Most Americans blindly accept the idea that newer is automatically better Buta human life contradicts this premise There is a great deal of happiness to be found as we grow older My own parents now in

"But a human life contradicts this premise" - This is a subordinate clause that serves to provide further context to the main idea. It means that the idea that newer is always better is not necessarily true when it comes to human life.

"There is a great deal of happiness to be found as we grow older" - This is an independent clause that stands on its own as a complete sentence. It means that as people age, they can find a lot of happiness in life.

"My own parents, now in their sixties, recently told me that they are happier now than they have ever been" - This is another independent clause that provides a specific example of the previous statement. It means that even though the speaker's parents are getting older, they are still very happy.

"They would not want to be my age" - This is a dependent clause that provides more information about the previous statement. It means that the speaker's parents are so happy in their current stage of life that they wouldn't want to be any younger.

"Their contentment holds out great promise for me as I move into the next - perhaps even better - phase of my life" - This is an independent clause that ties everything together. It means that the speaker is hopeful for their own future because they see that their parents are so happy in their older age.