I was asked if I would be willing to speak to a group of seniors as part of an ongoing speaker series. I chose a topic that I thought would be interesting…it turned into one of my most memorable experiences and a lesson in wisdom. The topic, Leadership in Times of Change turned into a 90 minute dialogue about changes in society, discussion around what the future might hold, and a look at how all ages are adapting to the challenges of our times.

     The average age at the facility…..89! I first asked the group how many in the room were over age 50 — that drew a big laugh. We got down to business. After a show of hands and adding the life experience in the room we accounted for thousands of years living through change. Discussing the changes they had seen in their lifetime, we talked about everything from cars, to electricity, moral values, the computer….the list went on. It was a very rich discussion.
What did I learn? The intersection between wisdom and adaptability was a big “ah ha” for me. They had to deal with more change during their lifetime than many of us will ever experience. Seeing everything from the Great Depression, to World War and in some cases 2, the baby boom, technology revolutions…they could show adaptability and provide wisdom. Over ½ of the audience were using cell phones, working on the computer or taking advantage of the newest technologies in banking, shopping, healthcare and communications. The common theme — embrace it with curiosity and a hunger to try it! These seniors are able to reflect on their own experiences, use a filter we do not have and create different assumptions and ask questions rooted in deep knowledge about profound change. What a gift for me!