On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old
About this book
From beloved and bestselling author Parker J. Palmer (Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, Healing the Heart of Democracy), comes a beautiful book of reflections on what we can learn as we move closer to "the brink of everything."Drawing on eight decades of life -- and his career as a writer, teacher, and activist -- Palmer explores the questions age raises and the promises it holds. "Old," he writes, "is just another word for nothing left to lose, a time to dive deep into life, not withdraw to the shallows."But this book is not for elders only. It was written to encourage adults of all ages to explore the way their lives are unfolding. It's not a how-to-do-it book on aging, but a set of meditations in prose and poetry that turn the prism on the meaning(s) of one's life, refracting new light at every turn.From beginning to end, the book is laced with humor as well as gravitas -- beautifully enhanced by three free downloadable songs from the gifted singer-songwriter Carrie Newcomer , written in response to themes in the book.Table of ContentsPreludeI. The View from the What I Can See from HereII. Young & The Dance of the GenerationsIII. Getting From Illusion to RealityIV. Work & Writing a LifeV. Keep Reaching Staying Engaged with the WorldVI. Keep Reaching Staying Engaged with Your SoulVII. Over the Where We Go When We DiePostlude