Getting older has its pluses, at least compared to the alternative, as many people like to say. However, there are also some considerable challenges that everyone faces in their later years. Your body doesn’t always cooperate with your will, and there are times you feel like your memory can confound you by not cooperating either. People’s roles change, and they lose family members, friends, and partners. There may be times you wish you could go back to work if you’re retired, or not work at all if you’re still plugging away at your job.

Aging gracefully, you say? What’s graceful about all of this? Luckily, a new, free publication has some answers.

The American Psychological Association (APA) just published a free e-booklet on “perspectives on aging” that is packed with useful information from psychological researchers, practitioners, and writers. It provides uplifting messages about why aging might not be so bad and, in fact, can be a fulfilling and enjoyable time of life.

Beginning with the quote from Colorado State University’s Manfred Diehl, you can see the direction this publication is taking: “When we say aging isn’t all negative, it’s not that we are putting on rose-colored lenses. This is based on rigorous science.” A major focus of the booklet is on turning the negatives into the positive, beginning with the first step of countering age-based stereotypes, or ageism.

Pervasive throughout society, ageism is one of the key influences on the way that individuals feel about their own aging. Not only does ageism result in overt discrimination, but it also pervades your mind. Evidence presented........

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