Harry R. Moody on 50 years in the field of aging and making the world a better place

Harry “Rick” Moody, Ph.D., shares his opinions on positive aging, climate change, and the importance of finding meaning and purpose in later life. Gerontologist, professor, executive, speaker, writer, and activist, he is Distinguished Visiting Professor at Fielding Graduate University’s Creativity and Wisdom Program and author of the hallmark textbook Aging: Concepts & Controversies, in its 10th edition.

About Dr. Moody

Harry R. Moody is a graduate of Yale University and received his Ph.D. in philosophy from Columbia University. He has taught philosophy at Columbia University, Hunter College, New York University, and the University of California at Santa Cruz. He recently retired as Vice President and Director of Academic Affairs for AARP in Washington, DC. He is currently Visiting Professor at Tohoku University in Japan, and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Fielding Graduate University’s Creativity and Wisdom Program.

Dr. Moody previously served as Executive Director of the Brookdale Center on Aging at Hunter College and Chairman of the Board of Elderhostel (now Road Scholar). Moody is the author of over 100 scholarly articles, as well as a number of books including: Abundance of Life: Human Development Policies for an Aging Society (Columbia University Press, 1988) and Ethics in an Aging Society (Johns Hopkins University Press, 1992).

His most recent book, The Five Stages of the Soul, was published by Doubleday Anchor Books and has been translated into seven languages worldwide. He is the editor of the Climate Change in an Aging Society and Human Values in Aging newsletters. In 2011 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society on Aging and in 2008 he was named by Utne Reader Magazine as one of “50 Visionaries Who Are Changing Your World.”

Key Takeaways

Internalized ageism contributes to self-limiting beliefs, like: “I'm too old to play tennis anymore.” “I'm too old to learn to play an instrument,” You are never too old to learn.
There are small things we can do for climate change that add up when you connect with other people doing small things. Begin where you are.
Think globally, act locally. It is a false narrative to think you either act as an individual or act politically. You can and should do both because one reinforces the other.
Positive aging begins by changing the way you think. Begin by believing there is always something you can do to make a difference in your own life and the lives of others.
Aging is diminished reserve capacity. But that means reserve capacity. Decrement with compensation means recognizing there will be limitations and then finding an alternative (Ex: you can’t run anymore, so you walk.) Look for opportunities, find them and act on them.
Dreaming is a natural organic function of humans and all mammals. Dreams show us what we already know, but do not yet see.
The young and old are the most vulnerable to loneliness and social isolation. Successful intergenerational connections require reciprocity and mentoring in both directions.

To subscribe to Human Values in Aging and Climate Change in an Aging Society, email hrmoody@yahoo.com.

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