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Who taught younger generations of people that older people do not have the ability to change?
I have found myself asking this question a lot over the past few weeks. I am in the beginning stages of re-directing my work career. I do not honestly want to return to teaching in an Early Childhood setting. I love working with children. I have done so for well over two decades of my life.
There comes a time when going through the change of life is not menopause related. It is a matter of looking at things in a realistic and self-compassionate manner. Why should I actively seek employment in a field that I no longer want to work in? Money is a great motivator to go after another teaching position. But I am at the age where time does matter. I decided that since I'm facing 11 more years in the workforce, it was time to do something entirely different. Something that would challenge me and satisfy my inner radical/liberal urges. That would be working in an urban garden/farm setting.
Many older adults are starting second careers based on interests and their passions in life. I happen to be one of those folks who has more than one long term passion in life. I love to garden a lot. I am also into the idea that urban dwellers need a year round accessible food source. I'm not trying to jump into the head position from where I am now. I just want to find a way to get in the door. Once I'm welcomed in-I'll determine the direction that I want to go.
This really is no different than the changes that people make on a daily basis. The only difference that I can see is the fact that I am boomer who wants to do the same thing.
Being outside of the box has always been far more comfortable for me than inside of it. I like being able to move about and to think like the counter culture individual that I really am. I've had to hold that down during the course of my teaching career because it is just not the image that early childhood organizations feel comfortable with displaying.
Of course it is not easy to make moves like this. Believe me, I spent hours weighing my pros and cons. The fear of not succeeding is not great enough to deter me. Nor is the attitude of those who think that age denotes the lack of flexibility. I have a plan and good network to support this effort. If I do not succeed-it won't be because I did not attempt to do so.
I am hoping that as my grandchildren grow up, I can convey to them that they are never going to be too old to make changes. I know that there are people in my generation who would not even attempt to do something like this. I will also tell you that these type of people do not hang out in my sista/circle of friends. Even my mother who is now in her late seventies is willing to try something new or different. I am hoping that our granddaughters and grandson are paying attention to the way we move about. They may find that they will need to draw from our example as they mature.
