Undeniably, growing old is challenging; the physical pain and emotional angst are unrelenting. The tendency is to think there is nothing left to live for; no point in defying the unforgiving mortality chart. Embracing Elderhood offers a palliative to the pessimism that leads to 'dying before we die!' It loudly proclaims, being old is about chronology; being an Elder is about attitude. The book is a genuine contribution to the narrative about aging that redefines the concept of Elderhood by answering three important questions. With our lives well past the halfway point, we ask ourselves: why am I here? We recognize how childhood and chance predetermined the role we played in life. Now the question becomes, 'Is this how I want to live the rest of my life?' The task is to exorcise the shame and regret of the past, finding forgiveness in your heart and redefining your relationship to family, money, society and your inner truth. Aging is a relentless process. Often burdened by illness or ill luck, we ask: why am I still here? Elders, however, find energy and motivation by making the behavioral change from self-service to being of-service, using their life's experiences to find purpose, making a positive difference in the lives of others. After we have passed, our loved ones will provide the answer to our final question: why was I here? Will we be remembered kindly; did we make a difference in people's lives? It's now or never to do what remains to be done and to finally confront any unresolved issues. We are the sages, the teachers, the philosophers with the perspective that only comes with age. But we must speak out. As elders we have an elemental responsibility to teach others and share our gifts. In this book, we learn how to address each question and find purpose and meaning in our elder years.
Howard Englander is an author, workshop leader and End of life Coach. He has guided hundreds of aging seniors to purposeful lives of joy and meaning. With his therapist wife, Arlene, he developed the concept of "In-sourcing," a belief that everything we need to achieve a life of joy and fulfillment is within us and available on call. Their book, The In-Sourcing Handbook: Where and How to Find the Happiness You Deserve, is a practical instruction manual offering firsthand exercises to help readers realize that we don't have to search outside of ourselves for the components of a happy and meaningful life. A second book by the duo, Living with Love and Light, is available on Amazon Books. Howard is the author of Cheating Death: How to add years of joy and meaning to life. Recently completed and scheduled for publication in 2023 is a collection of short stories entitled Love, Lust, Shame, Regret... and Harold. Englander was on the faculty of the Wharton School (Teaching Fellow) as well as Champlain College, Burlington, Vermont, and Columbia College, Chicago. Howard's essays, assembled under the heading, "Cheating Death," have posted more than three hundred contributions to 'Chicago Now'. Howard originated and currently edits the "Senior News Daily, "an online digital newspaper for active seniors, publishing twice daily on the internet. Soon to be continued post-pandemic is the workshop program he founded, www.thepowerinus.com. Howard's experience working with seniors and knowing what makes them tick dates back three decades. In 1988 he founded a successful catalog marketing products especially designed for the seniors' market. Membership in the Senior Buying Network offered discounts on kitchen utensils, bath safety products and a variety of personal assistance items. Throughout the nineties and turn of the century, Englander was a principal and Creative Director of AgeWise, a boutique advertising agency specializing in marketing to the senior demographic.
