"Life is Wonderful, There’s No Doubt About That": (Big and Small) Stories of an Embodied Positive Ageing Identity

Abstract

This chapter forms part of a broader research project exploring narratives of the ageing, sporting body (Phoenix and Sparkes, 2006, 2007; Phoenix, Smith and Sparkes, 2007; Phoenix and Sparkes, 2008). Here, I examine the accomplishment of a positive ageing identity through the stories told by a 71 year old male. In order to examine how identity is narratively accomplished, I have found recent debates within narrative research between a “big story” and “small story” approach especially useful (Bamberg, 2006; Freeman, 2006)