Getting old may not be for sissies, as Bette Davis once said, but that doesn’t mean we should be resigned to going through a long period of decline as we age. Quite the opposite, says Carol Waldman, a gerontologist and former executive director of a large and innovative suburban senior center. Getting older can mean thriving, not just surviving during the later stages of life. How so? Carol provides a step-by-step “Thrival Guide,” with several pragmatic tips, including how to adapt to change, stay open to unseen possibilities, discover new purposes, and adopt a new view of time. Carol offers a wealth of stories and examples of programs that have brought joy and meaning to thousands of seniors over three decades, including a nationally recognized Lifelong Learning Lecture Series. A passionate fighter against ageism, she also has spearheaded an AARP Age-Friendly initiative in her local community, advocating for policies that benefit people of all generations.