Andrea Gilats on the Art of Aging

The latest book from the St. Paul author reflects on the transformative journey of getting older

Less than two months before her 75th birthday, Andrea Gilats was hit with a realization: She was quickly moving from “older” to “old.” It was akin to taking a tumble down to the bottom of Niagara Falls, she explains. “I landed alive, but I was forever altered,” says Gilats. “It was that much of a shock.”

As a writer and educator who previously worked in transitional programs for people facing retirement, Gilats always knew she wanted to detail her own relationship with aging—but this moment was the catalyst. Internally, she had to come to terms with not having any more forthcoming stages of her life. “I was scared, and I think most of us are,” she says. “There is more in our past than there is in our future. I knew I had to try to write about that somehow.”

Courtesy of Andrea Gilats

Published in November, “Radical Endurance: Growing Old in an Age of Longevity” is Gilats’ “personal guide to the transformations, hard truths, profound pleasures, and infinite possibilities of aging.” Complemented by expert insight, this candid journey of self-discovery tackles issues of health, grief, independence, ageism, and making meaning during a new era of life.

The writing process expanded her own awareness of aging, Gilats explains, allowing her to take the driver’s seat in several areas of life. “I realized, I am at a point in my own life where I get to say for myself, ‘How do I define health for me? How do I define well-being for me? What do I most value as I try to stay independent, so that I can direct my own life?’” she reflects.

Courtesy of University of Minnesota Press

In a world that seems to be increasingly anti-aging, not everyone shares this experience. “We are now in an age where so many of us are living ‘extra-long lives,’ and in many ways, our society hasn’t yet learned how to deal with that,” says Gilats. Ageism is a pervasive and harmful force that affects 93% of older adults—and while it commonly shows up in the workplace, ageism takes many different forms. “It’s incumbent upon each of us, no matter our age, to resist prejudice and bias wherever we find it,” says Gilats. “We each have a personal responsibility to resist ageism wherever and however we can.”

Women in particular face ageism at disproportionate rates, and that’s not to mention the anti-aging rhetoric sweeping social media and popular culture. But rather than getting caught up in age-defying skincare products or straws that can “prevent wrinkles,” Gilats’ advice is to just enjoy your current phase of life. “Savor it,” she says. “Accepting ourselves is so important at every stage of life, and if we practice self-acceptance, rather than striving for perfection, I think we will be healthier, happier people.”

“Radical Endurance: Growing Old in an Age of Longevity” is available for purchase online and at local retailers. Gilats will be signing copies at Next Chapter Booksellers on Jan. 23 from 6-7 p.m.

As Managing Editor of Minnesota Monthly, Macy strives to capture the Spirit of Minnesota through impactful storytelling and engaging content. Obsessed with all things entertainment and pop culture, her editorial background encompasses a wide variety of arts and lifestyle coverage—from interviewing local musicians and Broadway actors to exploring that trend you can’t stop hearing about. With her finger on the pulse of what’s happening in the Twin Cities, Macy is passionate about the people, places, and ideas driving Minnesota’s culture. You can often find her cuddling her two cats, seeing a local band, or crossing movies off her ever-growing watchlist.