Part I. Emotional Preparation 1. Befriending Yourself 2. Learning to Grieve 3. You Always Make a Difference 4. Losing the Mind, Finding the Heart: Experiences of Alzheimer's Disease Part II. Spiritual Preparation 5. Evolving Toward True North 6. Finding a Larger Context for Your Life 7. Develop a Philosophy or Theology of Receiving 8. A Life Complete

Introduction

The birth of this material took place at the end of life, unfolding itself as I counseled elders in their last years. Each person's sharing of experience opened a window to the decades he or she had lived before. Standing at the end of these long lives, I was intimately involved with the final consequences of their early choices and learned more about living than I'd ever thought possible. Beginning with the internal strengths of elders who were coping well, I backtracked into their early decisions about life, their values, beliefs, philosophy, and theology. On the flip side, exploring the history of elders who were unable to cope with old age revealed early choices and attitudes t ... read full excerpt from A Life Complete: Emotional and Spiritual Growth for Midlife and Beyond ebook