And when you do, says Elders Guild founder Barry Barakan, you get to stop being babies and start being elders. And that’s a very good thing. But it’s full of responsibility, too.
Elders are the people with the experience, knowledge, and wisdom to rebalance a world gone far out of kilter.
Each of us needs to decide when to engage our aging with the intention to consciously prepare for the marathon of productive longevity. For each of us that moment is different, but as soon as we know that the second half of life is upon us, it is time to begin the process of reconceptualizing our reality. The process requires no less a level of dedication, effort, preparation, and continued learning than the work of establishing and growing a career and family.
Barkan has been a leader in elder-centered community action for thirty years. You can read more about his ideas at Tikkun. He was one of the founders of the Pioneer Network, in which the Milwaukee-based ActionPact change consulting group plays a large part.
The idea of the Elder Guild:
. . . to launch a new initiative that creates the organizational structure for a health-creating society for all. It will provide the antidote to the disconnection, impotence, and lack of meaning that contribute to our social malaise.
We need to learn to be effective, as we stand not just for ourselves, but also for the future generations to whom we have an ever-increasing debt. We call this initiative the Elders Guild.
The Elders Guild is truly radical, innovative, and based on proven experience. It is a new paradigm for regenerating community. And that is not just the community of the elders, but the whole multi-generational continuum.
It’s a tall order. But someone’s got to do it. What are your thoughts? Can elders, and especially Elder Boomers, lead the way? Does Elder Guild activity interest you? Share your ideas with us!
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