“Everything will be okay in the end. If it’s not okay, it’s not the end.” - John Lennon

Flourishing is a fulfilling outcome rising from a strong sense of purpose. It is a process that often begins in early childhood, is developed and shaped through education, career, and choices made through the lifespan. We offer this exploration of purpose for adults of all ages - a journey that we each walk alone - but an experience that we all share.  

There is a science of human flourishing

As recently as the late 1990's, the field of psychology was focused on treating disorders and dysfunction. In 1998, Drs. Martin Seligman and Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi established a goal to promote the concept of "positive psychology" and the study of human flourishing. This led to developments such as the founding in 2016 of the Human Flourishing Program at Harvard's Institute for Quantitative Social Science. The program promotes human flourishing by integrating data from the empirical sciences (sociology, economics, medicine, etc.) to better understand major aspects of human wellbeing such as meaning, happiness, and sense of purpose.

Within positive psychology, a “sense of purpose" in life is the foundation upon which much of the field’s efforts are based. It is the deep conviction that your life is moving in a good direction. 

Are you flourishing? (Click here to take an 8-question Flourishing Test).

Purpose can be developed

Current research being done at Northwestern University has shed some new light on purpose - that it is more than a motivational state, but rather an enduring trait which can be nurtured, shaped, and developed. (Read more)

Purpose is very good for you 

Growing evidence indicates that a higher sense of purpose in life is associated with reduced risk of chronic diseases and mortality. A recent nationally representative survey of adults aged 50+ found that a heightened sense of purpose results in better health outcomes (e.g., reduced risk of stroke, lung disease, mortality; cognitive impairment; fewer chronic conditions; and higher self-rated health) (Source)

Purpose is also emerging as a protective factor for dementia risk. (Source) The current work of Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine Researcher, Gabrielle N. Pfund, Ph.D. and her colleagues also suggests that purpose in life may be a psychological resource that reduces the harmful effects of other risk factors - most notably, loneliness. 

There may be obstacles to finding purpose, but they can be overcome

We asked The Village's 2023 Trailblazer, Tracey Gendron, PhD, author of Ageism Unmasked for her views on purpose and what conditions might inhibit its development. Through her practice and research, Gendron has found that one of the obstacles to finding purpose lies in the concept of retirement. 

"Purpose is something that we all need. It's why we do what we do. It's why we get up in the morning. But the norm that we have established is that older adulthood is a period of retirement, and when you really look at retirement, it's not a life stage, it's a social institution. In addition, retirement talks about what you used to do, but it doesn't account for who you are, and who you are becoming. So not only do we have this ill-fitted stage of life that we call retirement but we also don't really prepare and talk about how we're going to continue to find meaning and purpose. 

"So I think we have some structural issues that keep older people from focusing on purpose and finding purpose, and ageism is underneath that. As older people we're often told that we are takers, not givers, and we don't talk as much about the things that we give back to other people. So I think it's important to challenge our thinking about what our purpose is. I like the term elderhood - it's about a stage of life that includes development, growth, and opportunity."

After retiring, Village member Dick Sullivan followed the temptation to keep doing what he had been doing - business consulting, computer work, and teaching. But he soon discovered that these activities no longer fed his passion. He needed to rethink what he really cares about. So he began “kicking tires” – searching for new activities that might rekindle his passion. His first new passion was the debate program at Chicago Public Schools. "I have learned that what matters to me is being a part of a community of adults seeking to make a positive impact on social concerns. I also learned that I like working with young people, feeling energized by their enthusiasm and liveliness.”  Dick wants a legacy that highlights his contributions to improving society rather than to his past personal achievements. 

Purpose is very personal

Gendron says, "We live in an extroverted world, where we tend to see purpose as being active and engaged, and 'I have to do' and 'I have to contribute in a certain way.' And that really works for some people who want to continue to have that outward facing sense of purpose, either volunteering or being involved.

One Village member's life has been anchored by church, family, friends, and personal purpose. Post retirement, her purpose keeps changing, but she is always able to find new ways to live purposefully by moving openly and mindfully through the ebb and flow of life's experiences. "At one point, I found great fulfillment working on political campaigns. Then, suddenly the campaign is over - and there is a temporary sense of loss. So, I keep trying things, keeping my options open, giving myself time, and letting things happen. It's like going through a tunnel and suddenly something clicks. One door closes and another one opens - it's the cycle of life." She has also learned that an important component of purpose is to have frequent, guilt-free fun - for her still a work in progress. 

Gendron further observes, "When we look at developments in later life, we can also see that for some people purpose can be an inward shift. There's a theory around this called gerotranscendence - a normal developmental trajectory in which people become less concerned with the outside world - becoming more concerned with their inside world, building a legacy, resolving issues really working on spirituality in the self. It's a form of purpose that's inward, that's done in stillness, and then in quiet."

Ruth Ann Watkins has always seen herself as a champion of the underdog. "I wanted to fight injustice because I had a sister with a disability who was taunted and I was her protector." She spent her career helping those with disabilities through Occupational Therapy at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab. She has provided leadership and inspiration to The Village Chicago and RRF - Foundation for Aging - two organizations that champion the status and improve the quality of life for older people. Ruth Ann sees purpose as two dimensional. "Purpose is not just about changing conditions around you, but also about how doing it changes you. It gave me a deeper understanding of what I was capable of, and the certainty that I am here for a reason."

