THE NEXT CHAPTER

Miller and Lowry share their thoughts about aging with a positive attitude.

As the authors (both realtors) introduce themselves they explain that they have been “business partners, soulmates, and spouses” for more than 30 years. They present themselves as a “successful couple” that “truly walks-the-walk.” In previous books, Miller and Lowry have offered advice about downsizing; here, they provide more general guidance for navigating midlife. They begin by sharing seven priorities that have emerged as they’ve aged: mindset, health, relationships, time, finances and money, “bucket list,” and legacy. As readers might expect from the title, mindset is the key to all the rest—it’s the “silver bullet,” the “magic pill,” the “game changer” that transforms adversity into triumph. Mindset, the authors explain, consists of self-discipline, life experience (which includes formal education), insight and good judgment, and the idea that people can accept that “they have the choice of what they respond to and in what manner.” But mostly, mindset comes down to the determination to not let adversity—from a “financial meltdown” to a “wayward family member with an addiction” to the “the untimely death of a loved one”—bring us down. Some readers may notice at this point that mindset is a purely personal matter—phenomena “outside of ourselves” shouldn’t define us. (Presumably, this includes things like systemic racism and economic injustice.) Over the course of chapters that explore all of the seven priorities, the authors address topics like the “Decline of the Nuclear Family” and ignoring the haters who don’t invest in your future as you fulfill your dreams. Later in the book, Miller and Lowry offer counsel that seems to be informed by their expertise as realtors and may be particularly useful to baby boomers, especially when it comes to choosing a place to live and financing a pleasant post-retirement lifestyle.

Sensible advice for meeting midlife challenges with a healthy perspective.