Guest Post

Global aging and technology innovation are each occurring at an unprecedented rate. The intersection of these two global macro trends creates significant need and opportunity for new products and services to transform and tech-enable the aging experience.

Chip’s August 10th Wisdom Well post "My Wisdom Principles & Practices" caused me to reflect on my own perspective as someone who has spent many, many weeks at MEA Baja. With Chip’s permission, here’s my version (in italics) of “Chip’s Wisdom Principles & Practices 2.0”:

As I enter Level 6 in the Game of Life, I’m looking back and taking stock of my life journey and thinking about what has shaped me, who I am, what I have done, and what I am doing to shape my life.

I have just returned home from one of the most spectacular weeks of my life. I was given the incredible opportunity to be the guest teacher at the Modern Elder Academy (MEA) in Baja, Mexico, a place nothing short of exceptional, where people come to learn to navigate the difficult transitions that midlife presents us with.

We’ve all heard the quote, “There’s a reason your windshield is bigger than your rearview mirror; where you’re headed is more important than what you’ve left behind.

During some difficult periods recently, I found powerful inspiration in two Presidential speeches, one very recent and one from long ago.

Wondering while wandering can be a beautiful and profound form of presence. But then my mind starts whirling and worrying about things as if some destination needs to be quickly established or I have lost my direction; my purpose, indeed my very meaning.

“I see so much more now,” said Arthur, a mid-fifties software engineer who participated in my research on the inevitable shifts that occur in our adult lives. What struck me about his statement was that Arthur had a degenerative eye condition that left him 100% sight impaired.

Let’s review: A foundational premise of the Modern Elder Academy is that we gain certain kinds of intelligence and abilities in midlife that are necessary components of healthy social and economic ecosystems.

For me, building a new course is sort of like being Willy Wonka. I get to create something sort of magical. We excel in aggregating exciting ideas from all over the world that you would likely never have found on your own, and packaging it up with a pretty bow and a fun group of travelers from around the world. Imaginations are ignited, folks get unstuck and start to make life decisions with clarity, courage and excitement.