Inspiration for the New Year
In January, the Women’s Club had the plea- sure of welcoming neighbor Dr. Kerry Burnight, a
nationally recognized gerontologist, researcher, speaker, and author. Dr. Burnight spent 18 years
teaching Geriatric Medi- cine and Gerontology at the UC Irvine School of Medicine, and her work has appeared in The New York Times, CBS Mornings, The Guardian, Oprah Daily,
BBC News, and Forbes Health.
She’s known for introducing the idea of “joyspan”— the belief that it’s not just about living
longer, but living more joyfully. Her New York Times bestselling book, Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life’s Sec-
ond Half, mixes scientific research with real-life advice to help people find more meaning,
purpose, and happiness at every stage of life. Dr. Burnight addresses navigating longevity with
four attributes: growing, connecting, adapting and giving.
Many neighbors have connected deeply with Joyspan. Leslie Moore shared, “After reading Joyspan, I
realized joy isn’t just about staying young as we age. It’s about staying curious, connected, and
engaged with family and friends. This stage of life is less about doing more and being resilient,
and more about choosing what truly matters and makes us happy. I couldn’t have loved the book more
and plan on reading it again!”
Dr. Burnight gave our members some everyday advice: Start every day with gratitude and end every
day with reflection of the “tiny victories” or things that went right. Much to the delight of the
room, she talked about the many attributes that get better with age, which included our ability to
problem solve and our ability to care less about how others view us. Weaving through the
presentation was the theme that longevity is useless if you don’t love your life.
To learn more about Dr. Burnight, visit drkerryburnight. com and follow her on instagram
@the_gerontologist. Her instagram is full of great advice and showcases her inspiration: her
almost 97-year-old mother, Betty, who embodies the joyspan philosophy with charm and delight.
February Events
■ Tuesday, February 3, 10 a.m. to 11-ish: Galentine Rock Painting – Come to the tables by the bocce
ball courts. Supplies provided.
■ Thursday, February 12: Women’s Club Lunch Meet- ing—We’re excited to welcome musician and educa-
tor Megan Waters. Megan is the Director of Worship
and Arts at Laguna Beach United Methodist Church, where she brings music, creativity, and
collabora- tion to life. She teaches voice and piano through- out Orange County, works with the
Johnny Mercer Foundation teaching lyric writing, and supports the Laguna Beach UMC choir
Megan Waters, LBUMC Director of Worship and Arts
with musicianship and
vocal development. Megan
also performs at weddings, memorials, local events, and
private gatherings, serves on the board of the Orange County Women’s Chorus, and composes original
music for churches and school choirs. Her passion is creating music spaces where people feel
welcomed and connected.
—Karey Palmer
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