The Change of Year is upon us soon and as we shift focus from 2024 to 2025 it is being realized we are ¼ of the way through this century. Remember Y2K? Do you realize babies born in the year 2000 are now 25 years old? Time marches on at a speed by which we cannot fathom if we are to really pay attention to it. What does it mean to “pay attention”? We pay in many ways …. we pay with our souls, our hearts, our pocketbook and our health. I have been watching a “Tums” commercial recently that has an ice cream Sunday with a Tums on top, like a cherry, and it says something like treat yourself then treat your discomfort with Tums. Does that not disturb and insult your decision making?
I am the broom in the boomer story. The party has been happening and the first cohorts are well into the throes of challenging our system to satisfy their needs and I am the broom sweeping along behind picking up the leftovers. At 65 years old I will be the recipient of the research and I will be left to deal with the hangovers.
One of the discoveries and changes I have been watching is how religion is falling away so quickly in Canada that now is the time to sweep away all the debris of false doctrine and see if God is left behind anywhere in the castoffs of history. Most recently in my studies I was called to task because I chose psychological resources for a paper instead of Christian theological ones; I am immersed in a theology degree after all. It is funny how tossing a question can change your perspective.
I went searching today for Reginald Bibby, a well known Canadian scholar, academic and sociologist who has spent the last 50 years collecting data and tracking social trends. One of his foci is the religious landscape. I was introduced to his work in 2007 when I was studying gerontology with Dr. Brenda Elias and have been depending on his work ever since.
One of his areas of study is how spirituality is on the rise while religion is on the decline. Slam dunk! I love it! The question is do you know what it means to age well as you get in touch with your spirituality as a broom sweeping boomer? Are you watching as the older olds are spoon fed, Hoyer-lifted and bingo’d in their aging years? Do you want to do your third trimester differently?
I want to help! I want to teach! I want to share what an undergraduate degree and two masters have taught me since I turned 50. I want to share and grow your desire to do better and be better in the third third of your life.
I am looking for 50+ adults who would be interested in helping me gather data and to participate in a 6-week study called “Generative Aging”. It has Christian essence that I hope to pull out of the resource and I need your help. I need your input.
Interested? This is academic research and it will begin in 2025. Are you ready to implement change in your life, build your next chapter and take charge of your aging? There is no charge, no fee and no loss here. Come with me and grow!
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#breakingstibah 