1. Aging

2. Questions & Concerns

3. Practical Matters Proactive or reactive?
Be prepared for likely changes
Aging at home or in a “new” home
Identifying support systems
Living without regrets
Letting go of mental and physical baggage
Resolving grudges and regrets
Talking to your loved ones

4. The Big Questions When does aging begin? Identity: Who am I?
Clinging to youth – a cultural phenomenon
Who am I in retirement?
Adapting to changing capacities and roles
Losing friends – grieving multiple losses
Gifts of aging
Deepening wisdom, self-compassion, forgiveness and interdependence
Developing a sense of urgency in spiritual cultivation
Recognizing impermanence, suffering and non-self

5. Serenity Prayer May I have the Serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
The Courage to change
the things I can,
And the Wisdom to know the difference.

6. Practices in Preparation for the Messengers
Forgiveness for ourselves and others
Loving kindness and compassion for ourselves and others
Letting go of attachment to possessions, people and who we think we are
Serenity meditation – developing joy, happiness and tranquility
Insight meditation – seeing the way things actually are
Keeping a journal of kind and generous actions
Developing faith

7. Meditation

8. Ground Rules Confidentiality Mindfulness of time
The “no enlightenment rule”
Showing up

9. Small Group Discussion
What do I fear most about aging?
What are my priorities as I age?
What I learned from observing elders

10. Discussion

11. Parting Instructions
When did you realize that illness and injury can happen to you?
Choose one common disease each day: cancer, stroke, pneumonia, heart attack, dementia/Alzheimer’s and reflect and write on how you would live with this if it happened to you.
Meditation: Letting go of capabilities, roles, independence
Chant the five reflections daily
Read “Doctor’s Guide to Aging” &“Simile of the Mountain” (suggested)
Bring images of encouragement in illness