Successful Aging for Women Over 50 Book Review
Successful Aging for Women over 50 – Book Review
By Janine Hunka
Copyright 2023
Create Your Next Steps With Confidence and Longevity by Living a Healthier Lifestyle With9 a Body You’ll Love!
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This is a review of the book Successful Aging for Women over 50, by Janine Hunka, that was talked about in my blog “Roaming in the Gloaming or What Do I Do Now?”
Chapter 1: Taking a Step Back in Time
The author takes us back in time to some archaic thinking about retirement, aging, and careers.
Calling them Myth Busters, she lists several antiquated ideas about how retirement was viewed by the masses.
The following are two of the Myth Busters…
1) “…reaching this age is an indication that from now on life is a downhill journey characterized by decline.”
2) “…midlife is a time when magical transformations take place.”
The author encourages readers to take a different viewpoint of this time in their life, by choosing a new career or path they have always wanted to explore. Urging the reader to have a new perspective on retirement.
“It’s no longer a time when retirement means sitting back and waiting to die. No, retirement is merely a beginning to a specific era of your life and the start of a brand new venture.”
Chapter 2: Stepping into Healthy Aging from the Inside Out
This chapter begins with a challenge to the reader to take a closer look at what your purpose in life is.
“Without purpose, the decline in all aspects of your life will show up much faster.”
Focusing on mindfulness, the author discusses the benefits mindfulness has on older adults.
Returning to the myth busting technique, the author shares six myths that are common about aging.
For example:
“It’s Normal for Older People to Feel Depressed and Lonely.”
And…
“Older People Struggle to Learn New Skills.”
Encouraging her readers to think for themselves, she concludes chapter 2 with,
“Don’t believe the myths about old age – chances are, they’re only made-up stories.”
Chapter 3: Stepping Into Your Authentic Self
“You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to act old.” – George Burns
The topic of Core Values is addressed in chapter 3. The author challenges readers to take a look at what their core values are.
Janine talks quite a lot about positive thinking and banishing negative thinking to keep your focus on what is good.
Chapter 4: Step Up and Love Yourself
In chapter 4, Janine asks the question, “Do you feel invisible?”
Encouraging the reader to choose joy to overcome negative thinking and self-doubt, she tackles several mindsets that can rob you of joy.
Hunka asks several thought-provoking questions and asks that the reader examine their answers.
One question she asks is, What is your perspective on aging?
“Do you suffer from ageism – a negative perspective on growing older?”
“It places a negative and unfair attitude on a specific group, causing unfair treatment based on a particular factor.”
She counters with the solution to overcome that bias, by exploring the positive aging movement.
“…adopting a positive perspective on aging despite certain factors like fading health, slower movement, and deteriorating memory.”
Chapter 5: Stepping Into Physical and Social Activities
As the chapter heading states, the author covers physical, mindful, and social fitness. She has some good ideas worth exploring.
A disclaimer of caution by the author of this review…
I would advise exercising caution on beginning any fitness regimen unless you feel it is safe for you, or you have consulted your healthcare provider.
Continuing on, the author states affirmative action to stave off being invisible or unable to participate in any area of fitness as a person ages:
“Modern society is structured in such a manner that you can easily be left out.”
Chapter 6: Step Into a Stronger Immune System
General topics in this chapter include: Sleep, stress, supplements, memory.
Ms. Hunka concludes this chapter encouraging the reader to laugh more, while checking into areas of concern you may have.
Chapter 7: Step Into Your Power
“Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
“The only thing we can ever truly be sure of is change. For some, this is a fear-provoking matter. Others look forward to it with anticipation.”
“Accept these changes, as change indicates progress and, in fact, a sign of life.
“How you experience growing older will be exactly how you perceive it. If you’re dreading it, you’re increasing the odds that it will be a time you’ll feel depressed, sick, exhausted, and as if your life has no meaning or purpose.”
“However, you can also perceive getting older as a time to look forward to, when you’ll enjoy peace, joy, and positivity, and feel meaningful.”
In her book’s conclusion, Janine Hunka inspires the reader to…
“…step into your power, a position where your life can be more meaningful than what you may have thought in your younger years.”
My Additional Notes
“Let’s Get Practical” – Author provides action steps to further skills, connections, application of concepts, etc.
“Final Word” – At the end of each chapter, Janine shares a “Final Word” summarizing the content and shared action steps for moving forward.
While I don’t agree with everything in her book, overall, I found Janine’s book to be a gem among books and well worth the time to read.
I did find her repetitive use of the word “should” to be overused, many may find this to be encouraging and instructive. Lol, then again, I don’t really like being told I should do this or that.
My Conclusion
If you find yourself wondering, “What Do I Do Now?” This book will help you take a look at your life, find areas where you may need or want to make some changes, validate your thoughts and feelings, and give you positive encouragement to take the steps to a more happy and fulfilling life.
While the author of Successful Aging for Women Over 50 covers a wide range of topics for the aging person, regardless of gender, giving general advice for the reader; the views, thoughts, impressions covered in the book are that of the author alone and do not reflect that of the author of this review.
Thank you for taking the time to read this review. I hope you found it helpful.
Amazon link: Successful Aging for Women Over 50, by Janine Hunka
Charlene M Harris
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You can find the related blog post @ Roaming in the Gloaming or What Do I Do Now?
