Edutainment is the art of combining education and entertainment. Those of us on the other side of 50 can learn how to navigate new possibilities and the complexities of getting older while having some fun at the same time. Oh, yes, one more thing—it’s all happening Thurs. through Sat., Sept. 22 to 24 in Los Angeles. AARP will host Life@50+, a three-day event at the L.A. Convention Center designed to educate and entertain thousands of older adults from around the country. The event is a hodge-podge of programs. You can begin your day with morning fitness sessions with Martina Navratilova or Richard Simmons. In case you were wondering, Simmons says he’s “still sweatin’ after all these years.” Take in “Movies for Grownups” such as “The King’s Speech” and “50/50” or attend the Sept. 23 premiere of “The Way” starring Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez. Enjoy feature sessions with celebrities such as Carol Burnett with Tim Conway, Tim Gunn of “Project Runway,” Leeza Gibbons, Kareem...

After 50-plus years, many of us have stories to tell—of achievements, losses, relationships and careers. Think of those experiences like ingredients in a recipe: They can each stand on their own, but when combined, they produce something different and unique. Up until age 50, most of us have been on what I call the roller coaster of life—education, dating, marriage, career and parenting— with little time to step off and reflect on where we’ve been. About this stage of our lives, after the kids are grown and we have a moment to be introspective, the process of discovering more about ourselves can take on greater focus. Empty nesters ask, “If I’m not Mom or Dad, who am I?” We raise the question, “If I’m not (insert job title here), what am I?” and some ask, “Who do I want to be?” Our life experiences tell a story about how we adapt to challenges and opportunities. By creating an integrated view of our life, we have a powerful tool to understand how we might approach the...