Some techniques for finding a path to purpose

Cardinal Direction

Following your passion may not be the best way to find purpose. In their book Career Forward: Strategies from Women Who've Made It, authors Grace Puma and Christiana Smith Shi describe a different technique - cardinal direction. “Your cardinal direction is not a fixed star but a living path. Your life experience is a constant process of learning about your personal values, your aspirations for impact, your skills and capabilities, what environments you get energy from, whom you want to work with, and so on. All that data helps inform your cardinal direction.”

Finding purpose has been a lifelong journey for Rick Stuckey. He came to the United States from England in 1965 to attend graduate school at Stanford, studying Operations and Systems Analysis. He was hired by Arthur Andersen part of which became Andersen Consulting, (now Accenture) for whom he worked until retirement in 2000. In beautiful northern California he became involved with environmental issues primarily through the Sierra Club. Transferred to Chicago, he stayed engaged by raising funds and working to stop dangerous and destructive projects such as coal-fired power stations, the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines and more recently, carbon dioxide pipelines. He is currently working with many dedicated people, some not normally in the environmental moment - local influencers - such as farmers and even some climate deniers - for whom the environment is both a pocketbook and safety issue, and is pleased to be able to maneuver in this environment to get the job done.

"I want my legacy to be that I did something to mitigate the terrible effects of climate change on future generations - to reduce the impact and make it as easy as possible for them to manage what they are facing."

The Life Brief

Bonnie Wan, head of brand strategy for the ad agency Goodby and Silverstein shares five key insights from her new book, The Life Brief: A Playbook for No-Regrets Living. The Life Brief is a practice for getting clear about what you want by leaning into our curiosity, to unlock insights and epiphanies about what makes

our lives worth living.

Feeling Lost?

There are times in life when we lose our direction. Here are some research-tested ways to figure out a way forward.

What's the priority? Self-care or caring for others?

Fast Company reports that there is a clear logic to encouraging people to look after themselves. But this raises the question as to whether self-care should be prioritized over caring for others. The answer is a nuanced one. "In a reversal of the commonsensical assumption that we can’t help others unless we first help ourselves, academic studies show that providing social support to others significantly predicts lower mortality rates and more longevity in the person offering that help. The act of giving support to others has notable health benefits, potentially even more so than being the recipient of support. (Read more)

Village member Nancy Felton Elkins reflects that all her life, her purpose has been connected to meeting other people's needs - her family, her career, and supporting various conservation, educational, and public interest causes. With family successfully on their own and having retired from work life, Nancy says "I feel more protective of my time and my focus is on staying healthy as I age." 

Nancy avoided Covid for two years, staying fairly isolated in her home in the Michigan woods, reading, walking, and reflecting. It was a fulfilling time, but isolating. Then, on an exotic trip to Borneo, she contracted Covid in an isolated jungle setting, and in recuperating found she was no longer the athlete she used to be.

"Now I am reconnecting with friends and activities that interest me; keeping in close, open, and honest contact with my family; remembering to have fun; and keeping my health as a top priority."

Resources: Books

• From Age-ing to Sage-ing
• The Inner Work of Age

April 3, 2024

Dear friends



My five-plus years as CEO of The Village Chicago have been tremendously exciting and rewarding. Together, we have accomplished so much by improving the quality of life for older adults and their families, building new programs, expanding our connections and community partnerships, increasing our local and national footprints, addressing entrenched ageism, building diversity, and consistently raising record amounts of funds – including during the pandemic period. I am thrilled to tell you that in February we received $500,000 from an anonymous donor to help ensure that our comprehensive Health & Wellbeing and Brain Health & Memory Loss programs flourish well into the future.

All of this has been accomplished with your help and that of our exceptional board leadership—working hand-in-hand with our small but mighty, highly-qualified, and exceptional staff team. It has been an honor and a privilege to work with them.

As a Village member, I look forward to joining you as an active participant in our extraordinary community.



Warmest regards,

Darcy

Annual Meeting - Save the Date!

We will hold our Annual Members Meeting on the evening of Monday, June 17, at the Chicago History Museum. All neighbors and friends are invited to socialize and learn about what's new at The Village Chicago.

Apply Now for the Ageless Innovators Co-mentoring Program!

Everyone, no matter their age, has something to teach and something to learn. Since 2019, The Village Chicago and Chicago Innovation have collaborated on the exciting co-mentoring program, Ageless Innovators. By participating in the program, you will be paired with a younger professional with whom you will exchange experience and advice in one-on-one meetings, plus monthly events ranging from panels and seminars to mixers. In addition to developing intergenerational relationships and community, you will also get a free six-month membership to Chicago Innovation, granting access to a wide range of events and other perks. The 12th cohort of Ageless Innovators will run from July-December 2024. 

Click here to learn more and apply by April 26th!

Board of Directors

David Baker, President 

Judith Gethner, Secretary

Joan Goldstein,

Treasurer

Kathie Kolodgy,

Vice President

Karen Terry,

Vice President

Don Bell

Jacie Brandes

Stefanie Clark

Carol Hitchie

Angie Levenstein

Molly Matthias

Liz Metzger

Gail Moss

Tom Pasker

Carol Stein

Lois Stuckey

Vamse Kumar Subbiah

Carlos Terrazas

Jan Walters

Joyce Winnecke