INCLINED ELDERS
by
Ramona Oliver
Publisher: BookBaby
Publication Date: July 24, 2020
Pages: 246 Pages
Categories: Nonfiction / Positive Aging
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Inclined Elders is a call to action for you to opt for Incline. Not only for your personal fulfillment, but also to help fuel a social “legacy” that increases the number of positive older role models in everyday life. I have written this book to inspire, inform, and challenge you. By the time you reach the last page, I hope you will have made a new choice: to become an inspiring example of a life of Incline so our society relinquishes – once and for all – the notion that aging is synonymous with “decline,” “decrepit,” “senile,” and “over-the-hill.”
In this book over 50 men and women ranging in age from 40 to 100 share their tips and techniques on how to live a life of Incline. Their strategies are supported by scientific evidence from the fields of Positive Psychology, Anthropology, and Sociology.
WHY EMBRACE AN ATTITUDE OF INCLINE?
For the first time in history we are not only living longer, everyone has an important choice to make: commit to a meaningful, purposeful life of “Incline” as we get older or believe that a new stage – one of steady “decline” – is inevitable. What is not helping is that in the media and society in general there continues the somewhat negative connotation surrounding the concept of aging. And while, at least not now, we cannot do anything about the chronological process of becoming 60, 70, 80 years and beyond, we can change the mindset for it. Embracing change and looking at life with a keener sense of curiosity will lead to living with increased courage to live life to its fullest.
WHO ARE INCLINED ELDERS?
We are the women and men who have made a conscious choice to ignore society’s negative mindset of “decline” and “over-the-hill” as we age. Instead we embrace a positive mindset of continuing to Incline and climb ever upwards.
Serving as vibrant role models, the Inclined Elders I spoke to for this book are leaving their own unique legacies of wisdom and inspiration for future generations. There needs to be more of us like them to effect real social change. So why not Incline too? There’s an amazing view from up here. Come with us and see for yourself.
THIS BOOK WILL BE INVALUABLE IF YOU:
· Have a desire to continue living a purposeful life, no matter what your age.
· Are interested in learning how to maintain a positive attitude from adulthood to elderhood.
· Want to learn how to create a living legacy and serve as a role model for future generations.
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BETTY AND THE CRYSTAL BOWL
EXCERPT FROM INCLINED ELDERS
BY RAMONA OLIVER
It had been another humid and muggy week in New Orleans, Louisiana, in late August 2005. Betty, a native Louisianan, then sixty-one, and her husband had been tracking the progressive force of Hurricane Katrina. She had lived through and survived Hurricane Betsy. It had hit Florida and the central United States Gulf Coast in September 1965 and brought widespread damage. Was she about to experience another one?
On Sunday morning, August 28, Betty’s husband boarded up their home and they hurriedly packed a small suitcase. They left behind clothes, jewelry, pictures, thousands of dollars in US savings bonds, and a beautiful Waterford crystal bowl Betty had recently purchased. She said, “While one may think of materialistic items at a time like this, you just know – get out! There’s an imminent threat of the approaching hurricane.”
Along with 1.5 million other residents, they fled the city by car. Their destination was Betty’s sister-in-law’s home on the other side of Lake Pontchartrain and higher ground. A trip that would normally take an hour took four hours. They finally arrived. They were safe.
Katrina slammed into the Gulf of Mexico with winds in excess of 170 miles per hour and on Monday, August 29, it made its way towards Louisiana. Most of the metropolitan area of New Orleans is below sea level. The levee system that held back the waters of Lake Pontchartrain broke under the force of Hurricane Katrina. Eighty percent of the city was underwater.
Several weeks later, when the water had receded, Betty and her husband returned to their home to assess the damage. They waded through the filthy, oil-soaked water. As they neared what was once their dining room, Betty thought of her new Waterford crystal bowl, which she had proudly displayed on her dining room table. Her gaze moved towards the table and she couldn’t believe her eyes. The crystal bowl was embedded in the table, weighed down by the flood waters. It was intact and unharmed. It had weathered the storm as she and her husband had. Like the crystal bowl, Betty’s spirit was still intact and unscathed by the devastation of the storm and the loss of their home and belongings.
Betty believes that people make their own life – meaning you can worry about so many things but worrying doesn’t help. You can’t cry over spilled milk. She was so grateful that she and her husband were safe. She was thankful that their house was paid for and they had flood insurance. They could rebuild their life. Betty said, “While I am not a rich person, if you work hard you can obtain the things you need and be very happy. For this I am grateful. I feel I am blessed.” Betty is one of the happiest people I know.
Ramona Oliver has long been a passionate educator with former roles as a human resource manager/director, career coach, and director of outreach for St. Edward’s University. As a human resource director for many years, she championed the professional development of employees. While serving as president of the Austin Human Resource Management Association, she led a team that designed, developed, and implemented an award-wining leadership program. In addition, she launched a workforce readiness committee that partnered with community organizations to implement workforce readiness initiatives. At St. Edward’s University, she promoted lifelong learning and the adult undergraduate and graduate programs to older adults in the Austin community.
Ramona currently serves as an advocate of positive aging. Rather than accepting a mindset of decline, she is passionate about living life with an attitude of Incline. Ramona has been published on the Changing Aging website, offering posts with titles such as “Can We Please Stop Calling It Aging,” “What Are We Missing When We Settle for Life Stages?” and “Leave a Legacy and Live It Now!”
Ramona is a recipient of a Book Excellence Award for her current book, INCLINED ELDERS: How to rebrand aging for self and society. It has been recognized for high-quality writing style, book design, and overall marketing appeal.
She earned her Master of Business Administration from St. Edward’s University. Ramona lives in Austin, Texas where she enjoys practicing yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, and Nia and participating in various community groups.
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