The Silver Disobedience Playbook: 365 Inspirations for Living and Loving Agelessly

by Dian Griesel

Followers of Dian Griesel's highly regarded blog SilverDisobedience.Rocks and her social media pages @SilverDisobedience have asked for her essays in book form. This is her response. Daily, thousands of people from all walks of life read and respond to short Silver Disobedience® essays published on an assortment of social media accounts. Not with a mere Dian’s passionate readers share extensive personal responses, stories and gratitude for her heartfelt candor about deep feelings, thoughts, fears, problems and doubts to which so many seem to closely relate. As a “she-ro” to many, and as one who is said to be grounded in the common sense of being real, Dian offers comforting, challenging and practical advice. Her warmth, relatable stories and overall receptive tone encourages readers to contemplate their own ideas and explorations of age and aging. “Silver Disobedients™,” as her followers proudly call themselves, asked for this collection of daily essays that can be carried, highlighted, read and reread anytime and anywhere, and kept close by for meditation. This book is for all seeking to make life and relationships with ourselves and others work with greater love. It recognizes and embraces our common humanity and challenges, and helps to call forth the inner strength, resilience and courage we might have forgotten we had. A playbook for living and loving agelessly, these essays or meditations, as some call them, remain timelessly relevant for all at any and every phase of life. The book is designed as a "read-it-any-way-you-want." While reading the introduction is suggested, thereafter the reader is encouraged to open to whatever headings capture attention. To linger as long as desired in reflection of the words and how they personally connect to the reader. To highlight what feels relevant. To doodle, fold pages and enjoy the message. The essays are gentle reminders of our powers and strengths. Each is a stand-alone concept that gently brings readers back to who we are as individuals and collectively. With every page Dian explores the idea that perhaps we really needed each year, each experience, each moment to bring us to the essence of who we were born to be. While Silver Disobedience® originally began by questioning whether age is a number or an attitude, the book goes far deeper. Embracing our already enlightened status along with our uniqueness juxtaposed against the same in others, readers are encouraged to focus first on themselves before looking for answers from others. Teachers and leaders throughout the world in kindergarten through university and beyond are using these essays as prompts to inspire deeper thinking about who we are; what common events and situations impacted each of us throughout our lives; and who we want to be. Exploring life in our 50s and beyond, Dian reminds us that our cumulative years may be the catalyst we need to release a wholly new form of energy that allows us to blossom in entirely new and unexpected ways. She assures readers that growing older is not the same as getting older…and it might be a heck of a lot more fun that we all might have imagined.

Genres: Nonfiction

292 pages, Paperback

Published April 21, 2019

Reviews

[Judith Katz · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Anti-Self-Help Book That's Both Soothing and Inspirational

I heartily recommend this new book, The Silver Disobedience Playbook: 365 Inspirations for Living and Loving Agelessly. The author doesn’t portray herself as having the answers to life’s biggest—and yes even those pesky smallest—questions. What she does have is this: insights into human nature, filtered through her own life. And what a remarkable life that is, given all she’s accomplished. Her wisdom, her positivity, encouragement and joyous way of looking at the latter part of life was a game-changer for me. Now I carry the book around, and when the world turns dark I read some of her essays, know that, like Dian Griesel, I too am in the best time of my life. And then the sun comes out again!

—Judy Katz, NYC

[Liza Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've followed Dian Griesel @silverdisobedience on her Instagram page. At first, I noticed her because of her striking silver hair, and because she's—well—she's gorgeous. As I read her posts I began to see that Dian is a beauty both outside and in. Her spirit is generous and helpful. I love her advice, it is down-to-earth and totally relatable. This book is a treasure, as is the woman herself. Highly recommended.

[Grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Relax - embrace the benefits of the years we have lived’

Author/blogger Dian Griesel is a perception analyst and an enlightened humanitarian whose passion in life is to bring happiness and fulfillment to all of us. She is sensitive to issues such as life’s challenges and how to cope and conquer them, drawing forth inner strength and courage and faith in ourselves – and collective consciousness.

In this inimitable book she offers thoughts for every day of the year – but begin reading her book and it is likely that the plethora of compassionate messages will be read through to book’s end, and returned to many times. Her thoughts on aging could not be more timely offered as the population of older ones continues to grow.

Dian’s concept of aging is not only refreshingly different from those directed at ‘being old’ and this book is so full of thoughts and messages that will alter the mindset of all who are fearing ‘the elderly years.’ Cynicism might be the only thing that can make us really old. Cynicism happens if we allow bitterness to replace contentment. Distrust to replace trust. Doubt to replace belief. Pessimism to obliterate our optimism. Sarcasm to dominate our kind words and gentle communication. We must work to maintain our faith and belief in others just as we’d like them to work to maintain the same with us. Old can happen at any age; dodging cynicism holds the secret to staying forever young.’

She writes in another essay, ‘ Growing old and being old are not the same. It’s a privilege to grow old as each moment, day and year holds untold potential until our last breath. Growing older is a result of the passage of time…Age does not have to be the brake of life and living.’

This book is manna – for those older and for those fortunate enough to share older friends and family. Highly Recommended.

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book yearly, reading one inspiration daily. Last year I read it in order, This year I will mix it up. I pencil the dates on the pages so that I read a different inspiration once per year. Dian is a truly inspiring individual and it is nice to have a like, friendly voice to remind me that it's okay to not be perfect, its ok to chill and not take oneself so serious. We are all just doing the best we can. Dian is like a daily cheerleader of common sense.