Personal Stories

These days, if your thoughts don’t fit into a Twitter rant or social media posting, you’re often ignored as a writer or social commentator. But thoughtful consideration of aging, and all that it entails, really requires more than a pithy phrase or soundbite. If you feel that way as well, and…

Those of you who are older women probably know about this. In a store or on the street, there are times when people don’t seem to notice you, almost as though you’re invisible. It’s a common feeling among women of a certain age, as society seems to have lost interest…

You know the saying:”You’re only as old as you feel.” It turns out there’s some scientific truth in that!   While we all age, it’s also true that we all experience aging in different ways, something that’s called “subjective” aging. Researchers in Korea wanted to determine whether there was any association between our…

Whether you’re a fan of his old Simon and Garfunkel days or prefer his more recent solo career, there’s no doubt that Paul Simon has had a remarkable musical career spanning over 6 decades. And now, as he approaches his 77th birthday in October, he’s on one last concert tour that brings him to…

LGBT seniors have perhaps witnessed more change in their personal lives, and society at large, than many of us realize. As young people, the ability to be open and honest was available to few and now, in their later years, they stand witness to the changes society has embraced in…

There’s little about getting older that is generalizable- the changes that come can sometimes be subtle, or stark, and the experience is often different depending on who you are, where you come from and what systems of support envelop you. For four students at the Columbia University Graduation School of…