By Peggy Sue McRae, Journal contributor
In a previous Island Senior article, I mentioned that I am taking an online course called Aging as a Spiritual Practice. I’m now on lesson five and the topic is Elderhood. Becoming an elder is not quite the same thing as becoming a senior. To become a senior citizen all you have to do is not die before you get there. Becoming an elder implies both wisdom and service.
We often associate the term “elder” with more traditional cultures, cultures where different age groups tend to be more integrated than in our own culture. The Blue Zones longevity studies show that in the places worldwide, where people live the longest most satisfying lives, older people are well integrated into their communities. Grandparents often live in the homes of extended family and are a crucial factor in the raising of children and keeping of cultural traditions.
Living with extended family can be impractical in our contemporary society where people are more mobile and age groups more segregated. It can sometimes seem as if older people are simply set aside as if we are no longer relevant to contemporary life. Among the challenges of modern life, it can take a real effort to communicate with grandchildren who would rather be playing video games or scrolling TikTok.
Being an elder won’t be the same thing for everyone. In the course I’m taking, we are asked to “acknowledge your own life wisdom.” The assignment is to take time to inventory our lives and take note of what we have learned. Journal writing is encouraged.
When I look over my own life lessons the wry cliché, “but it was a learning experience” comes to mind. My biggest failures turn out to be my biggest lessons. We have all had things fall apart. We survived. That’s the lesson. How do we keep our balance when things go topsy-turvy?
Do you have guiding principles that you live by? Again from Aging as a Spiritual Practice, we are asked to reflect on our lived wisdom and come up with four or five basic principles we live by and write them down. Further, identify who among your family, community or in the wider world would benefit from your guidance and wisdom.
Passing on wisdom can mean anything from teaching your grandchildren how to make cookies to being a first-person witness of historic events. Do you have an object that tells a story that you could donate to the Historical Museum? Do you have a story that illustrates overcoming adversity that might help others meet similar challenges? Do you remember Dad jokes your Dad told you that you could pass on eliciting cheerful groans from friends and family members?
