| Nancy Mertz Nordstrom
ends the introduction to her book, “Learning Later,
Living Greater: Making The Most of Your After-50 Years,”
with a quote from an old Chinese proverb, “Learning
is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”
Learning was the catalyst that changed Nancy’s life
after the death of her first husband. Barely into her 50s
and with four children, she returned to school and found
the learning experience so rejuvenating and exhilarating
that she switched majors and received a degree in education.
Through a friend in a walking club which she had started,
Nancy learned about Elderhostel, the foremost educational
travel organization for older adults and found the perfect
job match for her passion for adult learning.
Nancy’s work as director of the Elderhostel Institute
Network is to coordinate the resources that help 350 affiliated
Lifelong Learning Institute members with about 100,000 people
who participate in noncredit classroom programs.
At first, Nancy was based in Boston, but eventually she
was able to perform these same services from her home in
New Hampshire. In addition, she now lectures and travels
extensively in connection with her book.
She wrote the book with her son Jon (an accomplished author
of six novels) when she realized how many adults did not
know about the possibilities lifelong learning can offer.
It is learning not dictated by academic requirements but
only for the sheer joy of learning itself, and it offers
the opportunity to indulge in all of the interests one has
previously not had the time for.
In what is called “the third age of life,”
after leaving our traditional jobs, an ideal lifestyle choice
might be § work, § play and § giving back
to our communities.
The author feels that this is an important component to
a full, satisfying life and is also the answer to how the
burgeoning senior population can become a valued resource
and guiding light.
Nancy Nordstrom’s book is well organized, easy to
read and loaded with valuable information. Each chapter
begins with a first-person account of lifelong learning
in action.
One of these stories was written by Orange resident Trish
O’Leary, former president of the Institute for Learning
in Retirement at Albertus Magnus College (part of the Elderhostel
network). ILR, as it is known, will be celebrating its 20th
anniversary Wednesday with a luncheon at the Grassy Hill
Country Club at which Nancy Nordstrom will be the guest
speaker.
ILR is a nonprofit, community-based group whose classes
are all taught by the members. The courses are varied and
stimulating without requiring a longtime commitment (the
average course is 4-6 weeks) and as both a former student
and study group leader, I can testify that they are educational
and a lot of fun.
Call (800) 220-0458 for information or a course catalog
or go to www.ilralbertus.org.
Another important reason to partake in lifelong learning
is discussed in Part 2 of “Learning Later, Living
Greater,” in which Nancy discusses the research which
shows that your brain will continue to adapt, grow and even
improve with age provided you continue to challenge it.
In part 3, Nancy calls lifelong learning in the classroom,
“health clubs for the brain.”
“Up, Up and Away” in Part 4 of the book covers
lifelong learning with wings. Nancy relates her own story
of her first solo travel and overseas trip with Elderhostel.
Pushing herself well beyond her usual comfort zone to make
the trip, her almost childlike delight in discovering the
historical treasures in Austria and Italy make for especially
pleasurable reading.
“Rebels with a Cause” in Part 5 of the book
covers how lifelong learning affects and enhances society.
The author feels passionately that meaningful volunteer
activities by which we give back to our communities, is
an essential moral obligation.
The final parts of the book take a look into what the future
may have in store and also have a most helpful resource
section.
One of the best explanations for the benefits of lifelong
learning was written by Betty Bennett, a member of a chapter
in Green Bay, Wisc. “To me, lifelong learning is a
place for me to be with people of like minds (not in opinion,
but in purpose). Together we want to explore, walk roads
not yet traveled, examine old facts and find new conclusions.
The myth of old age has vanished. It is possible to live
longer and dream more.”
Jean Cherni is founder of Senior
Living Solutions, a retirement advisory service. Contact
her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or 15 The Ponds, Branford
06405.
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