November 2015

- Terry Brezsny Ballantyne

Caregivers Are Not Babysitters

November 9, 2015One of the most telling examples of our culture's regard for elders is the way caregivers often relate to them. Well intentioned caregivers often talk down to the person at home, as if they were children.  I remember resisting baby talk when I was raising my daughter and the same is true with elders. They may be frail, have trouble seeing, or hearing, or walking, but they are not incapable of irony, or a witty response, a good giggle, or having some silly fun. They can...

- Terry Brezsny Ballantyne

Pains and Gains

November 9, 2015Aging is truly a bittersweet saga, full of enormous grace and beauty and crushingly painful limitations. Crushing because no matter how hard you try, the limitations cannot be vanquished. I have met some amazing women: artists and musicians in their mid-80s who are sharp and intellectual, who have beautiful perspectives on life and have many wonderful stories to share. These women are not what you think of as 80.  One woman sported a sassy short haircut and wore a sparkly purple hat when we met....