• The journey we take in our search for wisdom, connection, and integrity in later life.

• An approach for reflecting on the experience of aging - one that is mentally stimulating and appealing to people of many ages as they each travel their own life journey.   

• A life transition, a process of transcendence from adulthood to elderhood. 

• A journey in which we seek insights into our past, our present, and our future.  It seeks to answer questions about who we are, where we come from, what’s our purpose in being here and where are we going.   It’s a new and more positive narrative for successful aging. 

• A rite-of-passage to a new stage of life.  One we try to arrange so that we come out of the experience with a new and empowering story of who we are and the kind of life we want to build based on our own personal experiences, values, and hopes for the future. A story that connects our past, present, and future.

The dictionary defines the word “imperative” as: “absolutely necessary or required; unavoidable.”

It’s easy to grow old. Aging is simply the passing of time – the chronological change from day to day, year to year. For many people, just doing nothing is the easiest way to grow old. For others, aging is very difficult. And, for a few, it’s an opportunity.

The aging imperative is a term used to describe the urgent need to respond to the challenges posed as we age.

Thus, the most important question you can ask yourself in preparing to meet those challenges is… “What must I absolutely know and do in order to be healthy, happy and find meaning and purpose in retirement and in post-retirement?”