The Eldering Ceremony
By Jim Selman
The Eldering Ceremony is an opening for thoughtful adults to:
- Declare what they stand for
- State publicly what they can be counted on to contribute to younger generations, their community and the world for the remainder of their lives
- Be recognized for who they are
- Assume their role as an Elder
Many of us approach old age with fear. We’re afraid of all the things we expect to lose (like our health, our status and our purpose). We’re uncertain about what lies ahead and we have no idea what we’ll do with all our time. Now is the end of our adulthood, a time when we are primarily valued for what we produce. Life stretches out before us like a blank canvas, and we can fill it with whatever we choose.
It is a time for us to let go of our past and to begin creating our lives as a possibility. It is a chance to generate a new definition of what is possible as we grow older. It is an opportunity for us to begin ElderingTM, to share the wisdom we have to contribute to younger generations, and to act on our commitment to the continued existence of the whole community. In doing so, we can be valued for who we are.
The Eldering Ceremony marks this rite of passage. This “coming of age” is an opening for thoughtful adults to:
- Declare what they stand for
- State publicly what they can be counted on to contribute to younger generations, their community and the world for the remainder of their lives
- Be recognized for who they are
- Assume their role as an Elder.
Introduction
Through this ceremony, we are inviting you—on behalf of all generations currently living and generations yet to be born—to declare a larger purpose for the rest of your life and assume the role of Elder in this world.
All of you have lived long enough to appreciate that life is precious and that each of us must, sooner or later, decide who we are and what we will do with our time day to day. No one knows how long their life will be. The second half is whatever time you have left.
Each of us has different values and styles of living. Each of us forms and expresses our goals in different ways. Whatever strategies for living we may pursue, there are five areas of life we all aspire to. We all wish to:
- Enjoy health and well-being
- Be happy
- Express ourselves fully
- Experience love, and
- Be valued.
Your public declaration with regard to each of these domains marks your coming of age as an Elder. We trust that it will act as an opening for further exploration, learning and teaching.