Being a Modern Day Elder
On the weekend I hosted the launch event of my first book Confidence - How to Be Your Most Authentic Courageous and Unshakeable Self. It was a great afternoon with friends and family. After the formal event, there were a group of 7 women sitting at the table with my daughter, Sophie who is 13.
These women ranged in ages from early 30’s to late 50’s. Many of us mothers, one friend is pregnant with her third child while a couple of women in the group have made a decision to not have children. Some of us married, others divorced, single, de facto and “it’s complicated”. A diverse group of amazing, talented, professional women.
We sat in a circle, with 2 small tables between us, filled with flutes of champagne, sweet potato fries, salt and pepper calamari and mushroom spring rolls. We drunk, we ate and we shared our stories. We talked about our ambitions and dreams, our relationships, our challenges and fears. Sophie sat there in the middle of us, drinking her pink lemonade and taking it all in.
At various times during our animated conversation, one of the women would turn to Sophie and say something like ‘that’s important to remember’ or ‘think about what that means to you.’ How awesome! I sat back and observed this tribe of elders sharing their wisdom with my daughter, not in a ‘this is what you should do’ way but in a way of nurturing her and encouraging her to be herself.
I believe that we need more of these ‘tribal’ gatherings with our elders and learn from their experiences to gain a different perspective on our experiences.
For me personally, at my age and stage in my career, I get to experience this from both ways. I love stepping into the role of ‘elder’ to young professionals starting their career, to my children and their friends. I also love spending time with my elders, people in my profession that have written 6-8 books, experienced speakers who are celebrated on the world circuit and of course my parents when they were alive. The time we had with my dad living with us here was unforgettable; an experience my children and I will always cherish.
So, what is the role of an ‘elder’? The role encompasses many different aspects, including:
Providing a strong network of support
Committing to sharing your knowledge and wisdom
Telling your stories
Opening people’s hearts and minds
Being the guardian of tradition and rituals
Listening and showing respect and understanding
Nurturing and guiding others to learn more about themselves
What a wonderful gift to give to the next generation!
My Sophie. I'm so grateful to the gorgeous women who are stepping up to play the role of 'elder' in Sophie's life.
Thank you. Midja x