Thomas Moore lived as a monk in a Catholic religious order for 12 years before leaving to become a university lecturer, writer and psychotherapist. Now aged 77, he has a wife and two children and lectures on psychology and the role of spirituality in medicine. In his latest enlightening book, he offers a new approach to ageing, arguing it is something to be cherished, not feared.

What does it mean to age? Many of us find the idea of ageing both sad - the loss of youth, hair, loved ones - and frightening, as we confront the possibility of a future dealing with illness and mental or physical incapacity.

But as a former monk and a psychotherapist who has counselled thousands of people over the past 40 years, I want to tell you that there is another way to look at growing old.
Of course, we must be realistic about the downsides, but there is much to be positive about, too. What I want to teach people about is the joy of ageing.

When I use the word "ageing", I mean becoming more of a person over time.

Source: The happiest and most sexually-fulfilling years of your life