Blog post Part B - The Modern Elder Academy

How do you take a week of magic and wisdom and distil it down to an essence that makes sense to anyone who wasn’t there? The answer is that you don’t. Or at least I don’t, or won’t, or maybe I will later. Just not yet.

Let me tell you how beautiful it was down in Baja California, though. Magical. The landscapes, the cacti, the flowering bougainvillea and crazy goats. Hot during the day, tempered with ocean breezes, then chilly enough for a fleece when out for my pre-sunrise runs through the desert hills. I could taste salt in the air, feel an energy from the whales migrating north.

One day,  I’d like to watch wild lightning illuminate the desert.

The workshop, entitled “Reframing Retirement: Thriving in Your Next Phase of Life”, challenged the group of us in a myriad of ways, stripping away habits and mindsets, and allowing us new ways to consider this next phase of our lives. Transition built on curiosity.

I remember the trepidation I felt as I took my first steps through the beautiful buildings and courtyards, past pools and colourfully tiled sitting nooks, and out to the patio overlooking the Pacific Ocean. A new moon hung low in the sky, a thin-lipped smile, with both Venus and Jupiter lining up above. It felt auspicious, and my discomfort eased as margaritas were mixed and conversations began. By the end of the week, I was in the hot tub with a bevy of new friends, celebrating wonderful memories of deep exploration, and feeling an excitement for whatever comes next. 

In between those two bookends, I had one kick-ass birthday party!

I had signed up for the workshop as part of my year of discovery, but it also coincided with my birthday, which I felt was an excellent way to celebrate and also escape it. My plan was to slide into the next decade without a fuss. Avoidance on a grand scale. I mean, I’m comfortable in my skin but was disconcerted at the number. So I told no one. 

It turns out that it’s not easy to keep secrets around there. Which in the end was great. After days of doing communal exercises with an amazing eclectic cohort of people, I learned, and saw by example, that life gets better with age. It was the perfect environment to celebrate turning 60.

Close your eyes and picture an airy, light-filled kitchen with an expansive island, colourful tiles and dance music blasting from the speaker. Insert a conga line, flower crowns and a tier of birthday bread. Nice image, isn’t it? Amazingly, two of us had birthdays that day, and we were celebrated in style. 

I learned that March 24^th is national cocktail day, national chocolate-covered raisin day (who decides this, anyway?) and national cheesesteak day. In addition, it is the day to celebrate achievers, flatmates and introverts (triple whammy for those who are all three) as well as being the Right to Truth day and World Tuberculous day. How fun is that?

During the joyous festivities, we received handmade birthday cards with poems written inside. I feel somewhat reluctant to include it here - as though I’m divulging secret details of a personal ritual - but the joy and excitement from that day is still within me and I want to share it. 

So here you are:

Amber-eyed warrior

Defender of girls

Seeker of knowledge

under tangled red curls.

In just a few days

you’ve shown us true grace.

Sharing your heart

has enlightened our space.

Happy birthday, dear Judy

We wish you the best.

With your wisdom and

spirit –

you’ve got the rest.

Enjoy the journey.

 

The stars aligned such that my road trip with Fiona and this workshop dovetailed together in a way that felt auspicious. And now, after a week that exceeded my expectations, I know that something shifted within me. I'm still my essential self, and yet ... more. Check out Modern Elder Academy if you think it may resonate with you. 

A suggestion – watch “The Boy, the mole, the fox and the horse”. It's the animated short that won an Oscar this year. Which I realise doesn’t mean it's fantastic. Except that it is.