The Unique Features of "52 Shades of Growing Together"
Amusing Stories About Sometimes Complex Aging Topics
"52 Shades of Growing Together" is an insightful, heartwarming, amusing series of short stories (both in well-written text and professional audio formats).
They're crafted to bring smiles, spark reflection and capture insight for older adults and their adult sons and daughters who seek to understand the opportunities and pitfalls we all encounter as we age.
Each Wednesday, subscribers receive a new story in their email inboxes that addresses one of these topics:
- Sidestepping newly acquired limitations which sometimes come with age.
- Tapping insights about life that often peak with age.
- Sharing a new appreciation for life that grows with age.
Stories Tap Theories of Three Thought Leaders
Each "52 Shades of Growing Together" story illustrates a shift in one of our perceptions as we age.
In doing so, author Jim Hasse draws upon the psycho-social observations of researchers Erik Erikson and Lars Tornstam and author Richard Leider.
Their theories suggest we tend to look back on life with a sense of wholeness and satisfaction as we grow older.
Current research shows, as older adults, we have an increased desire to understand ourselves, to focus on the needs of others, to find new meaning in the life we have lived and to discover a new purpose for living.
An Easy Way to Uncover Now-significant Personal Stories
Each "52 Shades of Growing Together" story includes a discussion question (and a seed comment/answer from author Jim Hasse about his own experience).
Each question opens a new aspect of aging and elicits positive responses to topics members of a family don't often talk about every day.
An Easy Way to Share Personal Stories With Each Other
Specific stories often prompt members of the “52 Shades of Growing Together" community to share insights with each other as well as with family and friends.
Sharing stories can happen during in-person visits, by email or by phone.
Subscribing to this Substack.com service is also an easy, effective and safe way to journal online over a year’s time about fourth-quarter-of-life topics not found anywhere else.
You and your parent could find a new way to connect just by taking a few minutes to periodically reflect on a story that is meaningful for your family.
Sharing Stories in Writing Is Fun and Easy
Subscribers can easily respond to a meaningful story through writing.
Choose one of your favorite anecdotes that you have written privately or shared with other members of the “52 Shades of Growing Together” community and highlight it in a personal note to a family member or friend.
Subscribers have access to these six “My Latest Legacy Nugget” letterheads: Birthday, Graduation Day, Holiday Season, Special Day, Wedding Day, and Anniversary.
Jim's Vision: You, your Mom, your Dad Will Open 24 Stories
Transformation can’t be rushed.
But effective stories often show small but significant steps in the transformation process that, if followed, can eventually change lives.
Your gift subscription is a learning experience you control. Take your time. Let the concepts of successful aging that are new or meaningful for you soak in. Add your thoughts and then save both the story and your notes.
Set aside just 10 minutes each week during the next 12 months to read or listen to each story so you find which topics apply to your family.
Only you can choose which issues to pursue -- and author Jim Hasse's vision for you and yours is that you'll find at least 24 stories that speak to your current concerns.