Abstract

QUINODOZ, Danielle  and  RIVAROLA, Ana Maria Rosa Rocca. Growing old: a journey of self-discovery. Rev. bras. psicanál [online]. 2011, vol.45, n.3, pp. 97-108. ISSN 0486-641X.

An aspect of the work of growing old consists of the attempt to reconstruct our own internal history in such a way that our final years can be given their rightful place in the overall journey through life. Often, it will be a matter of going beyond the conflict of paralyzing time, with the illusion of keeping death at a distance, and taking the transient nature of life into account, in order to perceive its true flavor. We can grow old juxtaposing different periods of our life, without linking them together, thereby creating the illusion of time without end; or we can grow old integrating the different phases of our life into a coherent historical narrative. This representation of time leaves the door open for experiences which Danielle Quinodoz calls "small seconds of eternity". Such moments can be experienced when we are deeply moved - to joy or pain - by something, so that we perceive another quality of time that goes beyond the chronological dimension, without nonetheless denying it. Helping elderly people to identify these seconds of eternity and catch hold of them can be an invaluable experience to them.

Keywords : growing old; the elderly; time; internal history; infinity; "second of eternity".

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