Many Liberated Elders
At a recent Australia and New Zealand leaders’ workshop, Cathy Picone called an elders’ liberation topic table at lunchtime. A number of us gathered, then more came, then more. We added tables. Then we needed the hearing loop, as the table(s) had become so long.
We all introduced ourselves and stated what year we were born and how old we were. So many people! Then, starting from the eldest, each of us talked about how we saw elders’ oppression. There were so many of us that we stood to be heard.
It was wonderful for us RC leaders to claim being elders, be unapologetically visible, take up space and be loud and playful, have physical needs, and be led by someone who modeled all this. I carried away a sense of connection with other elders and of my power, wisdom, playfulness, and right to be thought about.
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Reprinted from the RC e-mail discussion list for leaders of elders
(Present Time 185, October 2016)