Elders

I just finished watching “The Last Dance,” the documentary miniseries about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. I highly recommend it. It is beautifully inspiring. And it does a good job of showing the light and the shadow side of the competitive drive.

Michael Jordan is this bigger than life figure. This living idol that could deliver magic over and over again. There is a point at which he is referred to as the “alpha of alphas,” and we know how ugly that can get. 

But it is almost in passing that they talk about his relationship with his security team. The first couple of times I saw them I thought to myself: those guys don’t look too tough! In fact, they are pretty old. They of course had deep experience and training. But what was moving was when they spoke about how good it was for Mike that they were elders.

This man who was constantly hounded by people who wanted something from him, had managed to surround himself by a circle of trust made up of predominantly Black older men. I teared up when I heard it. How beautiful, and how important.

We are blessed to have elders be part of the Better Men Project. 

I lost my Abuelo a year ago this March. I will always cherish the relationship we built.

Do you have male elders in your life?
How can we connect to men who have attained wisdom through life?
Are you an elder yourself? What are you learning about stepping into the role?

I look forward to being with you next week.

Saludos,

Gibrán