Losses and Gifts in Midlife

by Lewis Richmond

Aging as a Spiritual PracticeSince the 2012 publication of my book Aging as a Spiritual Practice: A Contemplative Guide to Growing Older and Wiser, I have been leading workshops and working with groups to explore how to negotiate the path of aging in today’s complex and hyper-busy world.  Among baby boomers one of the challenges is being caught in middle between two other generations: children and aging parents.  If the children span the ages from young school-age to adult, two generations expand to three!

Recent studies show that 35% of young adults in their 20s still living with parents—with more still relying on their parents for financial and emotional support.  In addition, our parents’ generation is living longer than any in history—into their 80s, 90s, and even beyond. […]