As a generation of older individuals, yours has experienced more change than any other. Depending upon your age right now, there’s a good chance that besides basic life events like education, marriage, children, and work, you’ve experienced one or two World Wars, the Depression, the baby boom, and countless inventions including television, computers and frozen food!

You have so many stories to tell, stories that are both interesting and filled with wisdom. Sadly, there will come a time when these invaluable life lessons will be forever lost. Or will they?

By now you’ve probably had a chance to share many of your life stories with your loved ones and that’s good. But do you realize that besides your immediate family there are others who can benefit from all the wisdom you have gained throughout your life?

Up until recently, few opportunities existed for younger men and women to interact with others more close in age to their grandparents. This gap between generations can be attributed in large part to an inability of each generation to understand and relate to the other.

And this is unfortunate because once these two generations start sharing their experiences it quickly becomes apparent that they’re not really that different! Intergenerational conversations, as they’ve come to be known, can be a tremendous benefit everyone involved. If you’d like an opportunity to share your wisdom and enrich younger people’s lives, here are some ways you can get involved in this rewarding experience.

Ways to promote intergenerational conversations
At your religious institution
More and more religious institutions are arranging intergenerational conversations. If you’re a member, ask administrators whether they have any such gatherings planned. If not, perhaps you can take the lead and put one together.

Volunteering at schools
From elementary school to college campuses, inviting older individuals to appear as guest speakers or as participants in organized intergenerational conversations is growing more popular. Contact educational institutions in your area to find out about upcoming opportunities.

Senior centers
Communities sometimes organize these types of gatherings. Next time you’re visiting your local senior center, check to see if there’s one scheduled in the near future. Again, if there isn’t, perhaps you can drum up some interest.

The reality is that intergenerational conversations can take place anytime you’ve got a group willing to share their stories in an informative, non-judgmental way. It’s best if they take place in informal settings that are warm and private. The environment should be conducive to conversation and free of excess noise that that may make it more difficult for those with hearing problems. But there is another option.

Cyber grandparents web sites
These are web sites headed by grandparents who have come together to give out advice on all sorts of issues via the Internet. One such website is the Elder Wisdom Circle web site. If you’re interested, try performing an internet search on this topic and then pursue the leads that sound interesting.

The opportunities are out there, but you might have to put forth a bit of extra effort to find them. But the effort and the experience both will be worthwhile.