Gero-Punk Practice: Noticing

Posted on October 3, 2023 by Jenny Sasser, Ph.D.

On a neighborhood amble today, here’s what I noticed:

What adventure has this day prepared for you?

What awaits your discovery?

What do you notice?

Unknown's avatar

About Jenny Sasser, Ph.D.

I am a transdisciplinary educational gerontologist, writer, community activist and facilitator. I am former Chair of the Department of Human Sciences and Director of Gerontology at Marylhurst University. I joined the faculty as an adjunct member of the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies program in 1997 and since that time, I've been involved in designing many on-campus and web-based courses and programs for adult learners, including in Gerontology. As an undergraduate I attended Willamette University, graduating Cum Laude in Psychology and Music; my interdisciplinary graduate studies at University of Oregon and Oregon State University focused on the Human Sciences, with specialization areas in adult development and aging, women’s studies, and critical social theory and alternative research methodologies. My dissertation became part of a book published in 1996 and co-authored with Dr. Janet Lee--Blood Stories: Menarche and the Politics of the Female Body in Contemporary US Society. Over the past twenty (or more!) years I have been involved in inquiry in the areas of creativity in later life; older women's embodiment; sexuality and aging; critical Gerontological theory; transformational adult learning practices; and inter-generational friendships and cross-generational collaborative inquiry. I am co-author, with Dr. Harry R. Moody of Aging: Concepts and Controversies (now in its 10th edition!) and first author, also with Moody, of the recently published Gerontology: The Basics, as well as author/co-author of several book chapters, articles and essays. Currently, I serve as department chair and faculty for the Portland Community College Gerontology Program.
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9 Responses to Gero-Punk Practice: Noticing

  1. Nicola Bemister's avatar Nicola Bemister says:
    October 3, 2023 at 7:40 pm

    Good to hear from you again. You’ve reminded me to notice things on a walk. I am dog sitting my daughters dog for 3 weeks while she visits Japan and have enjoyed the first few walks again.

    Reply
  2. Karen Lenore's avatar Karen Lenore says:
    October 3, 2023 at 8:15 pm

    So appreciate this invitation into being present! As you know – sensory experiences are a wonderful way to regulate ourselves when life is overwhelming, stressful or even traumatizing. Just noticing…collecting visual images…it is grounding. Thank you.

    Reply
  3. helenfern's avatar helenfern says:
    October 9, 2023 at 8:27 pm

    So good to see your posts again!! I love reading your colorful words and pondering the thoughts. I didn’t take a walk today, but sat on my front porch watching the tiny butterflies and a few bees enjoying some nectar in my yard. One of my daily pleasures – sitting on my porch with something to drink and watching the birds and bugs and squirrels.

    Reply
  4. Libby's avatar Libby says:
    October 12, 2023 at 4:03 pm

    Nice to see you in action. I had a fantastic stroll through a new neighborhood yesterday. I always appreciate the time my body demands for rest while walking. It’s a chance to sit and look up, talk to passersby, and make new friends, even for a moment. Miss you friend 🫶🏼

    Reply
  5. kenpyburn's avatar kenpyburn says:
    October 31, 2023 at 1:53 pm

    So Jenny, you resurfaced in the upcoming Villages presentation for viva Village on 11/11. That is a bit of a trek from Vancouver WA nowadays. My partner and I might benefit however, is there new material for this old aging consciously graduate? David says hi by the way.

    Ken Pyburn

    >

    Reply
  6. Kathie Hightower's avatar Kathie Hightower says:
    June 5, 2025 at 6:20 pm

    Last year I created a workshop on Awe and Delight for our monthly Conscious Aging discussion series in Manzanita (a reincarnation of the former Art of Aging/Art of Dying series). Did lots of research and started the practice for myself of frequent “Awe walks”, no cell phone calls, alone so no conversation, really paying attention. and discovering so much awe on paths I’ve walked for many years. I do use my phone to take super close ups of plants especially…in the spring the evolution of ferns and California poppies and weeds is pretty awe-inspiring. I highly recommend the practice. At the same time I keep a journal of daily delights, recording delights I noticed in the previous day. From kids on the beach twirling and laughing til the fall down, to the pretty wildflowers growing out of a rat trap at the side of one building to the pair of glasses and a small magenta scarf wrapped around the metal structure of a seagull atop one trashcan, delight is all around us. Writing that instead of reading daily news has kept me going through a long year of my husband’s medical challenges.

    ps Jenny, we should connect in case you’ll be out here at some point again and want to do another gerontology talk:)

    Reply

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