Table of Contents
Acknowledgments xi
Introduction 3
I Resolve Your Love-Hate Relationship With Aging 15
1 Talk Back to Your Mirror 17
What Do We Fear? 18
We Can Age With Panache 20
Resolve the Conundrum 23
Your To-Do List 24
2 Just Say No to Ageism 27
Age Bias Is Everywhere 29
Effects of Age Bias 31
Challenge Age Bias 33
Your To-Do List 37
II Understand Transitions 41
3 Embrace Change 43
Dissect Your Transitions 45
Your To-Do List 59
4 Diversify Your Coping Skills 63
Balance Your Resources and Deficits-The 4 S System 65
What Is Coping? 68
Your Coping Strategies Questions 69
Manage Multiple Transitions 82
Your To-Do List 84
III Navigate The Many Transitions of Aging 87
5 Create Your Own Retirement Fantasy 89
Retirement Is a Series of Transitions, Not a Date 91
Retirees Need a Strong Psychological Portfolio 93
Retirees Decide Which Path to Follow 97
Retirees Dream About Their Future 99
The Money Angle 101
Your To-Do List 103
6 Choose Your Place: Location, Location, Location 107
Location Matters! 109
Location Options 110
Understand the Relocation Transition 117
The Money Angle 124
Your To-Do List 127
7 Cope With Health Challenges 131
Marshal All Your Resources 132
Your Cognitive Health 137
Your Health and Your Happiness 140
Take Control r 142
The Money Angle 145
Your To-Do List 147
8 Understand Your Family Transitions 151
Parents and Children: The Balance Shifts 155
Possibilities, Not Problems 156
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren 157
Spouses as Caregivers 159
Resolve Broken Relationships 168
The Money Angle 171
Your To-Do List 173
IV Create the New You 177
9 Keep Your Dance Card Full: Pay Attention to Friends, Family, and Fun 179
The Challenge: Understanding Loneliness 181
Attachment Theory and Older People: Surviving Your Peers and Facing Being Alone 183
Pump Up Your Social Life 184
Your To-Do List 193
10 Go for Romance (If You Want It) 195
Elephants in the Room 197
The Many Forms of Romance 200
Making Connections 204
Finding Love Again: My Story 207
Your To-Do List 210
11 Create Your Own Happiness: Your Path to Positive Aging 213
As the Kaleidoscope Turns, so Does Your Perspective 214
Create the New You 221
Your Path to Positive Aging 228
Conclusion 230
Notes 235
Index 249
About the Author 263
