Dancing from the Inside Out: Grace-Filled Reflections on Growing Older

Westina Matthewsis an author, professor, public speaker, and contemplative workshop and retreat leader whose career has spanned corporate and not-for-profit leadership as well as academia. She retired from Merrill Lynch as a managing director following a 24-year career with the firm and subsequently served as Chief Program Officer of the Jackie Robinson Foundation. For twelve years, she was an adjunct professor at General Theological Seminary in the Center for Christian Spirituality, where she taught contemplative spiritual direction. She is the author of Dancing from the Inside Out, This Band of Sisterhood, and Soul Food. A graduate of Shalem Institute’s Spiritual Guidance Program, she currently serves as chair of Spiritual Directors International. She lives in Savannah, Georgia.

"This book is so much fun to read. Everything: the stories, the people, the history — it's a rooted, generous wisdom, willing to share itself."
––Barbara Cawthorne Crafton, author, The Courage to Grow Old

"Dancing from the Inside Out is quintessential Westina Matthews—unsparingly honest, deep-down wise, and refreshingly trenchant...Though I'm a practicing Jew and Westina writes from her profound Christian faith, I gleaned many gifts from this book, not just inspiring advice about aging wisely but the pure pleasure of a story well told."
––Letty Cottin Pogrebin, co-founding editor of Ms. Magazine, author of eleven books, including Deborah, Golda, and Me: Being Female and Jewish in America

"Matthews provides a candidly honest outline of life's lessons in these reflections as she lovingly weaves her engaged readers from beginning to end."
––David N. Dinkins, 106th Mayor, City of New York

"Westina's courses at General are magnetic to students and others who are wise enough to study with her. There is no doubt that Dancing from the Inside Out will be equally attractive. A huge gift to the church."
—The Very Rev. Kurt H. Dunkle, Dean and President, General Theological Seminary