Age has a way of sharpening one’s perceptions about many things. This is particularly true during the holiday season and the advent of a new year. Small details such as a grandchild’s smile or first steps can bring moments of joy. Memories of holidays past can evoke thoughts of those no longer with us. For many, the long trail of the past is clearer than fresh thoughts of the future.
Holidays can evoke memories of elders both personal and political. We were the generation that started their lives using paper and pencil and moved into the IT age. We are the generation that can look back to a relatively healthy environment and forward to one that is severely damaged. We can cherish our memories of how it used to be and witness the changes that have occurred.
Being older allows us to experience the state of the world as a participant in its history. Fifty years ago the Vietnam War was raging as young men and women faced death and injury. They experienced directly the horror of a war that colored the lives of all Americans. Today a different war still rages, affecting yet another generation of young people. The perspective of age enables us to feel the impact and the futility of war across the years, both in the past and the future.
Being older also sharpens the perception of race in our culture. In years past, Jim Crow laws resulted in terrible injustice to African-Americans. Today’s elders were there when people of color were beaten down, lynched, and mistreated. Although some of the worst aspects of this era have been mitigated, bigotry and racial hatred are still with us. Looking at the past can help identify and root out these pernicious strains in our hearts and our communities.
So now another year unfolds. It will hold both triumphs and tragedies for all of us. A loved one will die, a daughter or son will be wed, a child will be born. Our history can be the guide to a future where we support each other, avoid past errors, and share joy as we go forward. With luck and determination we will create a better world because of it.
Deb Thomson is a member of the Council on Aging board of directors, a former elder care attorney, and the recipient of numerous elder advocacy awards.
