Chip Conley

Our uniquely American tradition is derided by many today, but the spirit of this day is dedicated to gratitude. And, I know no Modern Elder role model who exemplifies gratitude more than 93-year-old Brother David Steindl-Rast who taught me that becoming more curious would make me more wise as I got older. In celebration of Thanksgiving, I offer you this lovely 5-minute video from Brother David called “A Grateful Day.”

This is your thirtieth Daily Dose, so I wanted to offer you some alternatives definitions of wisdom relative to the ones I offered on Day 3. Click "Read More" to see six different definitions below.

Even today, more than a year after our public launch, people still ask me about my motivation for starting the Modern Elder Academy. It’s a question I never get tired of answering. On the contrary, my answers seem to empower my mission more than ever. Below is a short 3-minute video that...

My Spanish teacher, Ivonne, in Todos Santos is pictured with me below. She aptly has a little peace sign sprouting out of her head. My first half-dozen classes were brutal. I felt so stupid on my drive home, constantly replaying that overused tape in my head, “You’re too old to be doing this!”

In an era when “digital natives” (Millennials and Gen-Z) seem to be ruling the world, it’s easy to forget the internet was created by a bunch of Boomers, who forever changed the way the world communicated with each other. Today, I’m calling for a new network, led by the same individuals.

I’ve been thinking a lot about organ recitals. And I’m not talking church here. I’m referring to that conversation we have as we get older—the one that revolves around how our organs don’t work like they used to.

One of the first decisions a writer makes when writing a novel is to decide if he or she wants to write in the present tense or past tense. Either choice works, and it’s purely a matter of preference. The biggest mistake is going back and forth between tenses—not knowing when the action is taking place, which often confuses the reader.

As morning follows night, ending often foreshadows a new beginning. The John O’Donohue poem below has proven to be a catalyst for many of our Modern Elder Academy grads. Hope it proves to be inspiring to you as well.

As this video of the Modern Elder Academy campus suggests, we’re blessed with obvious beauty. But, my favorite thing about the campus is the sense of discovery you experience when you find a hidden treasure. If you haven’t been, ask our alums on our Modern Elder Academy Facebook group about their favorite spots. Here are my hidden treasures:

You can’t be a writer if you don’t write. You can’t be a surfer if you don’t surf. You can’t be a gardener if you don’t garden. Call it cosmic grammar—the magic lies in verbs. All of which begs the question: