Longitudinal Study Results and Personal Reflections Sessions
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Next Chapters Personal Reflections
February through April 2024
Let’s Have the God Talk
Wednesday, February 21, 7:30-9:00pm ET
Roger Johannigman, convener
21Feb2024GodTalk
As we age, we sometimes bump into new spiritual realities. We experience pain and suffering, loss, and need; we go through transitions, grieving the loss of our “old life” as we move into new ways of living and being purposeful. Sometimes, simultaneously, we may begin to sense that there is “something more.” All these experiences give us the chance to connect with God…or the Divine…or whatever one may call it, and with one another in a more spiritual way. In this session—or series of sessions, if the group wants to meet more than once--we will explore those experiences, their origins and effects.
Changing Priorities and Commitments Around Work and Life
Monday, March 4, 7:30-9:00pm ET
Alan Glickman, convener
4Mar2024ChangingPriorities
As we near our 70th birthdays, what have been our thoughts and/or decisions regarding changing–or not changing–priorities and commitments with respect to work and, more broadly, to life? How have these been changing since our last reunion—or even since last year?
Better Late Than Never: Aging and How to Feel Good About It
Tuesday, March 12, 7:00-8:30pm ET
Margaret Drickamer, convener
12Mar2024BetterLate
The general wisdom is that aging beats the alternative. As we turn to the next chapter, we will explore what we are excited about, what we are worried about, and how we can adjust to the changes while continuing to enjoy this precious time. This discussion group will probably meet three times, with the future meeting times to be determined by the group.
Mentorship — Building a Legacy by Sharing What You’ve Learned in Life
Wednesday, March 20, 7:00-8:15pm ET
Tom Phillips, convener
20Mar2024Mentorship
This session will explore how classmates, and we ourselves, became or can become mentors. Among the topics that may be discussed are the following: how we came to pay it back by becoming mentors; what we consider best mentoring practices; and how we feel we’ve contributed to the next generation’s growth — and how they have contributed to ours.
Living Well—But Where?
Sunday, April 28, 8:00-9:30pm ET
Debra Vilinsky, convener
28Apr2024LivingWhere
So you’re hoping to live well for a long time. But where, how, and with whom? And when to act on these decisions? Many of us have watched or participated in friends’ or family members’ decisions to downsize, move to living communities of various sorts, or stay put with some adjustments. What are you thinking might be right for you? What factors and people are among your considerations? Or have you already made a plan and acted on it? Ideally, through sharing our thoughts, feelings, tentative or definite plans, and questions, we’ll all be better able to imagine what’s possible and potentially best for each of us personally as we look toward life’s next chapters.
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Personal Reflections Discussions
Winter/Spring 2023
Coming to Terms with Aging and Mortality
Session 1: ID: 16FEB23AgingMortality
3 Thursdays: February 16, March 16, & April 13 7:30pm-9:00pm ET
Facilitators: Russ Eisenstat and Laurie Frost
Session 2: ID: 27Mar23AgingMortality
March 27 * 7:30pm-9:00pm ET
Facilitator: Anna Storniolo
The old adage that “nothing is certain except death and taxes” is at least half true: we are all going to die. The older we get, the more we may wonder, “How much time do I have left?” Contemplating our demise can be terrifying; but it can also be clarifying. Over the course of up to three meetings, we will explore the impact of aging and an increased awareness of mortality on our priorities, our relationships, our spiritual and religious beliefs, the legacy we hope to leave, and more.
Marginalization, Not Belonging, and How We Have Coped ID: 23FEB23Marginalization
Thursday, February 23 7:00pm-8:30pm ET
Facilitator: Tanya Bartevyan
In this session, participants will be invited to share their marginalization experiences from any stage of life–pre-college, at college, and/or later. We will explore the inner and outer effects of real or perceived marginalization and related feelings of not belonging; we will also reflect on how we have transcended marginalization and how our processes have limited our options and/or enriched our lives.
Changing Priorities and Commitments Around Work and Life ID: 27FEB23ChangingPriorities
Monday, February 27, with option for 2 more sessions 8:00pm-9:30pm ET
Facilitator: Alan Glickman
As we near our 70th birthdays, what have been our thoughts and/or decisions regarding changing - or not changing - priorities and commitments with respect to work and, more broadly, life? Whether you’re working part-time or full-time, contemplating retirement, or retired/otherwise not working happily or uneasily, you can discuss these issues over the course of up to 3 sessions, if the group is interested in continuing to meet.
Let’s Have the God Talk ID: 7MAR23GodTalk
Tuesday, March 7, with option for 2 more sessions 8:00pm-9:30pm ET
Facilitator: Roger Johannigman
As we age, we sometimes bump into new spiritual realities. We experience pain and suffering, loss, and need; we go through transitions, grieving the loss of our “old life” as we move into new ways of living and being purposeful. Sometimes, simultaneously, we may begin to sense that there is “something more.” All these experiences give us the chance to connect with God and with one another in a more spiritual way. In this session—or series of sessions, if the group decides it wants to meet more than once--we will explore those experiences, their origins and effects.
Living Creatively in our Outlook and Pursuits ID: 19MAR23Creativity
3 Sundays: March 19, April 16, & May 21 7:30pm-9:00pm ET
Facilitators: Cynthia McCallister and Debbie Vilinsky
This discussion group is intended for both classmates who are or wish to be creative artistically, and classmates who wish to live life creatively, or have already figured out how to do so. Participants’ interests, aspirations, and experiences will determine the directions the discussion takes over the course of three sessions.
