In a recent magazine article that I clipped, and I can’t for the life of me remember which magazine it was clipped from, was this quote:
“In one of the greatest ironies of history, the Me Generation will transform into the We Generation in their later years.”
Of course this quote spoke to me because I am one of the people dedicated to helping our generation make this major shift in consciousness. But what does it mean to be a We Generation?
While we were known for being the Me Generation in our youth, things have really changed for us. As we took an active role in sending our own parents to nursing homes and feeling the guilt and anger over a lack of better options, or even our parent’s inability to plan for their old age, we started to change our minds about the kind of support we need as we age.
So, people in my generation began developing new ideas and making new plans. We want a different life for ourselves as we age. This gave way to the idea of aging in place and aging in community.
Here are some things to keep in mind when you’re thinking about your future.
- You must be an active participant. Community living is something you need to do for yourself. A community situation won’t knock on your door and invite you in; you need to take charge. There are multiple ways to do this, but we recommend going through the exercises in our book Your Quest for Home.
- Develop creative solutions to problems. Finding community in your life is one part determination and one part creativity. Don’t think inside the box. Talk to others in your community and start to think about the creative solutions that can lead to better situations as you age.
- Recognize community opportunities in your life. Part of the block to finding a community comes from the blindness to your immediate surroundings. Many people simply assume this kind of life is unattainable therefore it must exist somewhere else. Instead, start to look at things in your own life that can evolve into community living.
- Talk to younger family members about your choices. Building community should be an intergenerational priority. Your children and grandchildren can be involved. If you don’t have children of your own, talk to trusted younger people who are also concerned about their options as they age. We can lead the charge toward the future.
What are some ways you can actively work toward a new paradigm in our conversations on aging?
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