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Elders

A Gay Son and His Dad: "Why I am an Aging Advocate"

Bryan Pacheco | Posted 04.08.2013 | Gay Voices
Bryan Pacheco

"Dad, I'm gay. Please don't hate me," I said. He responded, "I love you no matter what. And I'm happy you're out now and can be yourself. I always knew you were gay. I was just waiting for you to feel comfortable enough to tell me."

The 3 Women Who Make Me Feel Good About Old Age

Maddy Dychtwald | Posted 04.05.2013 | Fifty
Maddy Dychtwald

Who are your elder heroes? Who inspires you on the next stage of our life journey?

How Elder Care Will Change By 2050

Posted 02.06.2013 | HuffPost Live 321

Today, for every person aged 65 and over, there are five people under 65 to take care of them. In 2050 there will be three people under 65 for every e...

Before 'I Do,' Ask This Question

Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D. | Posted 04.02.2013 | Fifty
Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D.

In our interviews with hundreds of long-married couples about what works and what doesn't for a long and satisfying relationship... it turns out that our elders believe there's something close to a 'magic bullet' when it comes to deciding in a relationship: 'Should I stay or should I go?'

Please Write

Jill Robinson | Posted 01.21.2013 | Los Angeles
Jill Robinson

Dear Mr. Roth, please write. I'd like you to rage, rage against the dying of light. What happened to the legacy of our best grandparents, professors and crusty editors, skilled, in the arts of torment, demand and attitude?

My Tuesday With Morrie (Or, What We Can Learn From Our Elders)

John-Manuel Andriote | Posted 11.19.2012 | Gay Voices
John-Manuel Andriote

I invited him to join me and two friends I'd invited to dinner Friday night. Morrie was the hit of the party. I'm lucky to have friends who, as I do, revere our elders and soak up the drops of wisdom woven like pearls into the fabric of their stories.

'Oh, So Now You Notice Us?!'

Harry J. Getzov | Posted 11.14.2012 | Fifty
Harry J. Getzov

It is an inescapable fact: Senior citizens vote. They care. And as the years unfold, with the aging of the baby boomers and the resulting senior demographic explosion, this sector's voting power is going to reach unprecedented levels.

In Honor of Older, Wiser Women

Randee Mia Berman | Posted 10.16.2012 | New York
Randee Mia Berman

Age is a funny thing. My contemporaries, mostly baby boomers, are wonderful, but none of them have ever told me to call them when I got home to make sure I was safe. None of them burst into song, much less with two-part harmony.

Older And More Diverse: America's Multicultural Future Is Approaching Fast, But Are We Ready?

David E. Thigpen | Posted 09.24.2012 | San Francisco
David E. Thigpen

Elders are revered for their experience and wisdom in many cultures around the globe, but here in America where our civic, media and business cultures worship at the fountain of youth, elders are seen in quite a different light.

Elders Reveal The One "Magic Bullet" To Successful Parenting

Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D. | Posted 08.16.2012 | Fifty
Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D.

In our interviews with over 1,200 of the oldest Americans in the Legacy Project, we asked them in detail for their advice about parenting. In our hectic and driven society, parents look endlessly for programs, gimmicks and therapies to improve their relationships with children. But what do the elders say?

Secrets To A Happy Marriage (From the Real Experts)

Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D. | Posted 08.11.2012 | Fifty
Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D.

In our surveys of the life wisdom of the oldest Americans, I was particularly interested in their advice about finding a life partner and staying married. Many of the elders we talked with in the Legacy Project had been married for 30, 40, 50 or more years. Here are their three top lessons.

The End of the Greatest Generation: Is Anyone Paying Attention?

Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D. | Posted 07.02.2012 | Fifty
Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D.

I recently had a stunning realization: We're about to lose one of the most precious resources in America. I'm not talking about oil, gas or rare metals. What we're about to lose Is the living presence of the elders who make up the Greatest Generation.

