In the room
JOAN LUNDEN HAS JUST TURNED 70, AND SHE HAS SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT IT
When Greenwich resident, TV personality and author Joan Lunden published her first book in 1996, she was almost immediately approached to write another one. But Lunden was a little taken aback by the task.
“You always have this thought after you write a book that you’ve squeezed every thought out of your brain,” Lunden says.
But then, a book agent of hers gave her some advice that stayed with her: “You will write about that which you want to know more about.” Lunden took that as something of a mantra and, over the years, wrote books inspired by, among other things, her experiences in parenting, as a cancer survivor, and with leaving the iconic ABC morning show
“Good Morning, America” after more than 20 years.
Her most recent book “Why Did I Come into This Room?: A Candid Conversation about Aging,” was similarly spun out of her own life experiences and the questions they inspired. Lunden turned 70 on Saturday, and says the milestone is somewhat awkward because she doesn’t “feel” 70.
“I’m turning 70, but in this little universe I’m living in, I’m not 70,” says Lunden, adding that she feels closer to 50.
She says a lot of people put too much stock in their chronological ages. Early in her book, Lunden shares a story about meeting a woman in Morocco who had no idea what her own age was. Lunden says that experience was eyeopening.
“Everyone’s so married to that number ( of their age) and that number can be a very a dangerous thing,” she says.
Instead of focusing on aging “milestones,” Lunden’s book explores the science of aging, and the changes that occur within the body, mind and spirit. She also discusses ways that anyone can protect and care for themselves at any age.
Some of the topics Lunden speaks about in the book are somewhat uncomfortable, such as lowered sex drive and urinary incontinence. But she says she wanted to tackle these topics head on, specifically because they are hard to talk about.
“Why are these things taboo? We overshare on social media all the time,” Lunden says. “I wanted women to read this and say, ‘ Oh my gosh, this happens to other women, too.’ ”
She says, too often, women in particular are reluctant to ask questions about their own health. As a breast cancer survivor, Lunden remembers a time when women didn’t talk about that illness. Now, she says, women openly ask questions about mastectomies and mammograms on social media platforms for everyone to see.
Aging, Lunden says, is poised to make a similar pivot from something no one talks about to something everyone talks about. “I kind of wanted to be the person to open the door to this conversation ( on aging),” she says. “There are lots of fixes ( to common aging challenges) and some are very simple lifestyle changes.”
One habit that can address multiple aging issues is regular exercise. Lunden says most people already associate working out with improved physical health, but, she says, research has shown it can also improve brain function and memory.
“It’s the best thing for creating new neurons in the brain,” Lunden explains.
Memory is something that all aging people worry about, she says, and she hopes that the book helps teach people both that dips in memory are a common part of the aging process, and that there are actions people can take to protect their brains.
“I think of all the things that happen to us, it’s when you forget things, that’s what scares you the most,” Lunden says. “That’s the most troubling symptom of aging.”
Even though Lunden tackles serious topics in the book, she does so with a sense of humor, which she considers necessary. “You can’t write about leaky bladders if you don’t have a sense of humor,” she says.
She’ll likely bring that same wit, along with her empathy, to an upcoming virtual “appearance” to benefit SilverSource, a nonprofit that provides vital resources to Stamford- area seniors. Lunden will speak as part of SilverSource’s Inspiring Lives event, which takes place at 7 p. m. Oct. 8.
Lunden says it’s one of many events that was rescheduled and/ or moved online due to the pandemic. She says it’s important to her to speak at events such as these because “it’s an organization so many people have as kind of a lifeline.” As someone who cared for her mother and brother for years — and had a difficult experience placing her mother in assisted living, she’s grateful for associations that assist older people.
“They provide care that’s kind of the backbone of a community,” Lunden says.
To register for Inspiring Lives, visit weblink. donorperfect. com/ Virtual- 2020.
“I THINK OF ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO US, IT’S WHEN YOU FORGET THINGS, THAT’S WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST. THAT’S THE MOST TROUBLING SYMPTOM OF AGING.”