Who are you? I know, bit of a tough question to open up a post so let’s be more specific.
Titles and role names can be a struggle for all us in the world of work. We can get caught between wanting to sound incredibly important, knowing our stuff and being someone of note or of being some kind of unique, creative genius. Straying too close to either of these extremes and you risk being an imposter (that’s not actually what I do) or simply obscuring your value, talent, and gift.
Since having started reading the wonderful new book from Lori Kane – Unshaken Wonder: Becoming Playful Elders Together I been reflecting on the title and characteristic of a playful elder.
Lori refers to a playful elder as someone within a community that leads by not taking themselves too seriously. Mixed with a fair bit of frolicking a playful elder moves freely through the world and makes you feel free as a result. They help people feel more authentic and less on guard.
A playful elder doesn’t have to be of a certain age, although they may be older than you. A playful elder doesn’t have to have a particular expertise or authority, just an authenticity that makes you want to be around them more.
My eyes and ears pricked up at this. I’ve always struggled to fit the term teacher in and around what I do. A teacher can be playful of course, but that word is more often associated with the passing down and imparting of some sort of revered knowledge or expertise. Less about discovery and more about the transmission of data and information.
We can also glean some deeper message from the phrase ‘I’ll teach you a lesson’. That’s not really sitting well with me. My work is more closely defined by a playful performance and a group experience of fun and breakthroughs.
Sometimes I can sit in a session and smile to myself, ‘I get paid for this?’ That is when the joy is flowing and participants are finding their inner smile by learning about what they are capable of. What a hoot! Playful indeed.
As Lori states, as a playful elder, you can encourage your groups to ‘grow more and curious and be more willing to play, listen and learn’. There is a beautiful commitment to being different from adults yet not children. What a wonderful space to live in and do your work. A middle ground of connection and wonder that can weave a trail of laughter and sensitive spirit.
As a playful elder, you might lead in an expected way or you might be led as the group grows in strength and cohesion. Who is leading who? you may ask.