How To Be Old

Many people say they fear old age, not death or dying. But my role model is the woman who wasn't afraid. This poem danced off the page.

Scottish super-poet reads "Gravity" and talks about poems, people, and his future old age. Recorded November 2019 NZ and still as fresh as a purple thistle head

A young poet reads a poem to an old poet. An old poet learns about eating green apples with chili, and a new snack is invented. You can read the original poem on my blog.

In a storm of regrets or negative thoughts, sometimes a poem can help you to mend. That's informal poetic therapy. What poems do you turn to?

Today I'm reading poems that I wrote for particular friends or relatives—not love poems exactly, just a message celebrating them.

Wonder what children think about hell, careers and catastrophes? Sit back and listen to three poems with some insights into their private worries.

After 2020, we may need help to achieve a happy new year. Sit back and listen to 3 poems about happiness that might help you to find it or notice it squatting in your life.

It’s not easy making new friends but when old friends move or die or cut contact with you. Two poems with some ideas that might help at those times.

My mother's elaborate plan for end of life choice: asking me to take her to a glacier in the Southern Alps. (I didn't.) A poem.

Today, I’m reading some tiny poems that I call fortune cookies. They are feather light. Maybe one of them is about your own life. You’ll know it when you hear it.

Listen to two poems about decluttering and letting go of stuff. They’re about the kind of transformation that needs to happen as old age approaches. It’s not just material things that clutter up your life. There’s a sort of psychic clutter that has also got to go.

Hello again. I’m Rachel McAlpine bringing you a Friday night poetry reading. Tonight I’ve got a special treat: two poems about murder. Don’t worry, they’re not too scary. The main poem is about the Parker-Hulme murder of 1954.

We’ve just emerged from lockdown in New Zealand after stamping out COVID-19, at least for now. So we’ve spent a lot of time inside our homes. These 3 poems are about some of the 25+ homes I've occupied over 80 years.

Tonight we have three poems about three generations of strong women: my grandmother Mim, my mother Celia, and my big sister Jill.

I'm reading three poems now especially for Grant, the father of my children, who died a few days ago. He was 84. It’s forty years since we separated and these are not gloomy poems. Lust, A Family Secret, and My Dear Ghosts are in my new book, How To Be Old.

This is your Friday night poetry reading. It's short and sweet, just 3 introductory poems from my new book. Live events cancelled: enjoy podcast readings!

Find out why poets choose a particular poetic style, fancy or plain. And why the lines of a poem don't reach the margins, and why it's OK for your mind to wander while you're reading poetry, and what's the point of poetry anyway.

Two soothing poems and some practices that I use to maintain my happiness in lockdown, first adopted when I was facing up to my ageing body.

Meditation in the coronavirus crisis calms our minds, reduces anxiety, and changes our perspective. Social distancing gives us a chance to start new habits. Tips, a poem, and a message: you cannot fail.

At 75, I wondered what would keep my old brain healthy. My cognitive skills improved in my 70s because dancing exercises the aging brain.

At 75, I wanted to fix my weak and creaky old-lady voice. Let me tell you how that worked out. I’m Rachel McAlpine, I’m learning how to be old, and I’m talking to you, with my very own voice.

At 75 I wondered whether my social life was future-proofed, if that’s possible. Research shows that loneliness is literally a killer, so I wanted to be proactive and prevent loneliness in old age. It's hard to make friends when you're very old, which I would be one day. So I audited my social life and took two small steps to improve it.

I decided to commit to hobbies as part of my preparation for old age. Hobbies provide a transition from paid employment to retirement, plus friendships, a role, and a chance for perpetual learning. I love my singing and dancing groups, but would I pass my hobbies-audit?

"Manage finances for old age" was the fourth task in my boot camp for the bonus years. I was 75 and likely to live to 98: would my retirement savings last that long? I had no idea. I really, really didn’t want to listen to a financial adviser. Yet now, with a realistic budget and a sound financial plan, I know where I stand.

I wanted to be fit and strong in old age. So how was I doing with exercise? I’m Rachel McAlpine and I’m learning how to be old. Let me tell you how I audited my exercise habits and started to fix them. Strange to say, it wasn't difficult. Using BJ Fogg's approach I've done pretty well by joining a gym) and starting some tiny habits.

When I was 75, I audited my eating habits. Then I started a few tiny habits for better nutrition. I’m Rachel McAlpine and I’m tweaking my food now for my aging body and brain, investing in a happy old age in the future.