Indie review of Texas nonfiction<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re now a senior citizen, you may be feeling grateful that you\u2019re living a long and fruitful life. At the same time, you may be hearing two famous country crooners, Ernest Tubb and Red Foley, repeatedly singing in your head about being \u201ctoo old to cut the mustard anymore.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Rather than giving in to those weary lyrics and plopping down in a rocking chair, you can choose to move forward with new determination and purpose. You, too, can become an \u201cInclined Elder.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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It\u2019s an odd term at first glance, but Austin writer Ramona Oliver quickly clarifies that Inclined Elders \u201care the women and men who have made a conscious choice to ignore society\u2019s negative mindset of \u2018decline\u2019 and \u2018over-the-hill’ as we age. We embrace a positive mindset of Inclining: ready, able, and willing to continue living a life of achievement, meaning, and purpose.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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This smoothly written, inspiring guide to becoming \u201cinclined\u201d comes at a time when lifespans are increasing, and many people are remaining reasonably healthy and active into their seventies, eighties, and nineties. Inclined Elders, Ramona Oliver points out, put their time, experience, knowledge, and vitality to use in numerous ways, including launching small businesses, pursuing graduate degrees, traveling and exploring, taking lifelong learning classes, volunteering, providing quality care for their grandchildren, becoming motivational speakers or political candidates, and much more.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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For much of her work life, Ramona Oliver has pursued opportunities to help people with personal growth matters through her roles in human resources, career counseling, and university outreach programs. Now in her seventies, writing books has become part of her \u201cinclined\u201d life. For Inclined Elders<\/em>, she interviewed more than 50 active people representing an age range of 40 to 100 for examples of inclined living and has pulled relevant information from numerous secondary sources, including books, articles, and research studies. <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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\u201cWhile so many other societies continue to venerate their elders despite cultural challenges,\u201d she emphasizes, \u201cWestern society is a youth-centric culture that generally denigrates elders and looks negatively upon the entire concept of aging.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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Her book is organized into three parts that spotlight attitude, growth, and empowerment. The first part focuses on what you can change within yourself to lead \u201ca more inclined life.\u201d The second explores how to \u201cinteract effectively with the external world\u201d as you become actively Inclined. And the third looks at \u201cthe process of becoming stronger and more confident, especially in gaining control over your own life.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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One very important goal for Inclined Elders, Ramona Oliver contends, is to serve as \u201cpositive older role models\u201d for people who currently have negative feelings towards aging. \u201cWe can,\u201d she states, \u201cbecome an inspiring example so our society relinquishes the notion that aging is synonymous with \u2018decline,\u2019 \u2018decrepit,\u2019 \u2018senile,\u2019 and \u2018over-the-hill’ once and for all.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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You do not have to be an \u201celder\u201d to benefit from learning how to \u201cincline\u201d in this book. Adults of all ages likely can find ideas, motivation methods, and techniques helpful toward leading more positive and purposeful lives.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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