Life Transitions   

We will join undergraduate students in UNC Asheville’s course Aging and Human Development once per week to explore and discuss generational similarities and differences. Topics will include the life course theory; emerging adulthood vs. youth; the shifting role of higher education; technology and connection; family and independence; identity and social justice; work, purpose and the future; and the shared journey. This is a unique opportunity for deep intergenerational engagement.

We will explore how to create and maintain habits for lifestyles that support healthy longevity for older adults. We will cover material from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, James Clear’s Atomic Habits (2018) and related content in our slide presentations and small-group discussions. We will focus on the important, simple, and practical things we can control, and leverage them for optimal aging. Prerequisites: Participants should be curious about exploring and making behavioral changes for a healthy lifestyle.

We will look at a practical, physician-developed framework for aging well that draws on geriatrics and lifestyle medicine. We will explore how the body changes with age and how to improve energy, strength, cognition and overall health. Each week will focus on a key domain including activity, nutrition, sleep and habits with clear, actionable strategies. The framework will help us think about health more systematically and make meaningful, sustainable changes. Note: Participants may choose to attend each week either in-person or online.

We will explore a practical roadmap for life and work transitions, including retirement. We will look at three stages (long/emerging ending, messy middle and new beginning) and six types to build transition intelligence and to better understand and navigate them. Supporting this exploration, we will learn about additional tools and maps—enneagram, self-awareness and presence—that help us identify conscious and unconscious patterns, blind spots and growth paths. Prerequisites: Some knowledge of the enneagram is helpful but not required. Recommended textbooks: Life Is in the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age by Bruce Feiler (2021), ISBN: 978-1101980514; and The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types by Don Riso and Russ Hudson (1999), ISBN: 978-0553378207.

As baby boomers redefine what it means to grow older, more people are aging on their own whether by choice or circumstance. This shift raises important questions: Who will care for me in a medical emergency? How will I manage my finances, healthcare, transportation, housing and build a strong support network? Together, we will explore the opportunities and challenges of solo aging and discover how thoughtful planning can help us navigate this stage of life with confidence, clarity and peace of mind.

We will navigate the complexities of aging by transforming critical self-talk into narratives of strength and self-compassion. Each week we will focus on a core theme—physical changes, fear of cognitive decline, grief and social connections—using tailored exercises and group discussion to discover how a supportive inner voice reduces suffering and builds resilience. We will learn to transform our aging experience by empowering our inner ally. Prerequisites: A positive attitude towards personal development and an open heart. Materials: Pen and paper or journal.

We will explore issues related to women aging that are presented in Mary Pipher's book Women Rowing North. We will examine issues related to what brings happiness at the end of life, attitudes toward aging and finding meaning in later life. Required textbook: Women Rowing North by Mary Pipher (2019), ISBN: 978-1632869609.