How does one live with passion, have a purpose, and change the world as an elder?
It can be daunting to have an entirely clear schedule once your career has wound down, the kids have moved out, and your days are your own…for the next 30 years.
But life is not over! In fact, it’s just the beginning, and as an empowered elder, you can make meaningful change. Perhaps, your youth was full of passion for people and the planet and you had grand visions of changing the world. But at some point, that sense of purpose was buried under diapers and the mundane reality of a 9-5 career. But that passionate version of yourself remains alive. Now, with the decades ahead, this next stage of life can be the most powerful one yet.
Where do you start? Well, by reading this book! In The Aging of Aquarius, Helen Wilkes, a retired professor and activist, takes readers on an inspiring journey to find renewed purpose in retirement. A book full of lessons for not only for elders but people of all ages, Helen helps readers find their identity beyond work by fanning the embers of lost passions and developing new interests.
Whether you are drawn to gardening clubs, social justice issues, political campaigning, ethical investing, or the arts, The Aging of Aquarius offers inspiration, practical steps, and resources to help reignite your passion and sense of purpose.
The book can be purchased from New Society Publisher, on Amazon, and some local bookstores.
Reviews
In this inspiring work, Wilkes wastes no time raging against the dying of the light, showing instead that the light of mind and soul can shine ever more brightly even as our bodies grow old. The Aging of Aquarius is both an intimate personal account and a call to enlivenment and action for an entire generation.
Gabor Maté M.D.
Author and public speaker
Whether you are contemplating retirement or well-established in the business of living your senior years, this literary adventure will nudge you to laugh at yourself, challenge yourself, and discover both encouragement and inspiration.
Sally Thorne
Professor, School of Nursing and Associate Dean, Faculty of Applied Science, University of British Columbia
Read more reviews
Wilkes’ book stands out among a plethora of books on this topic. It is original, beautifully written and avoids the usual sentimental guff about the wonders of – to use that dreadful phrase – the “Golden Years.” It is not only a guide to living a good and purposeful life for elders, but for people of any age.
Roberta Rich
Author, The Midwife of Venice, The Harem Midwife, A Trial in Venice
If you want to make your retirement the best part of your life, read this book. Wilkes has woven psychology, philosophy, and poetry into a page-turner you will not want to put down. I read it in one sitting.
Dr.Roslyn Kunin
C.M., O.B.C., Roslyn Kunin and Associates, Inc.
Wilkes brings core concepts alive with deeply moving stories and examples from the life of a woman who clearly understands and embodies the challenges of growing into true elderhood. I felt like I was personally engaging with a shining model of the kind of elder I aspire to grow into.
Ron Pevny
Director, Center for Conscious Eldering
A must-read for elders who have the richness of decades of experience and new found freedom to explore their lives with hope, curiosity, and positive thinking. A most important book for the ages!
Ruth Neubauer
Founder and Facilitator, The Wisdom of Elderhood
Don’t wait until retirement to read this! Walk the path of life-review with author Helen Wilkes. Let her simple prose draw you in. Through her personal stories, you’ll learn the psychology, philosophy, and spirituality you need to confront your worries and find your purpose.
Rabbi Dr. Laura Duhan-Kaplan
Director, Inter-Religious Studies, Vancouver School of Theology