The theme this week on my blog is definitely supporting other authors. I love this little book. I think you will, too.
A DELIGHTFUL LITTLE BOOK ON AGING
by
Stephanie Raffelock
Genre: Inspirational / Spiritual / Essays / Self-Help
Publisher: She Writes Press
Publication Date: April 28, 2020
Number of Pages: 119 pages
Scroll down for the giveaway!
All around us, older women flourish in industry, entertainment, and politics. Do they know something that we don’t, or are we all just trying to figure it out? For so many of us, our hearts and minds still feel that we are twenty-something young women who can take on the world. But in our bodies, the flexibility and strength that were once taken for granted are far from how we remember them. Every day we have to rise above the creaky joints and achy knees to earn the opportunity of moving through the world with a modicum of grace.
Yet we do rise, because it’s a privilege to grow old, and every single day is a gift. Peter Pan’s mantra was, “Never grow up”; our collective mantra should be, “Never stop growing.” This collection of user-friendly stories, essays, and philosophies invites readers to celebrate whatever age they are with a sense of joy and purpose and with a spirit of gratitude.
PRAISE for A Delightful Little Book on Aging:
“Where are the elders? The wise women, the crones, the guardians of truth here to gently, lovingly, and playfully guide us towards the fulfillment of our collective destiny? It turns out that they are right here, in our midst, and Stephanie Raffelock is showcasing the reclamation of aging as a moment of becoming, no longer a dreaded withering into insignificance. A Delightful Little Book on Aging lays down new and beautiful tracks for the journey into our richest, deepest, and wildest years.” – Kelly Brogan, MD, author of the New York Times bestseller A Mind of Your Own
“A helpful, uplifting work for readers handling the challenges of growing older.” – Kirkus Reviews
CLICK TO PURCHASE: Amazon ┃ IndieBound
“The words in this book are about aging. None of us are in it alone. we are moving toward the sunset together, and on that horizon eternity lingers. May we all embrace living fully, with unabashed joy and appreciation for this path of transition.”
The minute I read those words in the Introduction, I knew this is a book I will read and then read again. I have not been embracing my own journey down this path of aging with joy and appreciation, and I welcome the wisdom and guidance the author has to offer.
And there’s plenty of it packed in this small volume.
This terrific little inspirational book is broken into four categories: Grief – that encourages us to look at the things that we are losing as we’re aging. Reclamation, that invites us to look at new opportunities that getting older brings us. Perhaps now that we’re retired, we can do some of those things we never seemed to be able to find time for when we were so busy with jobs and/or raising children and taking care of a household.
The next section covers Vision, and the author is clear that it is not about a list of goals. Rather, that section encourages us to practice being so fully engaged with life that we “develop a wiser soul filled with wonder and delight.”
The last section focuses on Laughter. Not only the chuckles accompanying a good joke, or a funny comedy show, but the kind that can come from looking back on our lives and being able to laugh at some of the things that perhaps had hurt us. The author writes, “Humor is the gentle chuckle of recognition and resolve.”
Looking back with humor helps take the sting out of past hurts and through the humor we are able to let go of the pain.
I wish this book had been available back when I worked as a chaplain in a fairly large medical complex. We had older people who were struggling with the aging process. We had people at the end of their life journey who were struggling because of past regrets. This book would have been so helpful for those clients, and I would have talked our pastoral care department into ordering tons of them.
Stephanie Raffelock is the author of A Delightful Little Book on Aging (She Writes Press, April 2020). A graduate of Naropa University’s program in Writing and Poetics, she has penned articles for numerous publications, including the Aspen Times, the Rogue Valley Messenger, Nexus Magazine, Omaha Lifestyles, Care2.com, and SixtyandMe.com. Stephanie is part of the positive-aging movement, which encourages viewing age as a beautiful and noble passage, the fruition of years that birth wisdom and deep gratitude for all of life. She’s a recent transplant to Austin, Texas, where she enjoys life with her husband, Dean, and their Labrador retriever, Jeter (yes, named after the great Yankee shortstop).
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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
TWO WINNERS: Signed hardcover copy of A Delightful Little Book on Aging + a set of 50 pocket inspirations ** ONE WINNER: A set of 50 pocket inspirations
JULY 7-19, 2020
(US ONLY)
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CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, or visit the blogs directly:
| 7/9/20 | Notable Quotable | That’s What She’s Reading |
| 7/9/20 | Review | StoreyBook Reviews |
| 7/10/20 | Review | Carpe Diem Chronicles |
| 7/10/20 | BONUS Post | Hall Ways Blog |
| 7/11/20 | Author Video | All the Ups and Downs |
| 7/12/20 | Guest Post | Chapter Break Book Blog |
| 7/13/20 | Author Interview | Texas Book Lover |
| 7/13/20 | Review | Forgotten Winds |
| 7/14/20 | Review | Momma on the Rocks |
| 7/15/20 | Podcast | The Clueless Gent |
| 7/15/20 | Review | Kelly Well Read |
| 7/16/20 | Review | It’s Not All Gravy |
| 7/17/20 | Guest Post | Missus Gonzo |
| 7/17/20 | Review | Sydney Young, Stories |
| 7/18/20 | Review | Books and Broomsticks |
| 7/18/20 | Review | Reading by Moonlight |
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Mary Ann, Thanks for hosting me today. I’ve so enjoyed meeting other Texas writers and getting a sense of this warm and welcoming literary community. And I loved reading that you once did chaplaincy work! It was an area of interest for me for a long time and at one point I went back to school to get an M.Div so that I could work in that area. Unfortunately, I was a theology school drop out, finding it difficult to keep up with the demanding work load plus my other job. But, I’ve never lost my love for the special place that chaplains fill in the face of suffering.
Thanks for such a lovely review. You have a wonderful blog site and it’s an honor to be a little part of it today. Sending you love and goodwill.
Stephanie, it is my pleasure to have your book, and you, featured on my blog. I don’t have an M.Div, but received a strong background in theology, world religions, and church history from when my husband was in college to get a Master’s degree prior to his ordination as a Permanent Deacon in the Catholic church. I did hospital ministry as a volunteer for years after that, with some training from a woman who ran a hospice program. Then I took four units of Clinical Pastoral Education, which helped me understand the role of a chaplain. Very blessed work.
What a unique and wonderful story! Thank you for sharing it. And what a wonderful bog site. Much appreciation for the service that you continue to honor with your work.
So glad you enjoyed my story of chaplaincy. And I do appreciate your kind words about my blog site. I’ve thought about changing to something that is more like other professional writers, but this one reflects me – messy desk and all. 🙂
Viva la messy desks . . . and authenticity!
Great review! Sometimes we just have to hear someone else telling us what we know in our hearts in order to act on it. This has been a great book for me in that regard. Almost like I have permission now to do the things I want, to say no, to focus on me. Thanks for the post!
Kristine, you are so right about often needing someone else to tell us things we should acknowledge. I’ve found this book very helpful in that regard. I’m busy highlighting passages that I will refer to often in my journey to acceptance of my current reality.