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The Virtues of Aging
When Jimmy Carter left the
White House in 1981, he and his wife, Rosalynn, had to face the
same questions many elder Americans encounter when retirement
approaches:
- "How could we accommodate
the unpleasant circumstances that had been forced on us? What
were our assets and abilities?
- What were the dependable factors
in a good life, and how could we recognize and develop them?
- Was it at all possible for
us to be as satisfied in the future as we had been during some
of our most interesting, adventurous, and successful times?
- Did we have anything much
to offer in the years ahead?"
In the years since, both Carters
have become internationally recognized for their work as authors,
teachers, and humanitarians, but as Carter amiably insists in
The Virtues of Aging, you don't need to be a former president
(or first lady) to make a difference in your life and the lives
of others.
He urges older Americans to
take charge of their lives--by staying active, whether it's through
volunteerism or indulgence in personal recreation; by relying
on oneself as much as possible; by getting involved with others;
and by putting one's affairs in order with an honest self-awareness
of the inevitability that even the richest, most rewarding life
comes to a close.
by Jimmy Carter
Former (39th) President
of the United States
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