Lone Star Book Blog Tour: Inclined Elders by Ramona Oliver (Review and Giveaway)

“It is not a race. We take one step at a time. In doing so, we have the benefit of pausing to smile at the waving wildflowers along the road. Apply that same attitude to your next adventure of curiosity.”

What if we decide to age gracefully and courageously and not accept the rule that we must inevitably decline because we are now culturally considered ‘old’?

In Inclined Elders by Ramona Oliver, we discover that retirement doesn’t mean we have to retire from life itself.  This clever and completely inspiring non-fiction provides real-life stories about people who have made the conscious decision to eschew that decline and instead incline during their later years. While unfortunate events sometimes throw us off track, how we respond and how we treat ourselves and others through these bad times are key to staying the course and maintaining that steady incline.

Curiosity, creativity, and connections are just a few of the topics presented that make all the difference between declining or getting up and moving, learning, and living, no matter your age. Based on the title, this book will naturally appeal to an older generation, but Inclined Elders is actually for people of all ages. In fact, reading these stories and heeding the sage advice would benefit younger adults tremendously because they can start developing a positive mindset, best practices, and good habits right now that will keep them always inclining and reaching for the stars, long past the age when people are expected to just sit down and watch the world go by.

As a wonderful bonus, Ramona Oliver presents her personal reflections at the end of each chapter and includes resources and additional information at the end, giving the reader plenty to explore beyond the pages of this book.

After reading Inclined Elders, I find I naturally have the ‘incline’ mindset and attitude already, but I could certainly embrace several of the aspects outlined in this book. I love to explore, travel, learn, and create. At 56, I am no doubt considered an elder by many, but I believe I have always had a sense of adventure, and I hope I will continue with that attitude throughout the rest of my life.  This book encourages you to step out of your comfort zone, no matter your age, and fill your days with discovery, enlightenment, gratitude, and positive relationships. Easier said than done for many people, of course, but Inclined Elders smoothly and smartly guides the reader through the steps of devising a game plan either to stay out of or to break out of that old-age stereotype and start inclining rather than slipping down that proverbial hill.

Inclined Elders is not only about telling us to stay active as the birthdays pile up. Through interviews with people who have not gone gently into their so-called twilight years, this gem of a book shows that each person’s incline can and will look different. Sometimes it is making small lifestyle changes, such as taking up a hobby and joining like-minded groups, or starting an entirely new career when society says it is time to hang up your hat and locate a comfy couch or rocking chair. Inclining doesn’t always mean uprooting your entire life, but it can be if that is what you want. Inclined Elders shows is that we can examine what works for us and then change that game plan when life surprises us with a few road blocks and detours. Incliners don’t have to be derailed from life’s occasional sucker punch because we have built a firm foundation of optimism, hope, humor, and adventure to see us through.

In Inclined Elders, Ramona Oliver reminds us that it is never too late or too early to get up and try new things, reinvent yourself, learn a new skill, make new friends, or revisit a dream or goal that was shelved long ago. Your mind and body will thank you for the rest of your life.

Ramona Oliver has long been a passionate educator with former roles as a human resource manager/director, career coach, and director of outreach for St. Edward’s University. As a human resource director for many years, she championed the professional development of employees. While serving as president of the Austin Human Resource Management Association, she led a team that designed, developed, and implemented an award-wining leadership program. In addition, she launched a workforce readiness committee that partnered with community organizations to implement workforce readiness initiatives. At St. Edward’s University, she promoted lifelong learning and the adult undergraduate and graduate programs to older adults in the Austin community.

Ramona currently serves as an advocate of positive aging. Rather than accepting a mindset of decline, she is passionate about living life with an attitude of Incline. Ramona has been published on the Changing Aging website, offering posts with titles such as “Can We Please Stop Calling It Aging,” “What Are We Missing When We Settle for Life Stages?” and “Leave a Legacy and Live It Now!”

Ramona is a recipient of a Book Excellence Award for her current book, INCLINED ELDERS: How to rebrand aging for self and society. It has been recognized for high-quality writing style, book design, and overall marketing appeal.

She earned her Master of Business Administration from St. Edward’s University. Ramona lives in Austin, Texas where she enjoys practicing yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, and Nia and participating in various community groups.

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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

FOUR WINNERS:
2 winners: autographed copies of Inclined Elders.
2 winners: Kindle copies of Inclined Elders.
Giveaway ends midnight, CDT, 7/17/21; US only.

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