Sages and Saplings Growing Together

I was thrilled at today’s news coverage profiling Elders who are volunteering their knowledge in the classrooms. (Click here to see "Wisdom, Knowledge of Elders Stream Into Area Classrooms.") It is an idea whose time has come. Approximately five years ago in my book Getting Sane Without Going Crazy I suggested the government fund a senior Sage core based on a concept similar to the peace core where wise elders would get paid to help young disadvantaged Saplings in their schools and communities. It is an obvious win-win for all. As our population encompasses a greater number of those over fifty, let’s use them, not lose them to depression, poverty and illness.

A very successful business venture has been combing nursery schools and retirement communities in the same location, often in the same building. Youngsters get wonderful laps to sit on and soothing voices to read to them and elders get an opportunity to touch, be touched, love and give of their many years of experience. Every week, the website http://www.fiftyandfurthrmore.com/ profiles a sage or sage in training as role model of an elder who have lived long enough to teach the rest of us how to do life better. Sages and Saplings. It’s time we helped them grow together.