Bonnie Fatio and Kristin Engvig during Win Conference drumming

Imagine 700 women coordinating their drumming beats for harmonious rhythm and you have an idea of the power of women of all ages working together towards one common goal.  – Moving to the same beat.

This was an exercise in the closing ceremony of the 2010 WIN Conference in Paris, where I was honored to speak.  Sewa Beats brought in 700 African drums and coordinated the movement and sounds, unifying us in a unique and powerful experience.  Each of us contributed to the amazing sound.  Age, physical appearance, mobility, intelligence, previous musical experience, profession and ethnic background were not factors in our success.  It was the movement of working together to the same beat!  And we did it with laughter and energy!

Drumming provided a wonderful example of intergenerational collaboration, and an exercise in age esteem.  There are times when we bring unique talents, experience and point of view to a new activity and group of people because of our age.  We bring our uniqueness to complement the uniqueness of others.  There are other moments, such as the drumming, when the intergenerational aspect is one of  blending and equalizing.  We each bring our unique gifts and experience but it is used to make a common sound and to move to the same beat for the desired result.  Age esteem helps us have confidence to know when to complement and when to blend.

Bonnie Fatio