The Chapters of Our Lives: First Smile to Final Farewell

By David Heller PhD

THE CHAPTERS OF OUR LIVES is a unique journey through the highlights of life passages, each depicted though both poetry and prose. Based on Dr. David Heller’s experiences as a psychologist in guiding and helping hundreds of clients, as well as his own life experiences, each chapter of life is seen through an informed and perceptive lens and each section of this thoughtful work is brimming with observations and insights. From first smiles to final farewells, this intriguing book will inspire you to reflect on the saga of your own life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9781669802204

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Copyright © 2021 by David Heller, PHD.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 12/03/2021

Xlibris

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Contents

Dedication

Introduction

Chapter 1The Journey Begins with A Miracle (Birth)

The Miracle

Chapter 2Cooing, Climbing, Crawling and Chatter (Infancy and Toddlerhood)

Little Peanut, Big Progess

Chapter 3Tales of Socialization: Early Childhood (Ages 4 - 7)

Brave New World

Chapter 4On Becoming A Little Person: Middle Childhood (Ages 8-10)

Personality Popping Up Everywhere You Look

Chapter 5Aw Shucks, I Guess I Have To Grow Up: Later Childhood (Ages 11 To 13)

Ready or Not, Here Comes Growing Up

Chapter 6Betwixt And Between: Adolescence (Ages 14-18)

The Tempestuous Storm

Chapter 7The Flapping of Wings: Early Adulthood (Ages 19-33 or so)

Independence Days

Chapter 8The Halftime of Life: Middle Adulthood (Ages 34-50)

The Middle of Everything

Chapter 9The Autumn Years: Mature Adulthood (Ages 51-66)

Golden Leaves Falling in Twilight

Chapter 10The Setting Sun: Later Adulthood (67 and older)

A Winter’s Tale

Chapter 11The Curtain Closes: Is This The End or A New Beginning? (End of Life)

A Final Act With Hope of An Encore

Notes

Dedication

TO ALL WHO HAVE TRUSTED

ME WITH THEIR LIFE

EXPERIENCES AND ASPIRATIONS

"A life that touches others goes on

forever."

Introduction

There is something sacred

About every life and its course,

As if each pilgrimage is touched by a deity

That intends to bless and endorse.

But the life journey is not simple —

Long, confusing and round-about,

Never facile to predict or plan,

Many conflicts, each a formidable bout.

The baby and the toddler know little of this,

Though anxiety and frustration knock at the door,

The good parent meets most needs —

Feeding, hugging and romping around the floor.

The triumphs of the early days

Are nothing short of a miracle,

As the steady stream of talking, walking and learning

Becomes so fine-tuned its downright lyrical.

As childhood moves along,

There will arise many a demand,

Perhaps too many —

Be an athlete, be an artist, definitely join the band!

Now if all of life’s stages

Were compared to an expansive amusement park,

Then adolescence would be a rickety coaster

Ridden recklessly in the dark.

So much overwhelming change,

Both physical and emotional,

While belonging and acceptance are supreme —

The teen’s overriding devotional.

Difficult to determine

When adolescence becomes young adulthood,

Perhaps when chaos no longer reigns

Or when independence emerges, as it should.

A neophyte adult begins to make his mark

In the world at-large,

As the message is pronounced loud and clear —

The young adult himself is now in charge.

Many a trial effort at intimacy

Will invariably be made,

But things don’t always turn out so well

As early love proves ephemeral and begins to fade.

Eventually an initial life structure

Is tentatively planned and built,

And so one says goodbye to late-night frivolity,

And to an unmeasured living to the hilt.

Marriage and children,

Now those are a fine, time-honored pair,

But how it really going?

That isn’t always so clear.

Over the years questions come and go,

Reaching a climax as midlife ensues,

"Should I make some real changes?

But then what will I lose?"

If work success blesses a person

They are proud and pleased,

Though hard to forget all those hours working

Which never came with effortless ease.

Maturity eventually enters a person’s life

But what else does it carry?

Often, a fear of getting old, yes,

But also a certain serenity for the weary.

Making it in the world seems less vital,

Certainly no longer an obsession,

And it’s liberating to be less self-conscious —

Thankful we are for relief of that oppression.

In later adulthood what is promised as golden

Is more