Modern Elder or Ancient Elder?
What is a Modern Elder? You may have heard that word over the last year or so as it’s been popularized by Chip Conley, the founder of the Modern Elder Academy.
I admire Chip for holding his ground against the pressure to remove “Eleder” from the brand because of the ageist attitudes that automatically go to one place when they hear that word.
Let’s break it down. First an elder is simply the oldest person in the room. We’re all elders at one time or another. We don’t have to do anything to be an elder. It will happen all by itself.
Modern, according to the dictionary means relating to the present or recent times as opposed to the remote past.
Therefore, a Modern Elder is a mature person who relates to recent times as opposed to the past. Or, as Chip Conley says. a Modern Elder is someone who is as curious as they are wise.
I had a man who attended my technology class at the senior center. You could tell he was angry when he entered the room. He was loud and disruptive. When I projected a picture of our U.S. Congressman on the screen to teach the class how to contact their representatives, he let forth with an abusive diatribe against this congressman and said the world would be a better place when he was gone. A couple of days later, when I politely declined to give him our teaching material, he exploded again, walked out, and never came back. He was an elder. He wasn’t a Modern Elder. He was the stereotypical angry old man that is so common in our society today.
We have too many of these elders who are making life difficult for so many people. We can replace the word, “Modern” with “Ancient.” They’re ancient elders.
Why do we have so many ancient elders? Because they haven’t done what Richard Rohr calls Second Half of Life work to find out who they are, why they’re here, and how to use their gifts in the service of others. They aren’t curious. They have more answers than questions
A two-year-old throwing a tantrum is expected, and even cute if you’re in the right mood. It’s part of their development. Elders should have grown out of that and calmed their egos. Some haven’t
I hope you have many Modern Elders in your life who can serve as mentors or coaches. They will enrich your life. They will be your forward scouts. During the war, Forward scouts worked at the front of the patrol searching for signs of enemy movement: a dislodged stone, a bent blade of grass, a broken twig or a smell in the air; secret tunnels, landmines, 'punji' pits, and other obstacles and traps. The men relied on the skill of the scout.
Modern Elders have traveled the road before you. They know where the dangers are and the opportunities. Don’t go to “war” without at least one in your life.
If you want to become a Modern Elder consider a week at the Modern Elder Academy in Baja.