For those above 55 only….

Growing old while working in an institutional framework, is a dangerous place to be. A few things could happen if you are not careful.

One could constantly live in the past. Live in the past “glory” and “knowledge”. Live always looking back and seeing those olden days as the better ones and being critical of what is happening today. And keep reminding the younger ones around you, I have seen all those, I know how things work out, a place of “knowing all” and emphasising this! One could sometimes, forget the past and live in the future. Looking ahead at a retirement life, counting the number of years to move out and then slowly lose interest in what is happening around. One would do what is required - if not you will be penalized and so keep pushing, always looking ahead.

Or you could live today, fulfilling roles with proactive engagement. My own interaction with the aging generation and observing them, (I am now there) I have recognized that there are three groups of seniors around, from the younger generations perspective. One group whom the younger ones are waiting to say good bye to. They do not have major issues with this group, but being of the “old generation” and mostly living in the past, it is better that they move on. They can be tolerated, for a time, but generally are not too comfortable to have around. The second group is, one which the younger generation would be okay to have around, since the grey hair or no hair brings a bit of comfort and at times some wisdom. And this wisdom is useful especially in crises situations. There is a third group whom the younger do not want to lose. They want them to continue active engagement of this group.

What is the secret of the third group?  

One – they have years of wisdom, and they know it. But they sparsely share the wisdom. They do know that though life experiences have given them much wisdom, the younger generation may not want to hear from them. So they are selective in their sharing of wisdom. But they are there to provide support when required. Second, they do realize that the world is moving on. Their knowledge from the past in only an adjunct to current knowledge. They do recognise that to engage today in addition to keeping quiet of the past, constant acquiring of current knowledge is important. They do recognize that their past knowledge might be synergistic to current knowledge, but very sparingly. Third, they do realize that “the elderly has wisdom, the middle aged have knowledge and youth have enthusiasm”.   In addition to keeping the wisdom to themselves, and acquiring knowledge from the middle aged, they also allow themselves to be enthused by the young. They keep themselves enthused about things happening around them, many a times things which did not enthuse them in their youth.

The seniors or the Baby Boomers, lived their life around work. Family was adjusted around work. Work enthuses them. The Generation X or the current middle aged became more “Balanced” from their perspective. Family and other interests had to go along side work. The extra work contexts enthuse them. The Gen Y and Millennials, weave work around their social life and community. Social life enthuses them, and work is seen as a necessity. For a Baby Boomer to be enthused by the young, it is a virgin territory. But if he or she does that, they cross the barrier!

So they are in a constant mode of learning – learning to keep the wisdom to themselves, acquiring knowledge from the middle aged and allowing themselves to be enthused by the youth.

This has to happen not only in the professional area, but in the social, spiritual and life as a community. In each of these areas, wisdom has to be prudently shared, knowledge has to be proactively acquired and enthusiasm has to be energetically expressed.

I am wondering which group am I in….?

Is this why Jesus said, become like children - children who may not have much wisdom to share, but keen to acquire to knowledge and enthusiastic about everything...!