May 31, 2021
We celebrate friendship as one of the true joys—and necessities—of life, from our childhood through our elder years. But what does true friendship really mean, and how to we sustain it in our fast-paced and changing world — especially in these difficult times of social distancing and social unrest? Host Ron Roel and Dr. Andrea Gould-Marks, a clinical psychologist with decades of experience guiding people through relationships and life transitions, share wide-ranging thoughts about the many “nutritional values” and facets of friendship. How do we preserve and renew relationships with cherished old friends, and how do we find and develop dynamic new friendships as our lives and locations change? What are realistic expectations from different kinds of friendships — at work, at school, in our places of worship, and community? And how do we deal with loneliness —which experts say has become a has become an epidemic worldwide, despite the profusion of social media and technology?
Thanks to advances in medicine and health, most of us are just at half-life when we reach our mid-40s, with many potentially productive years ahead. But there’s no road map to prepare us for this period. That’s where 45 Forward comes in. My show provides you with strategies to shift the traditional waiting-for-retirement model to a journey of compelling life chapters. Each show tackles an aspect of health, finance, family and friends, housing, work and personal pursuits as part of an integrated plan. Experts discuss topics like revitalizing relationships, creating mini-retirements, managing the maze of technology, finding your next homestead and caring for aging parents. The show instills confidence, and hopefully some comfort, amid the stresses permeating today’s society. Fear of the future is not knowing how to prepare for it. 45 Forward does not proffer prefabricated answers, but helps you shape your life amid the daily anxieties of our time.