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The Art of Midlife: Courage and Creative Living for Women
The Art of Midlife Courage and Creative Living for Women Author:Linda N. Edelstein The Art of Midlife illuminates the journey for women who want to create intentional, spirited lives. The book is based on Dr. Edelstein's extensive clinical practice and on interviews with ordinary, healthy, and active women between the ages of 38-60 years old. She begins with descriptions of the dynamics of midlife, the unique opportunit... more »ies to reevaluate life, and the need to mourn one's losses. The book continues with real voices, including her own, that recount the reconnection to one's self that is essential. The author faces the difficult issues of staying connected to others while reclaiming one's life and the problems that may occur. The final section of the book recounts the actions and success of women who sought a more authentic second half of life.The subject of midlife has been dominated by the woes of aging?menopause, divorce, hormone replacement therapies, aging parents, and fleeing children. Now a broad-ranging new work by clinical psychologist Linda N. Edelstein, Ph.D., The Art of Midlife, describes the freedom and authenticity that can be made a cornerstone of the middle years. She describes three healthy and predictable phases. First, women relinquish old ways, untying themselves from the past and mourning the losses of youth and its illusions. By placing less emphasis on the needs of others, women can live more creatively and enjoy the present. The women Dr. Edelstein studied have been able to move to the next step, in which they reconnect to themselves. They regain their authentic voices, simplify life, and allow long buried aspects of themselves to emerge. Finally, women refocus their futures. With courage, they embrace new people, ideas, activities, and work?and pursue adult dreams regardless of external rewards.« less