Karl Pillemer,åÊ a professor of human development in the College of Human EcologyåÊat Cornell University,åÊand Professor of Gerontology in Medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical College began The Legacy Project in 2004, collecting the practical advice for living of AmericaÛªs elders.åÊ
His research team systematically gatheredåÊnearly 1500 responses to the question: ÛÏWhat are the most important lessons you have learned over the course of your life?Û
PeopleåÊfrom across the country in their 70s and beyondåÊshared their wisdom for living. Their advice ranges fromåÊhow to be happy on a day-to-day basis, the secrets to a successful marriage, tips on raising children, ways to have a fulfilling career, strategies fordealing with illness and loss, and how to grow old fearlessly and well.
His book on the project, 30 Lessons for Living: Tried and True Advice from the Wisest Americans, was recently published. He then took the book and transformed the advice from older persons and their solutions to major problems into ÛÏlessonsÛ that everyone of any age can put into practice. And that is how The Legacy Project web site developed.
You can look for advice around these topics:
- Love and Marriage
- Raising Children
- Work and Career
- Money
- How To Be Happy
- Faith and Spirituality
- Aging Well
- Health
- Worry and Stress
- Staying Connected
- Values To Live By
- War and Peace
- Facing the End of Life
- Living With Loss
- Compassionate Living
- The Lighter Side
- Avoiding Regrets
And you can share your advice too.åÊ
Check it out.
Interestingly, in my thousands of hours performing in nursing homes and collecting stories for my book, Who Moved My Dentures?, I too developed a list of eight essential life lessons that contributed to a quality of life for those living in circumstances that we never equate to with quality of life. In fact I have a keynote called The Meaning of Life in which I share these lessons. Want to know them? Send me an email and I will send you the eight life lessons and tips on how to apply them.