Genre: Inspirational / Spiritual / Essays / Self-Help
Publisher: She Writes Press
Publication Date: April 28, 2020
Number of Pages: 119 pages
Scroll down for the giveaway!
All around us, older women flourish in industry, entertainment, and politics. Do they know something that we don’t, or are we all just trying to figure it out? For so many of us, our hearts and minds still feel that we are twenty-something young women who can take on the world. But in our bodies, the flexibility and strength that were once taken for granted are far from how we remember them. Every day we have to rise above the creaky joints and achy knees to earn the opportunity of moving through the world with a modicum of grace.
Yet we do rise, because it’s a privilege to grow old, and every single day is a gift. Peter Pan’s mantra was, “Never grow up”; our collective mantra should be, “Never stop growing.” This collection of user-friendly stories, essays, and philosophies invites readers to celebrate whatever age they are with a sense of joy and purpose and with a spirit of gratitude.
PRAISE for A Delightful Little Book on Aging:
Amazon ┃ IndieBound
“Life is going to have its way with us, so we might as well develop a sense of humor about it.”
A Delightful Little Book on Aging by Stephanie Raffelock is indeed quite delightful and insightful. We are fortunate if we are allowed to age, but the baggage that often comes with aging can be quite cumbersome, unwieldy, and downright annoying. Stephanie shows us in this sweet book that we can still find joy, purpose, and humor in these golden years that often feel a bit tarnished around the edges. It really is all about perspective, determination, and the willingness to see past the wrinkles and pain and realize that aging can be a gift.
The best part of this little book is that Stephanie is practical and realistic about accepting the so-called negative aspects of aging without giving in to self-pity or without simply feeling that the good parts of life are over so we might as well sit the rest of it out. Stephanie emphasizes the need for constant movement, a healthy diet, friendships, and finding purpose. Nothing new here, but the presentation of all that in this book is quick, sensitive, and quite entertaining. Everyone ages differently, with various levels of disability, loss, and the feeling of running out of time. On a personal note, I’m halfway through my 50s, and I thankfully don’t suffer from any chronic illness or pain, but I definitely feel aging creeping in (hot flashes can be fierce). I love that I am more self-confident and more aware of the importance of spending time with loved ones, building relationships, and not putting anything off until ‘one day.’ This little book reminded me of all that and then some, and it made me reflect on my own accomplishments after age 40 that I never thought I would do when I was younger. Getting older definitely has its perks, and Stephanie tells us that we only have to get up, look around, get involved, honor our limitations yet push ourselves to keep moving forward, and then take time to slow it down once in a while without feeling guilty about it.
Stephanie’s humor and shrewd observations and advice ease the sting of aging just a bit because when you hit middle age and beyond, everything on our bodies seems either to hit the floor or start to shrivel. Through personal anecdotes and guidance, Stephanie encourages us to find the wonder and the humor, laugh at yourself, rejoice in the wisdom gained over the years but never stop learning, and discover (or re-discover) your passion in this exciting part of your life. I love that. Life throws us curve balls, and the effects of aging can certainly be a doozy. This delightful little book will open your eyes or maybe reaffirm what you already know about aging with grace, courage, and delight.
Enter the giveaway below on or before July 19, 2020, for a chance to win some truly inspirational prizes.
I received a free copy of this book from Lone Star Book Blog Tours in exchange for my honest review.
Stephanie Raffelock is the author of A Delightful Little Book on Aging (She Writes Press, April 2020). A graduate of Naropa University’s program in Writing and Poetics, she has penned articles for numerous publications, including the Aspen Times, the Rogue Valley Messenger, Nexus Magazine, Omaha Lifestyles, Care2.com, and SixtyandMe.com. Stephanie is part of the positive-aging movement, which encourages viewing age as a beautiful and noble passage, the fruition of years that birth wisdom and deep gratitude for all of life. She’s a recent transplant to Austin, Texas, where she enjoys life with her husband, Dean, and their Labrador retriever, Jeter (yes, named after the great Yankee shortstop).
ONE WINNER: A set of 50 pocket inspirations
JULY 7-19, 2020
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Ruthie Jones! You are my last stop on what has been a wonderful, fun and my favorite word, “delightful” book blog tour through my new home state of Texas. Along the way, I garnered some good reviews for my book, “A Delightful Little Book On Aging,” but more, I got to meet an amazingly talented and creative group of writers, bloggers and creatives. I’ve explored all of the blogs that I got to visit and want to do a shout out about your essay on balance. (Read on this blog, under “writing)
Like you, I always feel as though I’m looking for balance. The part of your essay that I liked the best was how you concluded with the universal truth that life is both wonderful and very messy! I’m proud to stand with you today, a fellow writer, humbled by all the talent that surrounds me. Thank you for the review and for letting me visit you. Looks like someone really did save the best for last for my final stop. Thank you so very much!
Thank you! I really enjoyed your book. And thank you for reading more on my blog. I have always tried to find balance, even more so now that I’m getting older. I’m a chronic optimist, but I honor the reality that even the “good” is balanced.
I share in your chronic optimism . . . along with a kind of juggling cats balance of my own. Big hugs.
Great review — and yes! This book makes you change your perspective. Thanks for sharing it!