what if we had intergenerational friendships?
In our series called “What if…?” we dream about utopian ideas together. We want to embrace the experience and reflect what we think about it. Come along!
Imagine this:
You get ready for your weekly meeting with your friend. You think about whether their children visited them in the retirement home last week, like they wished for. You think about how their winding career path helped you rethink expectations for your own career. You think how fresh and enriching this friendship has been for you.
What if we had intergenerational friendships?
Imagine a community with opportunities to connect with, let’s say, retired people in their 70s. An opportunity for mutual enrichment and refreshing perspectives between two generations that have otherwise little in common. One could match 20-somethings with 70-somethings based on common interests and hobbies, or skills one wants to learn from the other. Whether there are regular group meetings, maybe even including presentations from both generations to learn from each other, or individual meetings over coffee or tea, sharing our current struggles and fears with someone in their 70s that has a completely different perspective, wisdom, and values can change how we approach our struggles and fears.
What we could learn from someone in their 70s:
Perspective on life. Most current crises will pass and seem less relevant with time.
Patience with uncertainty. Life rarely follows a plan and often that’s for the better.
Craftsmanship. Think cooking (no convenience meals or takeout), knitting, sewing, woodworking, repairing things.
Career paths. They aren’t linear and we don’t need to have a dream career path lined up for us right now.
What someone in their 70s could learn from us:
Technology. How we can use digital tools to keep in touch with friends and family or even make new connections.
Fluid identities. Reinventing ourselves is normal and we shouldn’t be afraid of change.
Asking questions and staying curious. Challenge “that’s how it’s always been done” thinking and never stop learning and being curious about things we don’t understand (yet).
Activism and engagement. Standing up for one’s values and finding ways to change social or political systems for the better. It’s never too late for that.
Such connections can have endless perks. Exploring different perspectives can reduce stereotypes and stigma. Instead of discrepancy between generations, we foster an appreciative society. Learning new things can enrich our lives and make things easier, for example when discussing how employment termination can have unforeseen advantages and lead to unique opportunities. Intergenerational friendships can also reduce loneliness that retired adults often feel. Moreover, diverse support networks increase our resources, which can come in handy when we need help and support.
You might think “That’s what my family is for!” That’s amazing, but not everyone is lucky enough to (still) have a family or feels like they can rely on them.
We want to know: What do you think you can teach your 70-something friend? And what advice would you like to get from your 70-something friend?
For me: I could get them excited to find a new hobby or dive deep into a topic they find interesting (e.g., mushroom picking, going to the movies, watching documentaries on sea life or reading Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari). On the other hand, I’d love to have someone who can share their career path and unforeseen struggles along the way to give me perspective on my career start.
With love,
Jen