Her upbeat book is based on the concept of neoteny, the science of growing young, a discipline that anthropologist Ashley Montague and paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould have referred to. Neoteny is capable of reversing the psychological effects of aging. There is evidence that we can even live longer and healthier by effecting these changes.
Beaman takes the work of these two stellar thinkers and develops a prescription that can be used as guidelines to "youthen" as we grow older. Here are 10 Do-Overs she's created, based on their research and writing:
Resiliency
Optimism
Wonder
Curiosity
Joy
Humor
Music
Work
Play
Learning
To give you a taste of what Beaman offers her readers, here's a short list of things to do to recapture your capacity to Play:
Walk in the rain
Go barefoot
Say hello to everyone you pass
Ask lots of questions
Climb trees
Act silly
Learning makes you viable, vibrant, and vital. It prevents "psychosclerosis" or hardening of the mind and contributes to youthening. Beaman's dad gave her invaluable advice before attending college. She recommends it to people of all ages. Here's what he said:
"This is your chance to read books no one assigns, find out about things that interest you. Go visit your friends' families and see how they live. Then question your beliefs in comparison to theirs. Talk to professors outside of class about their choice of discipline. Have an intimate encounter with this golden time--doing this will serve you well the rest of your life."
Third Agers would do well to follow this advice. To learn by following one's instincts and passions, to be curious, to ask questions, to rekindle our joyous childlike wonder in the world. It is these qualities, Beaman writes, that will keep us young until the day we die.
We all know people who are botoxing, liposuctioning, and facelifting to appear young forever. Ronda Beaman in You're Only Young Twice: 10 Do-Overs to Reawaken Your Spirit tells us how to recapture a youthful spirit from the inside out.
Her upbeat book is based on the concept of neoteny, the science of growing young, a discipline that anthropologist Ashley Montague and paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould have referred to. Neoteny is capable of reversing the psychological effects of aging. There is evidence that we can even live longer and healthier by effecting these changes.
Beaman takes the work of these two stellar thinkers and develops a prescription that can be used as guidelines to "youthen" as we grow older. Here are 10 Do-Overs she's created, based on their research and writing:
To give you a taste of what Beaman offers her readers, here's a short list of things to do to recapture your capacity to Play:
Learning makes you viable, vibrant, and vital. It prevents "psychosclerosis" or hardening of the mind and contributes to youthening. Beaman's dad gave her invaluable advice before attending college. She recommends it to people of all ages. Here's what he said:
"This is your chance to read books no one assigns, find out about things that interest you. Go visit your friends' families and see how they live. Then question your beliefs in comparison to theirs. Talk to professors outside of class about their choice of discipline. Have an intimate encounter with this golden time--doing this will serve you well the rest of your life."
Third Agers would do well to follow this advice. To learn by following one's instincts and passions, to be curious, to ask questions, to rekindle our joyous childlike wonder in the world. It is these qualities, Beaman writes, that will keep us young until the day we die.
What books have you come across that inspire you?