‘The Blossoming of Women’

October 3rd, 2023

Transforming a personal vision of aging


‘The Blossoming of Women’ book cover. By Karen Roberts

In “The Blossoming of Women: A Workbook on Growing from Older to Elder,” author Karen Roberts encourages women to transform their personal vision of aging.

During a life crisis when she was in her 70s, author Karen Roberts discovered that voices of encouragement were difficult to find. The popular paradigms of aging as a time of decline, withdrawal, and disengagement drowned out any messages of support and positivity.

By reframing her crisis as a catalyst for insight and transformation, she realized old age can be transformed to become a time of profound personal and interpersonal growth.

Snowy owl at Damon Point, Ocean Shores, Washington. Image by Tim Hauf. Used in "The Blossoming of Women"
Snowy owl at Damon Point, Ocean Shores, Washington. Image by Tim Hauf, used in ‘The Blossoming of Women’

“The Blossoming of Women: A Workbook on Growing from Older to Elder“ invites the reader to embark on later life explorations with confidence and to enjoy the process of self-discovery.

The early chapters reframe the idea of aging. Roberts suggests that women can see themselves as “elder,” not “older.” She counsels that they follow paths that lead to hope rather than heeding the “assaults of ageism,” attending to the spiritual, the psyche, and grief. She offers practical “practices for transformation.” Engaging questions follow each chapter, assisting you on the path to a rewarding new life stage motivated by personal purpose. And she emphasizes “the power of intuition and creativity.”

The chapters following introduce readers to seven women who confronted daunting challenges, yet their perseverance and inner faith led them to pursue incredible late-life passions. Their stories will open the mind to new possibilities. The experiences encourage the reader to follow the lessons for living beyond loss and growing from crisis and transformation to a deeper self.

Beautiful four-color images of nature support the uplifting spirit of the inspirational essays and stories, and each chapter in the book closes with questions that readers can use for self-reflection, contemplation, and discussion.

‘The Blossoming of Women: A Workbook on Growing from Older to Elder’ 
Gala & Friends, Inc. (July 1, 2023)


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