The Wisdom Years: Aging with Purpose and Creativity

• Week 1: Life’s transition
  We face dozens of disruptors in our wisdom years. One in 10 disruptors can become a “lifequake”—a massive change that leads to a life transition. Transitions can be varied—job loss, retirement, separation or death of loved ones—and deeply felt. How many transitions have you or are you experiencing? What tools can help you navigate them?
• Week 2: Eulogy vs ‘The Resumé’
  Too many of us have been living for our resumé, and now wish to start living for our eulogy. Learn how to evolve from a life focused on externalized definitions of success to a life of richer significance. Unravel what success is now—at this age—for each of us.
• Week 3: Finding purpose
  Purpose is the key to giving our lives meaning, clarity and direction. How do we find purpose as we age? How do we find purpose when the “big” thing that’s defined our lives no longer applies? We’ll discover how purpose makes it easier to maintain our motivation and make big decisions with clarity and confidence.
• Week 4: Finding your ikigai
  The Japanese concept of ikigai—finding our “reason to live”—is a powerful tool to discover where our passions and talents converge with big opportunities. We’ll work on steps to get excited to get out of bed by aligning what we love and what we are good at with what the world needs now.
• Week 5: Creating space
  We all need to let something go, to let something better and more meaningful in. New beginnings won’t enter until there is room for them to take seed. What can you now let go? What has served you well, but no longer does? Clearing space in our lives allows change to happen.
• Week 6: Transformation
  There is nothing more noble than bringing your true, authentic self to your wisdom years and nothing more powerful than an alternative view of who you might be. Finishing with an action plan for a flourishing future, you’ll be excited to witness the meaningful experiences your life will bring you in the months to come.

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

• Perform a life audit
• Create an actionable roadmap for your “wisdom years”
  
• Develop six memoir-themed narratives to add to your life story repertoire
• Identify strategies for aging with positive mental and physical health, social engagement and creativity
  
• Change the narrative around increasing longevity

• Lectures
• Creative writing exercises using guided autobiography prompts
• Small-group work and sharing personal narratives
• Giving and receiving feedback on personal writing
• Supplementary resources accessed through Canvas
  
• Reflective essay (applicable only to certificate students)

No textbook is required. We will provide all course materials online.