found this information about the author on her web page:
Kathleen Dowling Singh is trained academically in transpersonal psychology and works as a mentor for deep psychospiritual growth work. She lectures widely throughout the United States on spirituality at the end of life, spiritual transformation in the midst of life, and meditative and contemplative practices. Kathleen is the author of The Grace in Dying: How We are Transformed Spiritually as we Die (HarperOne, 1998), a book named one of Amazon’s Top Ten Books in Spirituality the year it was published and recognized as a landmark in the field. The Grace in Aging: Awaken as You Grow Older. WisdomPublications, 2014) has struck a chord with sincere practitioners who wish to use their aging years for spiritual maturation and ripening. It was named one of the best of 2014 by Spirituality and Practice Magazine.
That’s all for “The Grace in Aging.” May we all find grace in our aging.