Loyalty Can Be a Double-Edged Sword

Christina M. MartĆ­nez | Posted 06.11.2012 | Latino Voices
Christina M. MartĆ­nez

It's okay to challenge status quo, even the personal ones we have come up against. I know this can be hard. We are a very loyal people. But, this is about finding your Latinoself - your identity.

Words Of Wisdom That Changed My Life

Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D. | Posted 05.24.2012 | Fifty
Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D.

What happens when you receive life-changing advice? Do you take it all in at once? Or does one particular sentence or even phrase stay with you, becoming a part of the way you look at an issue or challenge?

I'm Really Proud of You!

Laurie Israel | Posted 03.25.2012 | Fifty
Laurie Israel

"I'm really proud of you!" Many people in their 50s and 60s (or even older) have no one to say this to them anymore. But they deserve to have it said and to have it said sincerely.

Why Should We Listen to Old People? A Very Good Question

Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D. | Posted 03.17.2012 | Fifty
Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D.

Younger people are right to ask: Why should I spend time listening to old people's advice about how to live my life?

Taking Back My Culture

New Harbinger | Posted 03.07.2012 | Latino Voices
New Harbinger

The power of our culture can be turned inward and used against us or it can be used to build strong families and communities.

Be Happier: Five Surprising Resolutions From The Wisest Americans

Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D. | Posted 03.05.2012 | Fifty
Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D.

Yes, it's that time of year again. We're all seeing the lists of resolutions in the press and on various blogs. But I recall reading that only a tiny fraction of New Year's resolutions are ever acted upon. So I decided to review the data we gathered from more than 1,200 elders in the Legacy Project, who shared their lessons for living for future generations. Based on the surveys and interviews, here are resolutions in five areas of life that are worth a try in the new year. These suggestions from the oldest Americans may serve you better than the typical ones we make (and break) each year.

WATCH: Heartwarming Story, Iraqi Woman Becomes Artist At 75

Posted 12.13.2011 | Arts

It is hard to make it today as an artist no matter what. As an Iraqi woman growing up amidst war, poverty and oppression, Haji Khanem had many additio...

Ten Life Lessons From The Wisest Americans

Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D. | Posted 02.06.2012 | Fifty
Karl A. Pillemer, Ph.D.

In contemporary society, we don't often ask our elders for advice. We're much more likely to talk to professionals, read books by pop psychologists or motivational speakers, or surf the internet for solutions to our problems. This is a serious mistake.

Elders Meet Occupiers: 20th And 21st-Century Movements Connect

Rabbi Arthur Waskow | Posted 01.31.2012 | Religion
Rabbi Arthur Waskow

A delegation from the Council of Elders (veteran leaders of the freedom and peace movements of the mid-20th century) recently led an interfaith service at Zuccotti Park. Hundreds of OWS activists took part.

How A Group Of Teenagers Helped Reduce Suicide In Alaska

AlaskaDispatch.com | Posted 08.03.2012 | Healthy Living
AlaskaDispatch.com

A region long battered by some of the nation's highest suicide rates has some welcome good news -- a drop in deaths credited in part to teenage students.

Where Have All The Wise Men Gone?

Michael Meade, D.H.L. | Posted 11.10.2011 | Healthy Living
Michael Meade, D.H.L.

In modern life, instead of people growing "older and wiser," people can simply grow older and older. People can live longer and longer without becoming any wiser for it.

Environmental Leaders Call for Civil Disobedience to Stop the Keystone XL Pipeline

Bill McKibben | Posted 08.23.2011 | Green
Bill McKibben

We want you to consider doing something hard: coming to Washington in the hottest and stickiest weeks of the summer and engaging in civil disobedience that will likely get you arrested.

Adopt a Native Elder: When the Spirit Moves You...

Jay Tavare | Posted 05.25.2011 | Impact
Jay Tavare

More than 2,500 people from all over the world volunteer their time, expertise and love to raise money for one of the poorest demographics in America.