The Time of Your Later Life

Book excerpt: The Time of Your Later Life is a guide to help older people explore new possibilities and write new life narratives in the process of growing older. It is an interpretation of some of the key events of the year seen through the eyes of a middle-ager who happens to work as a psychiatrist for older people and who actively aspires to be a thriving older person. The book reminisces, recalls, reinterprets and explores the themes and circumstances of the year based on a journey through the seasons. It consists of 52 essays (one for each week of the year) exploring: ThemesFestivalsRitualsOpportunities With observations and wry perceptions challenging the reader to do more and get more out of life. The intended audience for this book is the 16 per cent of the Irish population aged 65 and older, but also middle-agers approaching this age category, as well as friends, family members and supporters of older people irrespective of age – in other words, all of us.