Memoir Studio Podcast Show Notes – Episode featuring Jane Duncan Rogers
Guest: Jane Duncan RogersRole: Creator of Substack newsletter, Embracing Aging – advocate for positive aging and personal growth
Episode Highlights
* Jane’s Journey & Inspiration
* Jane shares her transition from work in end-of-life planning and counseling to launching the Embracing Aging newsletter.
* She emphasizes waiting for inspiration to “bubble up from within” after leaving her previous company.
* The idea for her newsletter emerged as she reflected on her own aging process and desire to embrace every stage of life.
* Key Themes & Lessons
* Embracing Aging: Jane urges listeners to confront and accept the realities of aging instead of resisting them, treating aging as an invitation to new growth.
* Self-Acceptance: Admitting the changes that come with age—without judgment—is essential for personal development.
* Mindset Shift: Old age doesn’t happen at a defined age; it’s a shifting concept and often seen as something that happens to others.
* Practical Steps: Strengthening the body, adjusting diet, and—most importantly—choosing thoughts intentionally to transform one’s experience of aging.
* Lightheartedness & Connection: Jane recommends laughter and intergenerational friendships to sustain joy and meaning.
* Writing & Memoir
* Jane describes writing—especially journaling—as a core tool for processing experiences, healing, and gaining new perspective.
* She advises beginners to let words flow freely, without fear or self-judgment, referencing Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages as a model.
* Sharing personal writing with trusted groups can be transformative, instilling a sense of connection and release.
* Spiritual Perspective
* Jane discusses her spiritual foundation, clarifying it’s not religious but rooted in a deep sense of love and connection beyond the physical.
* Community & Society
* She advocates for awareness of ageism—both internal and societal—especially in Western cultures.
* Calls for community-building: forming support groups, fostering intergenerational housing where wisdom and vitality are exchanged.
* Highlights initiatives in the UK/Netherlands pairing older adults with students for mutual benefit.
Actionable Takeaways
* Practice self-honesty—admit what changes you’re experiencing.
* Choose thoughts that support well-being and joy.
* Reframe aging as an opportunity, not a decline.
* Create spaces for intergenerational connection and support.
* Journal or write to release and transform emotions around aging.
* Build communities intentionally, whether with friends, family, or new kinds of housing arrangements.
Resources & Mentions
* Embracing Aging (Jane’s Substack newsletter at https://janeduncanrogers.substack.com)
* Book: Gifted by Grief (memoir by Jane Duncan Rogers, available on Amazon)
* Book: Choose Your Thoughts, Change Your Life (Jane Duncan Rogers)
* Louise Hay’s aphorism: “What you feel, you can heal”
