Elderhood and wisdom.

"Life can only be understood backwards;but it must be lived forwards," Soren Kierkegaard

As we strive to flourish in our postmenopausal years and to build community and mutual support, it is worth remembering we have much to offer in wisdom and life experience. Being marginalized and disregarded is all too common, especially in some parts of Western culture where aging is considered something to be ignored or marginalized.

Today's world faces a "wisdom gap" that elders are uniquely qualified to bridge. We are slowly emerging from a time of youth-centric culture that often viewed aging as a decline in both purpose and function; however, many ancient and modern perspectives recognize elder women as essential anchors for a healthy society.

Historically, and in ancient myth, the "Crone" was a "Wise Woman," not a figure of fear or one to be derided, but who was understood to be a source of power and insight. Rather than age being viewed as a diminishment, it is time for us to understand it as a return to a deeper, more authentic power.

The International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers is a forceful example of the active role elders are playing in environmental activism and being stewards of Mother Earth.

In Ofunato, Japan, the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake devastated the area. Elders of the community planned and built the Ibasho Cafe, which now acts as a hub that is restoring the fabric of the community. This is an ideal example of elders leading the way to resilience and changing people's mindset around aging and usefulness.

Intergenerational connections introduce younger generations to heritage and customs that might otherwise be lost. It also fosters cognitive and physical health and a sense of social cohesion among the elders. The younger generation is exposed to differing and past perspectives on life and current changes in the world.

In this fast-paced digital world, it is too easy to lose the importance of taking time to connect with those around us and to learn how others have lived and interacted with life and its challenges.

In a time when the path forward for women feels increasingly narrow, there is a profound, quiet power in the voices of those who have walked it before.