Mentoring: Contributing to the Next Generation and
Enriching Our Own Lives ID: 23MAR23Mentoring
NEW DATE AND TIME Thursday, March 23 12:00pm-1:00pm ET
Facilitator: Tom Phillips
This session will explore how classmates became or can become mentors. Among the topics that may be discussed are the following: how we came to pay it back by becoming mentors; what we consider best mentoring practices; and how we feel we’ve contributed to the next generation’s growth — and how they have contributed to ours.
Evolving Relationships with Spouses and Partners over Time ID: 29MAR23Relationships
Wednesday, March 29 7:30pm-9:00pm ET
Facilitator: Arlin Green
Partners in long-term relationships don’t always approach “the next chapter” with identical timetables and visions. So how do we keep those relationships healthy, strong, and authentic for both partners?
Better Late Than Never: Aging, and How to Feel Good About It ID: 20APR23BetterLate
Thursday, April 20 (further dates possible) 8:00pm-9:30pm ET
Facilitator: Margaret Drickamer
The general wisdom is that aging beats the alternative. But that doesn’t make aging easy—or difficult and grim. Maybe it’s just that it’s “different." Among the questions this discussion group might decide to explore are the following: What’s changing as we age? How are we feeling about aging? What are we looking forward to, and what are we scared of? How has our experience of aging been—and not been--what we expected? What’s working for us, and what isn’t, in terms of activity, attitude, and approach? What have we been learning about ourselves?
Periodically check our class website for additional offerings.
Information will also be posted on our “Get Social” Harvard Class of 1977 Facebook page.
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Updates from the HR77 Longitudinal Study
Wednesday, January 25, 8:00-9:30pm ET
On January 25, the latest results from this year's 45th Reunion Longitudinal Study were discussed. To view the recorded session, click HERE and the presentation slides, clickHERE.
This updated study results focused on three of the most provocative questions the results raised:
- How are our lives, priorities and values changing as we move ever deeper into this next chapter in our lives?
- How has the life experience of women in our class differed from that of men, and why?
- How are we coming to terms with the "ultimate" questions, such as our mortality, legacies, and spirituality?
Best wishes,
Alison Clarkson, Russ Eisenstat, John Paul MacDuffie
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Past 45th Reunion events - Saturday June 4th
-- Longitudinal Study Results presentation, 9-10:30am, Science Center Lecture Hall D
-- Personal Reflections (small discussion groups), 2:30-5:30pm
See section below for list of sessions, Science Center
Connect and reflect with your HR '77 classmates
around the issues that matter most in our lives right now.
We understand that not everyone can make it to the Get Back 4.5 Reunion in Cambridge, June 2-5. But that need not prevent you from joining the fun and reconnecting with your classmates!
This reunion, you can connect virtually to several June 4th Next Chapter sessions, including the Longitudinal Study Results and several Personal Reflections sessions. Click HERE to find out more about remote participation sessions.
Longitudinal Study Results
Pause and reflect on life-- past, present and future-- along with your classmates. We have reached an important inflection point in our shared journey together -- and face real choices as to how we craft the Next Chapters in our lives. We will explore together how the arc of our lives has evolved over the last years and decades, including:
- How our priorities, commitments and relationships are shifting
- How Covid has changed the game
- How we are coming to terms with the realities of aging and mortality
- ...And with all of the above, are we having enough fun
For those who want to particpate from afar, HAA will stream the service on the Harvard channel as a live YouTube session at the link: https://youtu.be/XomkMuM8gBQ. Registration is not required.
The session will start with a presentation of Longitudinal Survey findings. The event will then open up to questions – from in-person participants and via text messages from remote classmates.
Reunion Personal Reflections Sessions
On Saturday afternoon from 2:30-5:30pm, in individual small group discussions, you will have an opportunity to share experiences, perspectives, and insights in discussions with classmates around issues of particular interest and resonance, These will be confidential, unrecorded, small group discussions. The content and direction of each conversation will be largely determined by the in-person and remote classmates participating in them.
The Saturday afternoon topics are planned to include:
2:30-3:50pm
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Changing Priorities and Commitments around Work and Life in the Second Half of Our 60s |
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Living with Illness with Strength and Resilience |
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Coming to Terms with the Realities of Aging and Mortality |
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Exploring and Assessing the Imprint of Our Harvard Years on Our Lives |
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(Re)Assessing the Role of Spirituality and Religion in Our Lives |
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Pandemics: What Can We Do About Them Moving Forward? |
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Figuring Out How We Can Best Contribute to the Success and Well-Being of the Next Generation |
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(Re)Examining the Role of Creativity in Our Lives |
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Keeping Relationships with Spouses/Life Partners Strong and Reinvigorated as Work/Life Roles Shift |
4:10-5:30pm
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Reflection and Sharing Session for Bereaved Parents Who Have Lost a Child |
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Figuring Out How We Can Best Contribute to the Success and Well-Being of the Next Generation |
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Coming to Terms with the Realities of Aging and Mortality |
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Avenues of Aging and Advanced Care Planning |
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Exploring and Assessing the Imprint of Our Harvard Years on Our Lives |
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Changing Priorities and Commitments around Work and Life in the SecondHalf of Our 60s |
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The Pandemic’s Impact on Our Lives, Now and Going Forward |
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(Re)Assessing the Role of Spirituality and Religion in Our Lives |
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(Re)Examining the Role of Creativity in Our Lives |
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Keeping Relationships with Spouses/Life Partners Strong and Reinvigorated as Work/Life Roles Shift |
NOTE: We have set up the ability for remote classmates who wish to virtually participate to do so via Zoom, for the topics: “Coming to Terms with the Realities of Aging and Mortality” and "Personal reflection session for bereaved parents who have lost a child”. Please see the Zoom Gathering webpage for a complete list of Next Chapter programming being made available on Saturday, June 4th -- for classmates not attending the reunion.