Aged Education.

My mentor coach baptised me the poster boy of halftime. Ati if halftime were a billboard I would be it. I proudly accepted that association because I felt halftime chose me first, and then I chose halftime. We have been in a committed relationship since then hehe. I read the halftime book around 2016 and felt like finally, someone has put in words what I’m going through. I found my calling as I was trying to sort out my midlife manenos. Since then helping folks transition successfully from success to significance has been meaningful and deeply satisfying work. The plan is to maximise that work in my new decade on the fifth floor.

We grew up laughing at older kids in school. I attended Lenana school aka Duke of York. As a national school, it was no surprise being in form one with someone whose agemates are in form 4. Kids from different parts of the country went to school at different ages. Economic ability could have been a key reason for that. I hope karma is not coming back to bite me because I now find myself in class with folks much younger than me. But it’s different this time around. because i chose to go to school.

Now that I’m older and hopefully wiser I look back at all my formal education and notice that the schooling I enjoyed the most was from my MBA up to now. We go through school because it’s what a civilized society does. It has always been that way. But now school is changing to suit the various talents and personalities of learners. It’s no longer one size fits all. Education is now on the go like buying fast food at a drive thru. You pay only for what you need when you need it.

Most of the folks in their 40s and 50s are products of the 8-4-4 system of education where success was measured by the grades one got in class. I was a terribly average student and that made me see life through the lens of a C student. I would admire my peers who topped the class and somehow resigned that they will always be at the top and I will occupy average territory throughout life. How wrong I was. There’s even a song by Bien that brings out that reality well. He sings that the A students work for the B students in a company owned by the C student (that would be me hehe) in the land of the D students. Thankfully my C in class remained in class. There was room out here to get As in my areas of strength and interest.

Transitions require one to reprogram their mind and outlook. Sometimes even how we dress and behave has to change. I know folks who even drop their names and pick others triggered by a midlife awakening. For me the transition has been greatly assisted by going back to school but this time to first unlearn and then learn new stuff. When you choose your education then you are bound to be an A student. I have enjoyed all the schooling I have done in my second half of life because I can see where I need it and what it will do for me. Education in the second half of life is on our terms and not just to meet some curriculum or graduation requirements. We take it more seriously because we know the value we seek. But also maybe it’s because we are paying for it and not being sponsored by wazazi (our parents)

Last week I sat in a class for 3 days. It had been a long time since so I was looking forward to class for 3 reasons. It was in person. It was a welcome break from online learning. It was in a nice hotel so we ate good food and got those posh pencils and writing pads hehe. Thirdly (and most important for me) I was going to meet new people as I learned new things. How exciting.

This class had been showing up randomly on my radar and a few folks have recommended it. I took that as a sign that I needed I do it. It was a certification in emotional intelligence taught by my good friend and mwalimu Vicky.

It was a great experience in class for the three days despite the information overload. Most of my new classmates are in formal working environments so it appeared easier to assimilate the learnings at work. It was different for me because I’m not formally employed. Growing my EQ to improve my personal relationships and become a better coach was my motivation.

We still have several weeks of work ahead to become certified practitioners. I hope to be more aware of my emotions and those of others and grow my inner wisdom by seeing what is hidden from view and hearing what is not said. That will help me relate better with myself and others. I hope to be able to unearth more for my coaching clients and understand the effects of their transitions on them at a deeper level.

Last week was fun education. I never thought education would be fun. I’m understanding stuff easier so maybe I wasn’t the problem back in primary and high school. Perhaps my teachers and I were a mismatch. Or was it the content taught and the format it was delivered in? I will soon answer some of these questions now that I’m working on being more emotionally intelligent.

Folks I hope I have convinced you to flip your mindset. From laughing at old classmates like the ones back in school to admiring wababas and wamamas who have gone back to school because they chose and wanted to. That demonstrates the desire to grow and expand our thinking. And that’s one way of measuring a life well lived.

My fellow aged people, let’s embrace new learnings so that we can age like a fine drink hehe.