Category: Aging
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Practical Philosophy in Memoirs, Pt 3
Constructing the story lets us exert authorial control over the messy process of being human. Giving the story to others allows readers to see the world through our eyes. They can use stories as they see fit: to increase empathy, to create community, to learn information, and to increase collective wisdom.
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Interviewing is an Act of Love, Even After Memory Starts to Fail
And so it was with great interest that I recently heard that the StoryCorps is investigating this exact problem, trying to find the stories of those whose memory is starting to fail. The program is called the Memory Loss Initiative. To learn more, I interviewed Dina Zempsky, senior outreach coordinator of the initiative.
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Harry Bernstein’s Second Memoir, Still Writing at 98!
by Jerry Waxler Harry Bernstein was 93 years-old when he published his first memoir “Invisible Wall” about his childhood in England before the first World War. His nonagenarian achievement changed the landscape for aspiring memoir writers who wonder if they are too old. Bernstein, now 98, is basking in the publication of his second memoir,…
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Good hair in the melting pot
My dark brown hair grew longer, and curled into a tangle that looked vaguely like an Afro. Home from the University of Wisconsin that first summer of 1966, my great-uncle Ben, with whom I had always got along, said “I didn’t know we had anything like that in the family.” We never spoke civilly to…
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Story extends my optimism to infinity
by Jerry Waxler, author of Memoir Revolution: Write Your Story, Change the World When I was 20, I fought desperately against my future. I refused to become an adult until I understood why I should. Looking back years later, I see my rebellion against the future was a big mistake that caused me and my…
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Memoir writing is a step along my spiritual journey
by Jerry Waxler, author of Memoir Revolution: Write Your Story, Change the World Now that I’m 60, I am facing an age when the end of the story seems to be shimmering out there on the horizon. I’ve always been obsessed with who I am and where I’m going, and now I feel like I…
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Help my aging dad tell his story
I received this question in a comment yesterday, and it is so rich in the story of the human condition I am bringing it forward and answering it in this post. It was posted by Judy as a comment on my blog Be Here Now by Writing. Dear Jerry, My Dad is 89 years old.…
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Creative brain jam in Philly ties it all together
by Jerry Waxler I went to Philadelphia last week to see a few people sit at a table and chat. The promoters called it a “panel discussion.” To me it was as good as a rock concert. The panelists entertained the audience by sharing themselves, using words instead of musical notes. The occasion was another…
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