I Like Being Old: A Guide to Making the Most of Aging

by K. Eileen Allen

Eileen Allen doesn't fit the stereotype of a 90-year-old woman. She's still trying new things, looking forward and making choices that give her the best life possible. She's happy, even with vision, hearing and mobility loss. I Like Being Old provides inspiration for the 78 million baby boomers on the threshold of old age as well as those already far into it. The reader looks over Eileen's shoulder as she tells how she's faced important decisions, such as: When to give up driving; When to move to a retirement center; How to stay fit and involved; How to adjust to decreasing independence. And as she describes adaptations she's made to enrich her life: Teaching herself to be more humorous; Memorizing poetry when loss of vision meant she could no longer read; Walking three miles around the lake across from her retirement center...with her walker. With Eileen as your guide, open yourself to the choices you continue to have, to finding satisfaction in solving the problems that increase with years, to discovering that you can keep learning, and to enjoying a slowed-down pace that lets you focus on new interests and new dimensions of yourself.

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe getting really old isn't so bad. This lady makes me less anxious about what is ahead for all of us if we are lucky enough to live a long life. Although she has lost lots of her hearing and vision and walks with difficulty, she finds ways to enjoy life. Maybe we all can.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

An old friend. Amazingly positive.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very, very good. This is how I hope I will age and can only hope I will do as well as the author.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mentioned in a "Wisdom Cafe" group. Written by a 90 year old Seattle woman about her take on old age and her challenges. Upbeat, humorous with some practical suggestions in the 150 pages.

[Haley Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and inspiring!

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this book for my Dad and ended up reading it before passing it along to him. Loved the author's perspective. She chooses happiness. Inspiring read for any age, with lots of practical suggestions for dealing with aging. She also happens to be a local author and it was fun to read about Seattle.