New Age-ing Paradigm
by Steffi L. Shapiro"The times - they are a-changing!" With 78 million Baby Boomers currently in America, 1 is turning 60 every 7 seconds. The first ones, born in 1946, "came of age" at 21 in 1967.
Ahh..., the decades of the 60's and 70's - a time of major changes in our society. With Boomers now moving into their 60's and 70's, it's time for further major shifts—many of those same people are again wanting to reinvent their lives.
Our society seems to value antiques and wines, where the greater the number of years, the more valuable they are. We are now beginning to rediscover what cultures from our own past and other traditions worldwide, or worldwise, have known for eons—to value the elder years.
In India it's said some people fib about their age, saying they are older in order to gain more respect. In Spanish, people are often referred to as being of "advanced age." We can talk about "growing in age" and have "x number of years of life experience"—as on a resumé, the more the better. (i.e. a sign that said "Senior Discount—55 or better." )
How can we blend the wisdom of the past with the advances of modern technology in the information age, to include "Long Term Caring" as well as "Long Term Care?"
Native American and other indigenous traditions honor and care for the earth and all beings, paying attention to "seven generations". What can we learn from our forebears and how can we take care of the planet for future generations, rather than just look at "the bottom line" at the end of the month?
We need to create new templates for the unformatted years. We need "extended consciousness for the extended years," as Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, one of the pioneers in the aging movement, wrote in From Age-ing to Sage-ing®. He emphasizes the importance of finding meaning in our lives by "recognizing the significance of the elder years; opening to the inner voice through contemplation; discovering the joys of life review and life repair; being mentors; creating legacies for future generations, and being stewards for the planet."
In his book, What are Old People For?, Dr. William Thomas, a well-known geriatrician, featured on NPR and CNN, and other media, emphasizes the importance of "being" as well as "doing"; creating "social capital" that benefits all; the value that elders provide to society; the need for intentional "eldershire" communities for mutual support, where people are empowered to make decisions that work best for them. A new "Aging in Community Network" (www.AICNetwork.org) is seeking to discover ways for a better life for all.
Maybe it is not a coincidence that age-old "New Age" modalities are becoming part of the mainstream in our culture: from Acupuncture to Zen, including Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Yoga, etc.
Other good news is that there is so much more awareness and emphasis on creating meaning and well-being for body, emotions, mind, and spirit in the elder years. The internet offers a wealth of resources for aging well. Locally, senior facilities and educational institutions offer myriads of programs, including some of the above-named holistic modalities, as well as computer courses, and extensive "life-long learning" programs—no longer just bingo. Pre-Baby-Boomers, as well as Baby Boomers, are already creating ways to contribute to society, as volunteers, as activists, as whistle-blowers.
Carl Jung suggested that the second half of life is for us to do the things we didn't have time to do in the first half. In the Hindu tradition, the first 25 years are for learning; the second for work and/or raising a family; the third for self-less service to others; the fourth for contemplation and inner work.
It's time to "Harvest the Wisdom of Life," to expand on creating community, interdependence, and building mutually beneficial relationships.
Steffi L. Shapiro, LICSW, RYT, is Founder and Director of The Well Street Station in Watertown. She has a private practice in psychotherapy, and offers yoga classes and workshops for people of all ages. She is a certified Sage-ing Leader and also has an "Elder-Yoga™ plus..." video. More information is available at www.wellstreetstation.com or 617-923-1440.
(This article was originally published in Natural Awakenings, Boston, September 2006.)
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