Lives Well Lived with Sky Bergman
What if the secret to aging well isn’t found in anti-wrinkle creams or retirement plans, but in purpose, community, and perspective? Filmmaker Sky Bergman discovered this truth when she interviewed 40 elders aged 75+, gathering a collective wisdom of 3,000 years.
Sky’s journey from a 30-year university teaching career to documentary filmmaking at midlife—sparked by her 100-year-old grandmother’s active lifestyle—reveals how embracing change and purpose can transform the later years of life. Despite having no formal training in filmmaking, Sky turned her passion project into the successful PBS documentary *Lives Well-Lived*, celebrating the richness of life at every age.
In this episode, Sky shares the four key traits she uncovered in those aging well: purpose, community, resilience, and a positive outlook. These elements offer a powerful blueprint for women over 50 seeking to reclaim their sense of purpose and connection in their later years.
Sky also addresses the societal issue of age segregation, demonstrating how connecting different generations can reduce loneliness and create meaningful bonds. Whether you’re looking to rebuild a sense of community or discover your own purpose, Sky’s practical wisdom and inspiring story will guide you toward living your best life—no matter your age.
Ready to reimagine your relationship with aging? Tune in and discover how cultivating purpose, community, and resilience can transform not just your later years, but every day of your life.
Key Takeaways from From Lives Well Lived with Sky Bergman
2:31 | Multi-generational Living |
4:26 | Passion and Career Shifts |
6:37 | Embracing Aging and Filmmaking |
| 7:56 | Funding and Persistence |
| 12:02 | Lessons on Aging |
| 16:13 | Building Community and Support Systems |
| 20:23 | Intergenerational Connections |
| 22:22 | Key Takeaways on Aging |
Multi-generational Living:
Sky shares her experience growing up in a multi-generational Italian household, which included her parents, grandparents, and great-grandmother. This environment fostered a deep connection with older adults and the passing down of wisdom through shared meals and stories, significantly shaping her outlook on life and her career interests in aging.
Passion and Career Shifts:
Initially a finance major, Sky found her true passion in photography during her undergrad. This led her to become a university professor for 30 years. Her shift to filmmaking came after her 50s, motivated by a desire to capture positive aging stories and inspired by her grandmother.
Embracing Aging and Filmmaking:
Sky discusses how societal perceptions of aging are often negative and how she wanted to challenge that by documenting positive aging stories, starting with her grandmother’s cooking videos. This led her to pursue filmmaking and tell stories of older adults aging well.
Funding and Persistence:
Sky talks about creatively funding her film, Lives Well Lived, by renting rooms through Airbnb and turning her passion into a community-supported project. She emphasizes the importance of asking for help and being persistent when working on passion projects.
Lessons on Aging:
Through interviews with 40 older adults, Sky identifies four key themes to aging well: purpose, community, resilience, and positivity. These traits were common among those she interviewed and became the foundation of her documentary and book.
Building Community and Support Systems:
Sky offers advice to women 50+ who may feel isolated after retirement. She suggests starting small, such as hosting a dinner group, to build a support network. She also highlights the importance of finding a sense of purpose through involvement in causes and activities that connect people.
Intergenerational Connections :
Sky shares her university project, where students and older adults came together to watch her film, ask questions, and engage in meaningful conversations. The project fostered new friendships and helped bridge the generational divide, highlighting the importance of intergenerational connections.
Key Takeaways on Aging:
Sky advises listeners to live life with passion, create a community, and embrace kindness. She also stresses that a positive mindset and resilience are crucial for thriving as we grow older.
Connect with Sky Bergman
Connect with Bev:
Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/womenover50rock
https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverleyglazer/
Need advice? Schedule a time to talk: https://calendly.com/reinventimpossible/15min
