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    Aging with Optimism: Ayse Birsel 

    Aging with Optimism

    That's my goal and one which Ayse Birsel is promoting through her work described in her new book "Design the Long Life You Love, A Step-by-Step Guide to Love, Purpose, WellBeing, and Friendship."

    In the book, Ayse asks,  "Are you optimistic? Do you have empathy for other people? Do you like having a bird’s-eye view of things? Do you often use the words what if? Do you enjoy collaborating with others? If so, you’re already thinking like a designer. Optimism—the belief that we will find a better solution no matter how hard the problem—fuels our energy, calms our fears, and propels us forward."

    In an interview with Lisa Bonnell Samalonis, Ayse said,

    "I wrote this book to help people think about aging with optimism."

    "Creativity has incredible powers to warm us up for the day. It is a connection to something wonderful, and it turns fear into optimism."

    "People can use design principles — like optimism, empathy, collaboration, open-mindedness and holistic thinking — and lessons from the experiences of people who have lived the longest to embark on self-exploration to foster creativity in their next phase of life,"

    In the book, Ayse says, "People today are much more optimistic about living long lives. They don’t see their lives as shrinking. Instead, they see their lives as expanding and growing. Their optimism permeates this book on every page. According to the very people who are leading long lives, living longer is thrilling."
     
    "WELL-BEING IS NOT ONLY EXTERNAL BUT ALSO INTERNAL. IT’S REALIZING THAT HELPING OTHERS IS THE BEST WAY TO HELP YOURSELF. IT’S EXERCISING A LITTLE EVERY DAY. IT’S ADAPTING AND ROLLING WITH THE PUNCHES AND PERSEVERING. IT’S ACCEPTING WHO YOU ARE. IT’S BEING AN OPTIMIST AND DECLARING VICTORY OVER EACH DAY."
     
    "If you can have the optimism to see challenges as opportunities, you will create new value. This is creativity."
     
    "Every designer needs inspiration. Inspiration shows us parts of the solution in different, disparate places. And seeing those parts gives us the optimism that there’s a solution to be found. They excite us and give us the creative energy to move forward with hope."
     
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