There are several versions of the concept of creative aging. One is related to sparking the artistic talents of elders. Others facilitate and share intergenerational stories. I want to make younger friends and write more.
I deeply appreciate the wisdom and experience of elders. Dinner conversations can be fascinating here at Wake Robin and not just with other residents. The young wait staff in the dining room are mostly high school students. A few are in college. They share their favorite classes and other interests with me. One has joint citizenship in the US and Sweden. Martin loves that I know that varsagodochta means “Help yourself!” in Swedish. Every night, he asks me how my feet feel.
Pablo Picasso thought about creativity and age often. He famously said, “It takes a long time to become young…. We don’t grow older, we grow riper…. Youth has no age.” At the age of 79, Picasso married Jacqueline Roque, who was 27. She was one of his greatest inspirations. He lived another thirteen years, which were some of his most creative.
Last year, the Obama Foundation introduced me to Luke Rackers, who represented Vermont along with Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale in the Foundation’s 2023 inaugural Leaders USA cohort. Luke told me about his Creative Aging program, which focuses on the arts, at the Central Vermont Council on Aging. He has since taken his talents and ideas to Life Story Club in New York. A classically trained pianist and former music teacher, he and his colleagues are facilitating intergenerational storytelling. Luke hopes to incorporate some of his artistic, creative aging ideas. Maybe he’ll return to Wake Robin to pilot a Creative Aging Program as part of his doctoral dissertation. I introduced him to our CEO.
One of my favorite programs at WholeHeart, Inc., which I co-founded eleven years ago, has been their Intergenerational Leadership Exchange. The blend of emerging and seasoned leaders was always a rich way to explore the kind of leadership needed in today’s troubled world. I have hope that together we can create a fun and fruitful future that is inclusive, mindful, and wholehearted.
I continue to be blessed by visits from old and new friends, some of whom I have introduced to each other. Connecting interesting people may be my favorite strategy for aging creatively. It’s Graceful Mischief for the Common Good.
When President Biden welcomed NATO leaders to the White House this month, he said that he and Jill were honored to have so many close allies and close friends in one room. Joe spoke of Truman’s commitment to NATO 75 years ago as a neighborly act between friends with common beliefs to explore new possibilities for peace. Then outgoing NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg toasted the NATO extended family. The NATO Symphony Orchestra, composed of young musicians from all NATO countries, celebrated with a concert of multigenerational music. The 75th NATO Summit ended on a youthful, peaceful, high note.