"A wise old owl sat in an oak. The more he saw, the less he spoke. The less he spoke, the more he heard. Why can't we be like that wise old bird?" - Edward Hersey Richards.

“I wish I could show you, when you are lonely or in darkness, the astonishing light of your own being!” - Hafiz

As Modern Elders, we often explore the path of unplugging from the “Whats” that have fueled earlier life chapters: the drives and ambitions we were pointed to in our early years and that marked our journeys during our young adult and midlife decades.

On safari in Botswana, everything is primal, basic and, within hours, I can feel my senses and my instincts sharpen. Before sunrise we are bundled up, and head out to witness life as it has always happened. I watch the world begin to wake, the birds, the grasses, the big cats. It is such a privilege to participate in the magical and mundane; a mother giraffe and her babies are on the move.

Fresh off a Modern Elder Academy workshop entitled “The Power of Purpose”, I find myself reflecting on my experience there. And, whereas the place and the program certainly exceeded expectations, the people were clearly the most memorable and remarkable ingredient.

These days - for good reason - economists are obsessed with inflationary expectations. The high cost of living was cited as the number one issue for American voters two weeks ago.

gratefulness is in opening your eyes in the morning and the world appears it is in this body you get to wash and each tooth you get to brush it is in the gray sky above you as you sit in traffic heading to work

"To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors." - Tia Walker

With the holidays nearly upon us, I would argue that the most universally endearing (and enduring) Christmas flick is "It's a Wonderful Life," with Jimmy Stewart in the lead role as George Bailey.

Headlines, podcasts, maybe the whispered concerns of loved ones: far too much of what we hear about the aging brain fills us with dread. Memory loss, declines in processing speed, lags in habit acquisition and executive function – we’ve heard it all. It’s impossible to avoid concerning messages about how the brain changes in our later years.