The roles of mentor, mobilizer, mediator, monitor and motivator are not restricted to those of us entering our later years. As a pediatrician, I would bless the five Ms as roles for parents to aim for also.
sage-ing
AGE-ing or SAGE-ing?
All too often we treat our senior citizens as our elderly, not our elders. Despite the loss of some physical and mental capabilities, our elders should come to terms with their declining physical capabilities and accept expanded mental potential, spiritual renewal, and greater social usefulness.
Are we ready for life-long learning?
Active, involved citizens are life-long learners. It takes a significant commitment to be a life-long learner.
M&Ms…(and M&M&Ms)
Sages can use their lifetime of experience by being positive contributors to the community and continuing to provide purpose to their own lives.
I Might Be Getting Older But…
Elders need to get involved as sages. Sages are elders who choose to use their experience in life for the betterment of their fellow citizens.
Sages can make a difference
As we age, we can choose to be elderly or become elders. In the former role, we tend to accept the physical and mental changes and just lament their presence as inevitable. In the latter role, we are not “age-ing” per se but hopefully “sage-ing.” As a sage, we are using our collective experience to help provide advice and potential wisdom to others.