The Gift of Years:
Growing Older Gracefully

3355 Claire Lane,Jacksonville FL 32223

15 February, 2022

Description

Celebrate the blessings of growing older while at the same time looking at the reality of the aging process...with your pen. The Gift of Years:
Growing Older Gracefully
It can be difficult to be older in a world that so values youth. This series is a celebration of the blessings of growing older while at the same time looking at the reality of the aging process. Using Joan Chittister’s book, “The Gift of Years,” we will explore together both the burdens and the blessings of our later years. Chittister writes that these years are not a time when we stop growing, but rather “exactly the time to grow in new ways. It is the period when we set out to make sense of all the growing we have already done. It is the softening season when everything in us is meant to achieve its sweetest, richest, most unique self.” This series will explore the challenges of the later years including regret, fear, and grief, as well as the blessings of aging such as the chance to immerse ourselves in the present moment now that we are no longer as driven as when we were young, having the opportunity to savor relationships as “the alchemy of life,” and to have the leisure to harvest our memories. The gift of years truly is a gift and one that all do not receive. Facilitated by faculty member Marilyn Jones. Facilitated by faculty member Marilyn Jones, a certified instructor for Journal to the Self (JTTS) as well as for Women Writing for (a) Change. Note: Open to anyone who identifies as a woman. Because this is an in-person class in a private home, we ask that anyone who attends be fully vaccinated. Space is limited; please register early. Please note that location is not handicap accessible. Participants must be able to walk up the stairs to the second level. Covid protocols will be determined closer to start date. DETAILS DATE: Tuesdays, for six weeks, starting Feb. 15TIME: 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (doors open at 9:45 a.m.)AUDIENCE: Open to any woman or person who identifies as a woman. FEE: $175 (includes journal)Marilyn Jones, a retired therapist with a 40-year career in human services, is a certified facilitator for Women Writing for (a) Change Jacksonville. A firm believer that each individual carries deep reservoirs of wisdom within, she combines this belief with the proven practices of Women Writing for (a) Change to help participants uncover hidden truths, share their stories, and explore how to make the most of whatever stage of life they are in. MORE DETAILS Women Writing for (a) Change® was founded in 1991 by Mary Pierce Brosmer, a practicing poet and former English teacher. She developed WWf(a)C to encourage women to find their voices, speak their truths, and tell their stories in a world in which they were often silenced. (womenwriting.org). The Jacksonville-affiliated school was established in 2014 by Jennifer Wolfe, evolving into a non-profit in 2018, and adding three new faculty members in 2019-2020. Our intention is to expand our outreach and accessibility to a larger, more diverse audience. ***** Scholarships Available; request application***** Women Writing for (a) Change Jacksonville is a growing community for Jacksonville writers. We focus primarily on women, but not exclusively. We strive to reach a diverse audience and to make our programs accessible to all, including all cultural groups, genders, and communities.