Nice topic Caitianx. I completely agree. I think that the older members have a very important role to play in the community; helping the youngest members go through one of life's most significant and stressful events; going out on their own. They come to us at 18 or 19, just out of high school or college, need to find a job and a place to live. In most cases, it's the most difficult and stressful time of their life. Being AB can play a positive or negative role in that transition.
The older members don't need to share every little thought that comes to their mind because they've been there before. What they do bring are their experiences, having been through most of it already and perhaps the quiet knowledge that things usually work themselves out. I'm not religious but I've found that when you're in need, a new opportunity always presents itself. You just need to be prepared to take advantage of it. My grandmother used to say "for every door that closes, an new one opens. We, the older members of the community, know that already.
