Midlife or Elderhood brings new opportunities to redefine your purpose
Turning 40 seemed so old to me once, but I have found that going into midlife (or Elderhood) brings many new opportunities to redefine my purpose in life. I have so much knowledge and experience now and will hopefully have a lot of time to gather more!
I read an article not too long ago about adjusting life’s milestones (including midlife) due to the fact that our life expectancy has increased significantly in the last century. It made me realize how much society has changed in some respects, but not others.
During the middle of the 19th century working until age 65 was reasonable; on average you would have ten years of retirement.
However, we are living longer and therefore retirement is lasting longer. The length of life expectancy brings many new things to light, most especially the necessity of a larger nest egg.
So, what to do during your Elderhood years? Not retire? Or find a new purpose in life?
What do you think about going to a specialty school during your midlife where you could re-evaluate you, your wishes, and your dreams? Well, there is a place and it is called Modern Elder Academy (MEA).
First, what is a Modern Elder?
Well, Founder of MEA, Chip Conley got the idea when working for Airbnb in his early 50s. The staff were all half his age and called him the Elder, of which he spruced up to be the “Modern Elder”: “Someone as curious as they are wise.”
During his time as a strategic advisor he realized the importance of intergenerational work and interaction. Bringing him to create a “midlife wisdom school”.
“As I started thinking about middlescence and adolescence, I discovered we created schools and tools for people to help them prepare for adulthood and I asked myself: ‘Why are there no schools and tools to help people understand what it means to be on the doorstep of elderhood?’” (Forbes, September, 2019)
Thus creating Modern Elder Academy.
- A place for a “midlife pit stop” to re-evaluate you and your purpose.
- The philosophy is focused on relevance and shared wisdom.
- Average age is 54. (People from the age of 30 all the way to 78 have attended.)
- A week long workshop located on the beautiful beaches of Los Cabos. (Recently they added a two week sabbatical option.)
- Not the typical sitting in a classroom kind; it’s very experiential and social. The group gathers and learns a lot in nature, including on the beach.
- Curiosity, connection, and play are important aspects of MEA.
So, what do you think about “Elderhood” and reinventing your purpose at midlife or beyond?!
Have you already changed your purpose in life or are you intrigued by the idea? I for one found myself redefining what mattered to me by creating this blog.
What have you done or would like to do during your years of Elderhood? Share your thoughts on redefining you and your purpose in the comments!
