George H. Schofield, Ph.D., is an expert in lifelong human and organizational development, professional career management, and specialist in the art of balancing; having an intelligent plan for ourselves with the right skills and agility when life doesn’t go according to plan. These abilities didn’t materialize overnight.

Based on in-depth interviews with Americans between the ages of 50 and 97, Dr. Schofield weaves a new framework for thinking and presents tools for clear communication.  He makes wisdom accessible, revealing rare insights and mind-opening possibilities. This book is a vital resource for 77 million Americans who want to embrace life and invest in themselves and their futures now.

This book is interesting because the generations have been mixed together for thousands of years and the life expectancy of humans remained relatively the same, about 30 years (!), for such a long time until only very recently, when the life expectancy has shot up to 80. Such a huge change could not happen without immense repercussions on our culture. A social group containing a large portion of people who are 80 years old is vastly different than one whose majority and vital power age range is 20 years or younger.

 The author gives us 10 keys about reality after 50:
1. Planning is essential.
2. The pace of change is accelerating.
3. No one’s life happens completely according to plan.
4. Thriving beyond fifty requires special abilities.
5. The path we expect will change as it unfolds before us.
6. What we were good at in the past may not be what we’ll need to be good at in the future. In fact, what we were good at can become an obstacle.
7.  Our situations and companions will change as we age, often without notice.
8.  Aging can’t be solved nor moved beyond like a problem.
9.  Acquiring and practicing the right skills early will make a difference in the quality of life after fifty.
10. There is no one-size fits all answer for thriving after fifty.  Success requires awareness and resilience in taking daily responsibility for ourselves.

There are also changes in relationships. In the chapter about “Relationship Characteristics,” the author writes:  “The relationships we have also have characteristics separate from our individual attributes. Examples of relationship characteristics include: . Frequency of contact, how often do we connect?

- Types of information exchanged, what do we talk or write about?
- Shared experiences of friendships, what pieces of our biographies do we have in common?
- Impact on sense of self and ways of operating, how does our relationship affect our sense of ourselves and how we move about in the world each day?
- Emphasis on familiar or on unfamiliar, do we tend to emphasize what we already know in our relationship or do we tend to emphasize what one or neither of us knows yet?
- Activities, interests, or goals shared, which of these do we have in common that strengthen our relationship?
- Level of trust, how much do we trust each other?
- Impact on decision making, how does our relationship affect decisions either of us might be making?

It’s important to remember that these characteristics can be understood or measured from either person’s view point, are subject to rapid change, and exist only so long as the people remain in relationship.”

We may as well learn serenity and how to be at ease in our skin because most of us will reach a very old age. With scientific and medical advances, who knows how long the life span will be when the current generation becomes elderly?

 The author offers useful advice, such as, don’t call yourself old. We’ve all heard that we can stay young by remaining alert mentally and keeping a fresh attitude. The worst thing to do is to let yourself go.  You can enjoy a vital life with zest and meaning well into your 90s these days if youe take good care of yourself. Staying physically active is as important as staying socially engaged.

This book gives us a very interesting statistic:  by roughly the year 2015, there will be 77 million Americans aged from 50 to 69 years old! That’s something to think about when you read this fascinating book because may you all reach and exceed this age with good health and happiness.

Marie-Claire Wilson, author of the Spiritual Tarot: The keys to the Divine Temple, is a bilingual writer and poet. She has been practicing medium for 28 years using direct clairvoyance, the Tarot, numerology and palmistry. For an appointment face-to-face or phone readings call: 404-847-7330.
www.marie-claire.tv