“A human being would not grow to be seventy or eighty years old if thislongevity had no meaning for the species. The afternoon of human life must also have a significance of its own and cannot be merely a pitiful appendage to life’s morning.”-Carl Jung
some of the 20th century’s meaningful thinkers have shared this insight with jung. it lead several of them to amazing understandings and spiritual growth.we can, each of us, take the plunge to unimagined depths of wisdom in our seventy or eighty years.
we can, each of us, find the meaning for ourselves and for the species in those many decades.we can, each of us, refuse to be an appendage, worthy of pity.we can, each of us, step into our power as elders. this power is different for each of us. we must, each of us, find our own way to it, to embracing our true nature and then expressing the authentic self that we are, each of us.for some this power may express itself in political action, possibly stepping into an arena unfamiliar due to current events. for others, this aspect of life might be of long acquaintance. for yet others of us, the power may lie in mentoring those younger than we. these may be grandchildren, great-nieces or -nephews or it may be those we mentor in literacy or numeracy or their careers.
for other elders, this power may be found on the meditation cushion or yoga mat. here we might find strength and inner resilience. these contemplative practices might provide a haven from the challenges of elderhood as well as a space in which to connect with something greater than ourselves, something we can lean into.
whatever the path to this wisdom, each of us can choose to explore, discover or deepen. new creative expressions of our wisdom and power may arise in our seventies and eighties. we my renew former passions that lead us to our power, energies we set aside in our younger years. regardless of how the path unfolds, each of us has the capacity for finding meaning in our elderhood.we must, each of us, find it in ourselves before others will see and appreciate it.we can, each of us, embrace our wisdom. it is one of the many gifts of longevity.