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Age as a Number:
Everything is Relative
Age as a Number:
Everything is Relative
Young, Old, In-Between
When was the last time you felt young? When was the last time you felt old?
I felt young last week when I went on a tour of a senior living community with my parents. Everyone who lived there was older than me. My parents are both 88 and would fit right in with the people living in this 3-story complex. I could picture my parents being happy and safe there. My mom puzzling like crazy and my dad puttering in the wood shop. And enjoying camaraderie in the dining room.
But guess when I felt old? At the same place, when I met the executive director of the community. She was in her 30s. With a very complex and important job. I thought about my job in my 30s – it was not nearly as demanding as this woman’s. Nor as critical.
(A bit of a side note – my parents are doing fine at home; we are planning for the future. DARTS has many valuable programs and services that help people just like my parents who are living independently in their homes.)
Theories of Relativity
Age really is relative. And there is no better way to love the age you’re in than to find variety in those around you. People for sure want to hang out with people of their generation. It’s easy to talk about Frank Sinatra or John Wayne or The Rockford Files if that’s who or what you loved “when you were young.” But it’s also enriching to spend time with those who are younger than you. Maybe even much, much younger than you.
DARTS’ Learning Buddies program is a wonderful example of this. For over 26 years, the DARTS Learning Buddies & Pen Pals programs have served Dakota County communities and beyond by connecting older community members with students to share experiences and learn from one another throughout the school year. This mentoring program is something I see as “reverse mentoring.” Sure, the child learns from the adult, but think about what the adult learns from the child?
Age as a Number
Intergenerational sharing keeps the old young and prepares the young to some day be old. I know the participants in the Learning Buddies program love the 1:1 time they get with their buddy. Both the adult and the child look forward to the connection. It’s on the older buddy’s calendar. It’s something to plan for. It provides a sense of purpose and belonging. It might make an achy knee feel less so for a little while. It might keep loneliness at bay.
I believe age is a real number. I can’t pretend I’m in my 30s (my own achy knee won’t let me), but I can remember who that woman was and keep her busy and active and engaged. The DARTS mission of creating connections that enrich aging is spot on! The more we as a community of “youngsters” can keep our aging population engaged and connected and fulfilled, the happier and healthier we will all be.
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