Throughout these first few weeks I have felt a mix of gratitude, surprise, curiosity and optimism. Learning about the heterogeneity of aging as well as how structural factors play a role in one’s aging experience has led me to feel bittersweet–I hadn’t realized how much variance there was in older adults, so I feel my perspective is less black and white.
I have especially enjoyed Leland’s book, Happiness is a Choice You Make, because of the specific anecdotes of his interviewees. One that stuck with me was John and Walter’s story. I loved that John was able to find closeness and peace with Watler even after he had passed. I feel a lot of the dialogue around grief emphasizes moving on “eventually,” but John’s approach flips this narrative where he didn’t attempt to rebuild his life but rather allowed Watler to be a constant presence in his memory and thoughts. This brought a lot of sadness and comfort for me, as one of my fears when it comes to aging revolves around losing the people I love—it’s comforting to know there isn’t one “way” to handle grief.
Beyond the class material, it has been exciting to be in a smaller class that emphasizes collaboration. Some of my favorite times have been when we have open brainstorm sessions and can throw out ideas. It’s a time where I can hear my classmates’ “stream of consciousness” thoughts which I don’t experience in my other classes. I also have enjoyed the off-campus excursions, such as when we went to the Mary and Gary West Center this past Wednesday. Talking with the seniors felt like a reflection of the class material we had discussed, as there was so much diversity in the stories and histories they shared. I also felt grateful for their openness—I got book recommendations and business cards and they were generally invested in having conversation with me, a total stranger, so I felt very appreciative. Overall I have really enjoyed the LCS program thus far, and am excited for what’s to come.