A special friend of mine recently returned from England. Jill is a great lover of books and cannot resist going into "every" bookshop, particulary those in England that have so many older and antique books to muse through.
So it came as no surprise that my gift from Jill was a book and secondly it was about ageing. When I saw the subtitle The Heart Prevents Your Body From Rusting I could not resist opening it immediately. But not before she told me the compelling story of purchasing the book.
She was catching up with three longtime girl friends. Mary went off by herself to do some shopping while Jill and Sharon went to the bookstore. Jill saw the book and knew I would like a copy. When the three reconvened later for a glass of wine, Mary produced her gifts for Jill and Sharon. Guess what? They were the same book... Ageing Without Growing Old by French author Marie de Hennezel.
Right away I will say this is a book to have on your shelf if you are over the age of 60 and are interested in living longer better.
In this eloquent meditation on ageing, Marie de Hennezel guides us through a true 'art of growing old'. She recalls her encounters as a clinical psychologist with extraordinary people who 'grow old gracefully' - and through her experience shows us how to make the most of this time in our lives, to avoid depression and to stay happy. She believes that wherever we grow old and whatever our circumstances, if we can maintain energy in our hearts and believe in the power of joy and human warmth, this can transform us and the way we look at the world. This is a wonderful book with a powerful message that applies to everyone no matter how old they are. A bestseller in the author's native France, critics said: Marie de Hennezel explores the secret of eternal youth and provides us with the keys for a happy, free and spirited old age. A must read.
Two sections that I enjoyed and believe in most... the benefits of inter-generational living and what matters most as we age.
That's why we should live a clean life.
Posted by: essays | Thursday, September 08, 2011 at 07:00 AM