-
Intimacy vs. Isolation
Naomi (my grandmother) got married at a young age (21) to a stable, intelligent man and they remained committed to each other their entire lives. She developed lasting friendships in her community during this time as well, relationships that I observed were still in tact after many years. She gained the important quality of intimacy (closeness to others) rather than isolation (separation from others, which can lead to severe loneliness). -
Generativity vs. Stagnation
Naomi's eldest child got married when Naomi 42, and this milestone was a sign of Naomi's positive influence on her children. She spent many years nurturing, caring for, and loving her 6 children, and they in turn gained valuable qualities that have served them well. During this time in her life, Naomi reached a level of generativity by being productive and having positive contribution towards others. The negative side of this is being stagnant, or self-focused and ashamed. -
Ego integrity vs. Despair
When Naomi's husband Josiah passed away, she spent some time reflecting on her life and noticed that she has been a productive and valuable part of many people's lives. Her 22 grandchildren still love and care for her and Naomi knows that she has led a satisfied and wonderful life. At this point, Naomi (81) has reached ego integrity, or a mindset of no regrets, rather than despair over what has been lost.