The Pomegranate Journal: Reflections on Ageing from Juliet Batten

In 2019 I joined a diverse group of co-designers for the exciting ‘Generations’ Project. Looking back, I can see how many of the themes that surfaced in ‘Generations’ are ones that I have lived personally, walking the talk that was revealed as I raced around town with my buddy, interviewing people older than ourselves.

As I entered my mid-seventies I realised that my own experience of ‘walking the talk’ of what I had learned about ageing could be of service to others. I had already written about the subject when I was seventy, in my book Spirited Ageing: cultivating the art of renewal. Now I shifted to something more personal as I began recording my experiences of ageing — the challenges, the surprises and the discoveries — in a journal.

 That journal, my tenth book, is about to be published (on April 11): The Pomegranate Journal: The art of getting older, one day at a time

Here are some of the themes from Generations that you will find in the Journal:

Social connection
Social connection has become even more important for those who, like myself, live alone, especially in these times of Covid. We think of social connection as meeting face to face; however, I discovered another aspect, and that is, social connection through sharing our experiences.
There is a lack of personal sharing on this subject, and a need to talk about the holistic ageing experience from the inside. I am thrilled that Beta readers of my manuscript report feeling accompanied, less alone, and gently guided as I take them inside my own life.
We also lack uplifting language to talk about ageing, language that encompasses the wonder, the spaciousness, the joy in small things and new faculties such as intuition that appear in a mature mind.

 Learn from those who are thriving
‘Learn from those who are thriving’ is another of the principles that emerged from the Generations project. In the Journal I share how I overcome obstacles and find joy in nature, even when feeling alone.

 A significant life transition
‘Ageing is a significant life transition, but one that is not well recognised or supported’ is another Generations principle. The pomegranate in my Journal becomes a symbol for the enigmatic wisdom that is held in the hard shell of this fruit, as I kept asking it, ‘Is this the time? Am I crossing now into an older phase? How can I navigate this?’ Gradually as I learned to open a pomegranate, seeds of wisdom and knowledge were also revealed.

Other themes
I share how I created relationships with the young by hiring helpers from Student Job search, who became friends as giving and receiving began to flow that were beneficial to both parties.  The question of being patronised also comes into the book — an issue that affects women in particular — along with how I faced it.
There is so much more I could say, but here I will pause and invite you to buy the book, gift the book, and bring more connection into the life of an old person whom you love.
http://www.julietbatten.co.nz/shop/

And please do spread the word through your networks! I’ll be posting more information about the launch on April 12 and radio interviews on my Facebook page.

The Pomegranate Journal

By, Juliet Batten

The art of getting older, one day at a time.