“Living a Life of Great Value” by Jim Stokely & Lynn Brailsford
“Living a Life of Great Value” will be presented by Jim Stokely and Lynn Brailsford on Sunday, November 15, 2026 | 2:30–4:00 PM – Ethical Humanist Society of Asheville, 227 Edgewood Road, Asheville, NC; In person and via Zoom — All are welcome!
What does it mean to live a life of great value, particularly in our later years?
The years from retirement onward offer a remarkable opportunity for personal growth and reflection. This integrative stage of life invites us to move beyond what Jungian psychologist James Hollis calls our “provisional adulthood” toward an elderhood that is fuller, more authentic, and more whole.
Jim Stokely and Lynn Brailsford will introduce a model for reflecting on one’s life journey and charting a meaningful path forward. Described as a “character check-up,” their approach offers a framework for identifying the character strengths we have developed throughout our lives, recognizing opportunities for further growth, and making intentional choices about the people we wish to become.
The presenters will also explore interest in a more in-depth, small-group program offering opportunities for personal reflection, peer discussion, and feedback as participants continue their individual journeys toward living lives of great value.
Jim Stokely, son of renowned Western North Carolina author Wilma Dykeman, grew up in East Tennessee and graduated from Phillips Academy, Yale University, and the Stanford Graduate School of Business. Following a 30-year career in corporate human resources, he retired to Reems Creek. He is president of the Wilma Dykeman Legacy.
Lynn Brailsford founded Asheville-based Brailsford Consulting to provide guidance in leadership, organizational change, and individual performance improvement. Her professional experience includes serving as an adjunct professor of leadership studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Vice President at Chase Manhattan Private Bank, and President and COO of Salon Development Corporation. She holds an undergraduate degree in psychology and sociology from Fordham University and a graduate-level diploma in training and management development from New York University.