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The importance of being ironic: narrative openness and personal resilience in later life
1Department of Gerontology, St. Thomas University, Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. brandall@stu.ca
Abstract:
This essay applies a narrative perspective to the topic of resilience. On various fronts (physical, social, biographical), aging itself, it argues, pushes us past a perception of aging as intrinsically tragic and toward a more ironic stance instead, one marked by increased acceptance of uncertainty and ambiguity. Moreover, intentional engagement in narrative reflection-by means of integrative reminiscence, life review, and the like-fosters such a stance directly by facilitating narrative openness and, with it, "a good strong story" for coping with the challenges of later life.
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