We are in a class of folks known as Baby Boomers. I don’t identify with the term baby boomer. It encompasses too large an age group and quite frankly we are not babies anymore. The term 60 is the NEW 40 doesn’t work either.
Sometimes the term is reduced to boomers. I get “boomers” since there really was a boom of births from 1946 – 1964. But the boom was happened in the 1940’s, 50’s and 60’s.
What does the term baby boomers say about us now that we are in our 60’s?
We are now living life with a new attitude. We are not our grandparents or parents at age 60. We are a generation living with a renewed strength, vitality and interest in what life has to offer us.
So I propose a new classification – Gen E – a generation of Elders, who have so much to offer. When you first hear the term Elder, you may think old. But look at these three definitions of Elder used in different contexts.
Society: Elder is a role played in the family and community that is most common in third world, non-industrialized cultures. Elder is a manner of being in the latter portion of life that results from an older man or woman answering the informal call from the family or community to accept the mantle of elderhood. Once having accepted this calling, elders are known by their interest in mentoring, sharing their long life experiences, modeling a sense of oneness with Earth and often, acting as the spiritual agent of one’s community.
Administrative term: The term Elder (or its equivalent in another language) is used in several different countries and organizations to indicate a position of authority. This usage is usually derived from the notion that the oldest members of a group are the wisest and thus most qualified to rule, provide council or some other form of leadership.
Statesman: any influential person whose advice is highly respected. An older person or an older member, usually a leader, of some community
Now is the time to accept our role as Elders. So are we up to the challenge to:
Share life experiences
Mentor
Rule
Provide council
Become leaders
Offer advice
Stay tuned next time when I will share how I accept the role of an Elder.