Thursday, January 17, 2008 at 12:12am
The silver tsunami
Column: My Day
The aging population has many names. "Baby boomers" is the most common tag. Some refer to them as "the graying of America" or "the older generation." But whatever the name, with one half of the boomer generation turning 50 by 2010, the pipeline is not gushing but is about to explode. What is alarming is that there is a lot of dismay surrounding these statistics, as though it is suddenly a total surprise that they all grew up at the same time. But my mother always told me that every pancake has two sides, which means there is another way of looking at the situation.
Our spectrum should be broadened and enlightened. Sure, the "silver tsunami" has a lot of ills, but so does the top of the population. The "silver tsunami" and their wisdom offer a quality of services to our society that is unmatched in history. Let's take our communities, for instance. The population swell in communities across America will present varied challenges, scope and opportunities for all generations. These treasures with the gray hair have a wealth of knowledge in all the things enjoyed by all the ages.
There is enrichment in education, communication, social connections, culture and the arts, transportation and spiritual awakenings. So, if you examine the clear patterns of needs and strengths, what emerges are a ton of strengths.
One of the most important strengths is volunteering or unpaid contributions. The "silver tsunami" silently contributes to America's cities every day in unforeseen measures taken for granted. There are those who cannot take care of themselves, young and older, and the informal and unsolicited advice. What, do you suppose, is the value of these unpaid duties? Now, multiply that figure times just our major cities. What a thought for the national debt. From all appearances, we see the "silver tsunami" as mobile, engaged and healthy. Certainly, at election time, weddings with dancing, and reunions, they are energized.
Age, first of all, is a blessing. So what — the greatest generation in the history of America grew up and fulfilled its mission. Ageism is a major in humanity we can master with the boomers. We can either promote ageism as a negative or positive. With either decision, it is definitely a part of living. As the present-day "silver tsunami" overtakes the land, let's see if we can repeat the course and raise up another nation "under God" to live with the same quality of life's value and make the same significant contributions. That is the issue.
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Ester Davis is a writer and television producer. She can be reached at {email host@esterdavis.com}host@esterdavis.com{/email}. Copyright 2008 by Ester Davis.
Our spectrum should be broadened and enlightened. Sure, the "silver tsunami" has a lot of ills, but so does the top of the population. The "silver tsunami" and their wisdom offer a quality of services to our society that is unmatched in history. Let's take our communities, for instance. The population swell in communities across America will present varied challenges, scope and opportunities for all generations. These treasures with the gray hair have a wealth of knowledge in all the things enjoyed by all the ages.
There is enrichment in education, communication, social connections, culture and the arts, transportation and spiritual awakenings. So, if you examine the clear patterns of needs and strengths, what emerges are a ton of strengths.
One of the most important strengths is volunteering or unpaid contributions. The "silver tsunami" silently contributes to America's cities every day in unforeseen measures taken for granted. There are those who cannot take care of themselves, young and older, and the informal and unsolicited advice. What, do you suppose, is the value of these unpaid duties? Now, multiply that figure times just our major cities. What a thought for the national debt. From all appearances, we see the "silver tsunami" as mobile, engaged and healthy. Certainly, at election time, weddings with dancing, and reunions, they are energized.
Age, first of all, is a blessing. So what — the greatest generation in the history of America grew up and fulfilled its mission. Ageism is a major in humanity we can master with the boomers. We can either promote ageism as a negative or positive. With either decision, it is definitely a part of living. As the present-day "silver tsunami" overtakes the land, let's see if we can repeat the course and raise up another nation "under God" to live with the same quality of life's value and make the same significant contributions. That is the issue.
— — —
Ester Davis is a writer and television producer. She can be reached at {email host@esterdavis.com}host@esterdavis.com{/email}. Copyright 2008 by Ester Davis.