Learn to Grow Old

by Tournier, Paul; Hudson, Edwin

• ISBN13: 9781620324158
• ISBN10: 1620324156
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-09-01
• Publisher: Wipf & Stock Pub

Summary

In this warm, sensitive, fact-filled book, Paul Tournier deals specifically with many aspects of aging: society's attitude towards the elderly; second careers; the quality of life; financial difficulties; boredom; health; loneliness; and facing death. He believes we must all learn to grow old, and that the process is most successfully accomplished when we prepare and plan for it throughout life. Tournier offers a variety of suggestions to help make growing old not an end but a new beginning, filled with purpose and hope. He suggests ways to remain active and to use leisure to its best advantage without letting it become a tyrant. He also provides insights on taking up new interests, such as becoming involved with young people and new ideas, and learning to pray, to meditate, to acquire wisdom, and to draw increasing strength and inspiration from the reality of divine presence and power.

Author Biography

Paul Tournier (1898-1986) was a general practitioner in Geneva and also an active Christian. In 1940, he published his first book, La Mdecine de la Personne, later translated into English as The Healing of Persons. He changed his medical practice by taking most of his time for listening and talking to his patients, not only considering the physical dimension s of their being but also the psychological and spiritual dimensions. In 1947, he founded the International Group of Medicine of the Person. He wrote many books which were widely received throughout the world and were translated into more than 30 languages.

Table of Contents

Work and Leisure
What the sociologists say	p. 1
Leisure - a 'frightening prospect'?	p. 4
A difficult reconversion	p. 7
The two turning-points of life	p. 9
Preparing for retirement	p. 12
Surprises	p. 15
The fear of liberty	p. 18
Personal development and spontaneity	p. 21
The morality of duty	p. 24
Duty and pleasure are complementary	p. 26
'Idleness is the mother of all the vices'	p. 29
The break with routine	p. 32
Towards a More Humane
Contempt for the old	p. 36
An impersonal society	p. 39
The mission of the old	p. 42
The medicine of the person	p. 44
A wider vision	p. 47
The irrational dimension	p. 50
Overcoming old prejudices	p. 52
Overcoming contempt	p. 55
The development of the child	p. 58
Personal contact	p. 62
Young and old	p. 65
Grandparents and grandchildren	p. 67
Make contact with the old!	p. 70
Respect for the person	p. 72
Real contact with all	p. 75
The Condition of the Old
My privileges	p. 78
Easing retirement regulations	p. 81
The resources of the retired	p. 86
National pride	p. 89
Solitude.	p. 91
Growing old together	p. 93
Family and friendship	p. 96
Social integration	p. 99
Health	p. 102
Hospitalization	p. 104
Living quarters	p. 107
Do it yourself!	p. 109
Educate yourself!	p. 112
Boredom	p. 115
A decisive change	p. 118
A Second Career
A place for the old	p. 122
Not a hobby, but a career	p. 124
An interesting and useful career	p. 128
Contrast with the professional career	p. 131
A more personal career	p. 134
Giving up giving orders	p. 138
More imagination!	p. 142
More initiative!	p. 146
More diversity!	p. 150
Further examples	p. 153
The search for divine inspiration	p. 155
Death caused by retirement	p. 158
The work of Professor Jores	p. 160
Life as a task to be fulfilled	p. 164
Acceptance
Who can claim to have fulfilled his task?	p. 169
Accepting the unfulfilled	p. 171
Must we accept everything?	p. 175
The meaning of acceptance	p. 177
In harmony with oneself	p. 180
Positive acceptance	p. 183
Has old age a meaning?	p. 187
Detachment from the world	p. 190
Renouncing without resigning	p. 192
A wider love	p. 195
A less possessive love	p. 197
The sublimation of the instinct of power	p. 200
Outside the hierarchy and money	p. 203
Each stage has its meaning	p. 206
Towards a more universal meaning	p. 209
Surrender	p. 212
Faith
Old age foreshadows death	p. 215
Is it easier for believers to accept?	p. 218
Faith does not exclude anxiety	p. 221
Philosophical positions	p. 224
The Christian position	p. 227
The victory of faith	p. 229
Thoughts of a priest-doctor	p. 232
Resurrection	p. 233
What do we know of the beyond?	p. 236
The resurrection of Jesus Christ	p. 237
Personal experience	p. 238
Notes	p. 242
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