Darwin Day and Career Transition Over 50
Details
A brief outline of what will be covered in this Meetup appears below. A $5 fee is being charged to cover the room rental expense. Please make sure to RSVP on the Meetup site if you are planning to attend. Thank you!
February 12 is celebrated globally as International Charles Darwin Day, honoring the birthday of Charles Darwin, whose ideas about evolution transformed how we understand life and adaptation. This day highlights curiosity, intellectual bravery, and scientific thinking.
Planned Activities for our Meetup to Honour this Day:
Core premise:
> “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent—but the one most responsive to change.”
> (Often attributed to Darwin; the sentiment captures his work even if the wording is paraphrased.)
***
## 1. Welcome & Warm-Up
### “Darwin Day is not about biology—it’s about becoming.”
### 1. Light warm-up and Reflective Exercise
What is one way the world of work has changed since you first entered it--and one way you have changed?
## 2. Triads: Scenario Review — Five Lives!
You will be given an opportunity in groups of three to examine the stories of five lives. Patterns of adaptation challenges across the five lives will be the focus of the conversation.
Specifically:
- What environmental pressures are acting on this person?
- Where is adaptation being resisted—or forced?
- What would “better fit” look like for them?
- What false story about success or age might be limiting them?
***
## 3. “Fit, Not Failure”
(Dyads or triads)
To counter shame and self-criticism common in later-life transitions.
Quote (Canadian):
> “You are not obliged to be the same person you were five minutes ago.”
> — Margaret Atwood
***
### Exercise
This time the focus is on you. How do we silence the self-critical gremlins in our brains?
## 4. Whole-Group Integration & Closing Conversation
> “Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything—that’s how the light gets in.”
> — Leonard Cohen
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