I must confess that I've fallen down on the job! Getting old means I am supposed to have acquired wisdom and I should be sharing it so that others may benefit from what I've learned. By the time we are 50 or so we should be able to mentor others and pass on some or our wisdom and knowledge. This happens when we are parents by simple osmosis, but in some cases we have to seek a way to accomplish it and find other people to receive our modeling and example.
At least this is the message of George Valliant in his book Aging Well. This is one of the marks of successful aging. Mentoring helps you to feel useful and active and in touch with other people, especially those who are younger.
I've found a way. They aren't younger than I am, but some here enjoy reading poetry with me. We read favorites of different members and discuss the style and rhyme and meter as well as the message, and often the poet's life and experiences. People that don't participate have taken notice and given us news items of interest to poets and told us about poetry contests in the newspaper. It's sometimes hard to tell if other people think we are strange or just want to see what kind of bait they can throw out. I'm easy! I'll nibble at anything.
Now, I'm reclaiming my dedication to writing. I've entered a contest. I'm ready to begin a new writing regime with deadlines and expectations. Next, I have to establish a daily word minimum and choose a genre to work in. I'm really interested in fiction. Maybe I'll start there. And also a little poetry. I'll let you know.
At least this is the message of George Valliant in his book Aging Well. This is one of the marks of successful aging. Mentoring helps you to feel useful and active and in touch with other people, especially those who are younger.
I've found a way. They aren't younger than I am, but some here enjoy reading poetry with me. We read favorites of different members and discuss the style and rhyme and meter as well as the message, and often the poet's life and experiences. People that don't participate have taken notice and given us news items of interest to poets and told us about poetry contests in the newspaper. It's sometimes hard to tell if other people think we are strange or just want to see what kind of bait they can throw out. I'm easy! I'll nibble at anything.
Now, I'm reclaiming my dedication to writing. I've entered a contest. I'm ready to begin a new writing regime with deadlines and expectations. Next, I have to establish a daily word minimum and choose a genre to work in. I'm really interested in fiction. Maybe I'll start there. And also a little poetry. I'll let you know.
