The Mayor of Red Deer read my recent column on volunteering and invited me to his office at City Hall for morning coffee, which is a very nice gesture for a new columnist to receive! He wanted to meet me, to exchange ideas about reaching the age demographic we are both part of, and to give me a letter of appreciation for my focus on volunteers (like, with the official seal and everything!).
Clearly, this is a mayor who understands the role of connections and relationships with people as key to successful community development. We agree that ours is a generation with powerful insights and experience, and that staying connected with one another will let us continue generating ideas that could impact people. We also agree that many people can sort of stop in their tracks when they leave their careers, if they let a pervasive and old-fashioned view of retirement inform them that their days should be small and safe from here on in.
The Raging Grannies know that the senior years can wield huge impact, and retirement can free up some time for focused efforts behind a cause that speaks to a person’s heart. These are highly active individuals across Canada and beyond, who promote peace and social justice through music and humour. Their book, Off Our Rockers and Into Trouble, speaks to this very topic - that much work remains to be done and we are a perfect age to do it. Their mockery of the stereotypical silent and unengaged elder is a perfect foil for their strong political stance, and they are making a difference while having a heck of a good time. Every age group should aspire to this kind of spirit!
The Mayor and I did not chat about The Raging Grannies at coffee that morning – I just really wanted to mention them! But we did share a similar ideology that there is no age limit on how active and impactful a person can be. We also agreed that the older age group is often under-represented in society and that changing that concept can be accomplished with some lighthearted humour. (At that point, I may have said something about ‘sticking it to the man’ when I go to my yoga class in the middle of the workday. Luckily he laughed at that – he is a kind person.)
He did share his personal reflection on growing older, facing life’s challenges, and the allure of continuing to work at a high level. He mentioned the importance of keeping yourself in the present tense – that retirees will often answer, ‘Well, I was a teacher, or an accountant, etc’, when asked what they do. We agree that it’s important to have a plan to step into each day and to enjoy the small moments.
I was, in fact, so engrossed in our conversation and our shared perspectives that I wanted to take notes. I had considered bringing my journalist notebook, which I rarely leave behind because one never knows when a perfect quote or column idea will present itself! But I thought it might be off-putting for someone to show up at an informal visit ready to ‘cover’ it. I briefly thought of flipping his letter of appreciation over and jotting down a few things on the backside, but that seemed rude.
In the end, I kept track of a few highlights in my head but mostly held onto the feeling of being inspired to continue. Maybe I just might be victorious in shining a light into the colourful, energetic and important corners of older lives.
Sandy Bexon is stepping into retirement after over 35 years as a communications professional, reporter and writer. She lives in Red Deer.
