| The Wisdom of Older Women | | | | This month we will explore the ideas of the wise |
| Why is it that aging has become such a scary thing? | | | | woman, the woman who has so many incredible things |
| Now, in traditional Latino culture, elders are, respected | | | | to teach us. And I will encourage you to seek out |
| and listened to. However, as Latinos in the U.S., we | | | | women who are in the true prime of their lives and |
| have this dichotomy of having respect for our elders in | | | | "download" their knowledge while you can. |
| some circumstances, and at the same time, having a | | | | My mom is one of those women who grew up in a |
| fear of aging and being "old," "out of date" or "not in | | | | different time and age and has been a woman who |
| touch." | | | | did risky things for her time. I am so amazed looking |
| While we know that some women age beautifully, | | | | back at what she did. Here was this woman who |
| both inside and out, others age in ways that are not so | | | | grew up in a small town (approximately 1,000 people), |
| graceful (and I'm not talking about physically). We get | | | | moved across the country and started a totally new |
| to choose, mujeres, if we learn from our lessons and | | | | career, stayed single VERY late (especially for her |
| incorporate our wisdom into our lives, sharing our | | | | time) -- like 30! aaack! -- then got married, moved to |
| experiences, or if we become bitter, and regretful. | | | | Asia, lived there for 13 years, adopted two children |
| I have to say that most of our elders have something | | | | from other racial/ ethnic backgrounds, etc., etc. |
| amazing to teach us. We have a world of knowledge | | | | My mom was a pioneer! I am so proud and amazed |
| that we can take from women who have gone | | | | of what she did -- wow! And I guess that I learned to |
| before, lived in a different historical era, and had life | | | | be a non-conformer from her, as well as I (hopefully) |
| experiences that we cannot begin to imagine. | | | | learned her kindness and compassion. But even more, I |
| And as we get older, we are likewise asked for our | | | | learn from her as she gets older, and I think about who |
| wisdom and the lessons we have learned. Over the | | | | I want to be... |
| past two years, as I have interviewed all these | | | | Who do you have around you that are models of who |
| successful Latinas, I have found that depth of wisdom | | | | you aspire to grow into? And if you are older and |
| in women who have lived in different times. Additionally, | | | | wise (a wise Latina -- and with the coining of the |
| I have spoken with young women who have | | | | phrase from Sotomayor -- who isn't?), what do you |
| incorporated lessons from those who have paved the | | | | want to impart? |
| way, and are appreciative of the opportunities they | | | | We'll be having fun with these topics as we go into the |
| have had. | | | | end of the year... |