"Drawing from Abe Arkoff's [Third Age Lifebook] questions and adding some of my own thoughts, I offer the following points of reflection as foci to help you search for and gather up your wisdom teachings. Believe me, you have them. They are in you. It's just a matter of recognizing them for what they are — learning gems about life. Reading the questions over with a sense of curiosity and adventure as to what they might turn up will help you discover lessons learned and the wisdom they carry, sometimes even in situations that when you actually experienced them felt like failures or mistakes.

I suggest reading one question, then closing your eyes and simply watching what memories, thoughts, feelings, images and voices come forth as you examine your life experiences staying watchful as a prospector looking for nuggets of gold. Keep your journal with you so you can take notes capturing on paper what ever feels significant. Don't worry whether it makes sense or not. Keep your critical sensor out of the process and enjoy the exploration.

"Got your writing materials? Good. Let's go. One at a time.

"#1. Look back over your life to find crucial turning points, highs and lows, losses and gains, victories and defeats and major challenges. Using the lens of perspective grown over the passing years what do you see these experiences taught you about life?

#2. What helped you get through your most trying times?

#3. Who were your biggest button-pushers and what did they help you learn about or develop?

#4. Who were the key support people in your life; what did they give you? What did you learn from them?

#5. How do you define success in life and what do you think is most important in living a successful life, a good life?

#6. Do you think life has meaning and purpose and if so, what?

#7. What makes you happy?

#8. What are you most grateful for about your life?

#9. What is most important for you about maintaining well being as you age?

#10. What are your plans, hopes and dreams for the final cycle of your life?

#11. What gives you a sense of comfort about getting older?

#12. Is there anything else you would like to learn about, accomplish or do?

#13. Do you believe you have something to offer others that could be useful that is not being shared and if so, what might that be?

#14. How would you sum up in one sentence your wisdom-teachings from life to pass on to the younger generation?

"When you have finished reflecting on these questions and recording in your journal what has come forth give yourself a pat on the back for doing this important work. You now have raw material to dig deeper into over time drawing forth ever more insight and learning."