Who Am I Becoming? Aging with Courage & Wisdom

One cannot live the afternoon of life according to the program of life’s morning, for what was great in the morning will be of little importance in the evening, and what in the morning was true will at evening have become a lie. ― C.G. Jung

The transition toward the latter part of our careers is a significant milestone – one potentially joyful, exciting, scary, and fraught with questions. Many of us may find ourselves so busy on the treadmill of constant activity that this change creeps up on us, catching us by surprise, when one day, it looms large. “Who am I becoming” becomes a vital yet often unanswered question, since this exploration is carried out in isolation, if at all; our culture is not typically a place in which deep reflection on aging with grace is fostered, or even acknowledged.

This Courage & Renewal® series is offered as a space in which we can discover who we want to become as we transition into and through the natural movements that are a part of wise aging. These may include reflection, making peace with the past, and exploring aspects of ourselves that until now, have not had the chance to flourish. It will offer an opportunity to grasp what our lives have been about, coming more fully alive as we consider the possibility of claiming the unlived parts of ourselves, which might include creative endeavors, thoughtful shadow work, a deeper commitment to inner life investigation, as well as the ways in which we might be in service to our families, friends, causes, institutions, and this aching world which so badly needs our emerging gifts and strengths.

Drawing on principles and practices of the Circle of Trust® retreat through large group, small group, and solitary reflection, this retreat series, and the peer learning circles bookended by those retreats, offer a trustworthy container in which to…

• Explore a different “teacher” – the inner teacher.
• Acknowledge the fears and feelings associated with change and transition.
• Discover aspects of self that may have gone previously unexplored as we move from “role to soul.”
• Imagine into what wants to be let go to make room for that which wishes to be known.
• Consider the legacy and contributions we want to leave to others.
• Lean into our longings, to uncover and claim our unlived life.

Who Am I Becoming? will be grounded in the Courage & Renewal® approach which you can learn more about in Parker J. Palmer’s book, A Hidden Wholeness. Although participants will surely refer to their higher education settings in the circle, this experience is appropriate for anyone longing to connect with the heart of who we are, as we seek to age with courage, wisdom, and grace. All are welcome.