Exploring New Ways Of Caring For A Generation In Transition

Throughout my life, I dreaded turning fifty.  I saw this birthday as the inevitable threshold to old age and as the day approached, my despair grew with each passing month.  As a music artist and entrepreneur, I had always worked in businesses focused on everlasting youth.  I passionately resisted the aging process and worked diligently at preserving my youth and vitality.  Therefore, my fiftieth birthday was hardest of all to accept - the inevitability - the lack of control - the despair.  I was born fifty years ago and there was nothing I could do about it.

Shortly thereafter, while attending a conference, I took part in a seminar in which participants discussed what they wished they could do to better align their lives.  I spoke of my interest in bringing my creative music, performance and philanthropic skills together in one endeavor, yet had no idea how to do so.  I had a sense this was my metamorphosis in the making.

Nine months later, I created this presentation – a lively dialogue/song performance based program, which creatively explores and celebrates the right to a positive life transition/metamorphosis to the “third age” for those of the baby boom and older generations.  In my fiftieth year I had discovered the empowerment of aging and the wonderful “music” of life’s experience.

Using four songs I’ve written in four, 15 minute speaking segments, I discuss the challenges of transition from a work or lifestyle situation to a new direction for those fifty and older, while helping to bring into focus life-long interests or talents.  This includes looking at involvement in community/civic service and how we might bring our life experience to build caring communities around us.  The songs set the stage for creative thinking.

In essence our experiences can be considered our songs – the songs we have been writing every day of our lives.  This presentation focuses on those experiences and how we can share our “songs” with others.  With questions and answers, the program runs 90 minutes and is suited for adult education and community outreach programs, college and university alumni events, conferences, annual meetings, and corporate and special events.

We, the baby boom generation, and those of previous generations, have an extraordinary opportunity to continue to positively impact the world around us.  We are in the enviable position of having lived through many experiences yet young and vital enough to contribute those experiences to others.  Taking charge of our futures is to positively relate to our transitioning lives and reach across to the younger and older generations with a message of a caring community.

Tom is represented by NextAge Speakers Bureau

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