A Taste of What You’ll Get in Upcoming Issues

Here's a preview of what you can expect from my "Opening Up" newsletter.

My greetings to you:

I publish “Opening Up,” which features a short story of fiction one week at a time about the insight elders gain as they learn to embrace limitations in their lives.

“Opening Up” is an interactive newsletter, which means, after you absorb the week's short story and discussion question, you can post your thoughts -- and even share your own story on the same page and receive comments from your fellow readers -- all within a safe, private, secure space.

Through each week's short story, you'll meet some amusing characters (48 right now). That number is growing each month with new stories to tell. Each has an opportunity to look back on parts of their lives and recognize what they've learned about vulnerability through personal experience. Again -- all fiction but based on issues I've faced with a lifelong disability that, now as an elder, I sometimes find funny, occasionally stupid, but often revealing.

At any rate, we’re all probably retired, and it’s time to have fun and share our favorite stories within our community. In doing so, we may decide to share some of those anecdotes with our family and friends on special occasions as “legacy nuggets.” In July, I’ll guide you to resources for easily doing just that.

My first issue of “Opening Up” will appear on July 6, 2022. In the meantime, here’s a preview of what you can expect as an “Opening Up” subscriber.

My Three Favorite Headlines:

Story 11: Lisa’s Struggle with Being Both Invisible and Intense
Story 28: Boyd’s Fortunate Break Up
Story 46: Vi’s New Place in Life

My Three Favorite first paragraphs:

Story 6: "You're holding up traffic, lady!" a guy across the street yelled impatiently.
Story 12: 70-year-old Barb knows how it must feel to be healed -- almost
Story 31: It was Melva's big day because it was her granddaughter's wedding, but somehow the dance afterwards boiled down to the fact that she still did her own grocery shopping.

My Three Favorite Takeaway Tips:

Story 13: Pursue closure before it’s too late.
Story 19: Give others the opportunity to feel complete by accepting their help when needed.
Story 32: Remember what was good in the past with gratitude.

My Three Favorite Discussion Questions:

Story 4: When did you let go of something you cherished earlier in life?
Story 5: When did you consider something outrageous that now seems somewhat reasonable?
Story 23: How do you want to be perceived by others now that you’re a “mature adult?”

My Three Favorite Quotes about Vulnerability:

Story 25: "Out of your vulnerabilities will come your strength." - Sigmund Freud
Story 32: “Vulnerability is the birthplace of connection.” - Brené Brown
Story 48: "People can be at their most vulnerable but still tenacious at the same time." - Toni Bernhard

Make the most of “Opening Up” by subscribing now and redeeming your Founder’s Free Trial offer by July 24, 2022, to test-drive all of its features for free for 90 days.

I’ll see you during our “Opening Up” launch on July 6, 2022.

Here’s to elderhood and vulnerability!

Jim Hasse, ABC, GCDF retired, author of “Opening Up” newsletter
“Story-guided Discussion for Finding Peace with Vulnerability”