By Audrey Danaher
Full Circle Publishing, 2022, 155 pages, ISBN: 9781988462189
About the Book
Becoming of Age celebrates women’s experiences in the third stage of life – a time to reflect on what matters most to each of us at this juncture. Later life offers many possibilities and the chance to realize dreams. It is the time when our wild woman spirit – that part of us that is who we truly are – can be more fully expressed.
Through a series of short essays, the book explores women’s issues in three areas: Dwelling Within – our interior life; Connecting and Relinquishing – our relationships with others; and Looking Beyond – our place in the larger world. It is about living life on our own terms and not those defined by others.
Women bring their life experience, knowledge, and wisdom to bear as part of the heroine’s journey. It is a journey that not only enriches women’s lives but also serves the larger world. In so doing, women become of age and are powerful beyond measure.
Interviews with Audrey Danaher
Embracing Aging and Your Inner Wild Woman
Patricia Harbec, The Midlife Momentum Podcast (March 13, 2024)
Wild Woman Where Art Thou?
Patricia Muir, Encore Executive Podcast (March 2, 2023)
Testimonials
“Audrey captures the lived experiences of women as they age with precision and compassion. I recognized myself on every page. It’s almost as though she was able to reach the inner ‘me” and articulate what I have been feeling and thinking over the past decade.
She doesn’t medicate ageing; she acknowledges the various passages that all women transcend on their journey to the end of life and she do so optimistically. The book felt hopeful despite acknowledging the challenges of such passages as loss and grief.”
Helen Hirsch Spence
CEO, Top Sixty over Sixty
“Audrey’s book is full of striking metaphors and highly quotable insights of wisdom. Women approaching and living in the third stage of their lives will resonate with the past and continuing impact of the ‘duct tape of obligations, cultural norms and the ever –present pressure to conform to social convention.’
Possibilities don’t diminish with age. They expand. To be fully alive does not mean living a life of high adventure. Continuing to live with purpose and continuing to cultivate trust in yourself will ensure that you make decision in your best interest and create those opportunities are ‘best’ for you.”
Patricia Muir
Founder, Leadership Coaching Programs for Women Entrepreneurs
“In this book of personal reflections and observations, Audrey gives voice to what many women think and feel but who may not have the words to express themselves. Older persons, in general, can become invisible with increasing age but gender does become a factor, with more women than men experiencing some of the more negative perceptions of age. I do think this is changing as we shift from viewing old age as a time to decline to one of continued growth but culture change is slow.
Through her stories and questions, Audrey’s book presents readers with many opportunities to explore or, further explore, their own third stage – their purpose, who they are, what they want to do as they recognize that they have fewer years ahead of them than behind them. What do they want as their legacy?”
Pat Spadafora
Kaleidoscope Consulting
Founder, Sheridan College Centre for Elder Research
“This is a great book for women in their ‘50’s and ‘60’s going through this discovery period in their lives. ‘What is my purpose? What have I really accomplished?’ These are the questions we ask ourselves and the writer explains and shares personal stories of how this is all perfectly normal.
I particularly enjoyed the sections on the importance and need to continually foster our relationships; the reminder of how seemingly unimportant conversations with strangers have the possibilities of something greater; the discovery of how grief leads to growth; the need and personal fulfillment of giving back and the importance of our own family history and sharing these stories with our children.”
Colleen Saunders
Becoming of Age 