Pat Whitty, Modern Elder (Episode 32)
09/02/21 • 50 min
Pat Whitty, Modern Elder
(The Open Nesters Episode 32)
Welcome to this week’s podcast! We have a very special interview for you, with a “modern elder” named Pat Whitty. This remarkable septuagenerian (age 78) is the very picture of an Open Nester. Life changes, career changes, finding great meaning in his life in his Act IIl (or as Pat calls it ‘Chapter Four’) define this fascinating man.
Pat is an alumnus and community leader of an organization called M|E|A The Modern Elder Academy. This organization is in Baja, California and is positioned as a “mid-life business school.” People “connect with their wisdom” during two week visits to their campus. It’s about finding your path in your next chapter of life.
Pat Whitty calls himself a Modern Elder Whisperer. Through his own study of health, aging, and his own transition to a Modern Elder, Pat has a unique understanding of the emotional and psychological needs of elders.
Pat recently left his position as the Dean of the School of Business at a San Antonio university to pursue a new career as a Health and Life Transition Coach helping people in midlife and beyond write the next chapter of their life.
He has a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development from Incarnate Word University. He was manager of Leadership and Management Training at Chase Bank for 10 years.
Pat is the president of the Rotary Club of San Antonio at the Dominion.
More About Pat
Pat has been in this space for a long time. He owned the Dale Carnegie Training franchise in South Texas for most of his life. There they focused on personal development, communication skills, leadership, and management. Most recently he found himself to be the dean at a school of business in San Antonio, TX. He observed his life there. Private parking space, prestige, responsibility. Yet he was mostly just answering emails all day long where the dialogue was mostly about “CYA... covering your ass.” THIS was not how Pat wanted to spend the rest of his days. He made a decision to leave that big job... voluntarily... at age 78!! At this age that is most certainly a “bridge burned!”
Pat formed his company “Chapter Four Coaching.” The name comes from Pat’s mom’s advice:
Chapter One: “Get a Good Education”
Chapter Two: “Find a Real Good Job with a Real Good Company”
Chapter Three: “Retire and Live Happily Every After”
For Pat it’s all about Chapter Four.
My old self stalks me
Like a jilted lover
Keeping me from the new person
I’m eager to discover
That person did not make me happy
Yet it is still pulling on me
The security of misery
Is keeping me from being free
Am I Vladimir or Estragon
Waiting for Godot
Wasting my life away
In search of someone I don’t know
I’m hearing the call
Ready for the adventure
Can’t cross the threshold
Until I find a mentor
Why am I afraid of uncertainty
Seduced by the illusion of knowing
It’s all in the past
Keeping me from growing
The whales in the ocean
Come up for air
Their water spouts telling me
They know it will be there
What should I do
As I hang in mid-air
Let go. Let go
Trust that it will be there
Resources for You
We want to provide you with support and many many resources for your own Open Nesting Journey. Our resource page has so much to offer as does our private discussion group on Facebook about queerness and other topics of interest:
The Open Nesters Private Facebook Group
-
- ask to join and we’ll let you in
Resources from Pat Whitty
Pat Whitty, Modern Elder
(The Open Nesters Episode 32)
Welcome to this week’s podcast! We have a very special interview for you, with a “modern elder” named Pat Whitty. This remarkable septuagenerian (age 78) is the very picture of an Open Nester. Life changes, career changes, finding great meaning in his life in his Act IIl (or as Pat calls it ‘Chapter Four’) define this fascinating man.
Pat is an alumnus and community leader of an organization called M|E|A The Modern Elder Academy. This organization is in Baja, California and is positioned as a “mid-life business school.” People “connect with their wisdom” during two week visits to their campus. It’s about finding your path in your next chapter of life.
Pat Whitty calls himself a Modern Elder Whisperer. Through his own study of health, aging, and his own transition to a Modern Elder, Pat has a unique understanding of the emotional and psychological needs of elders.
Pat recently left his position as the Dean of the School of Business at a San Antonio university to pursue a new career as a Health and Life Transition Coach helping people in midlife and beyond write the next chapter of their life.
He has a Master’s Degree in Organizational Development from Incarnate Word University. He was manager of Leadership and Management Training at Chase Bank for 10 years.
Pat is the president of the Rotary Club of San Antonio at the Dominion.
More About Pat
Pat has been in this space for a long time. He owned the Dale Carnegie Training franchise in South Texas for most of his life. There they focused on personal development, communication skills, leadership, and management. Most recently he found himself to be the dean at a school of business in San Antonio, TX. He observed his life there. Private parking space, prestige, responsibility. Yet he was mostly just answering emails all day long where the dialogue was mostly about “CYA... covering your ass.” THIS was not how Pat wanted to spend the rest of his days. He made a decision to leave that big job... voluntarily... at age 78!! At this age that is most certainly a “bridge burned!”
Pat formed his company “Chapter Four Coaching.” The name comes from Pat’s mom’s advice:
Chapter One: “Get a Good Education”
Chapter Two: “Find a Real Good Job with a Real Good Company”
Chapter Three: “Retire and Live Happily Every After”
For Pat it’s all about Chapter Four.
My old self stalks me
Like a jilted lover
Keeping me from the new person
I’m eager to discover
That person did not make me happy
Yet it is still pulling on me
The security of misery
Is keeping me from being free
Am I Vladimir or Estragon
Waiting for Godot
Wasting my life away
In search of someone I don’t know
I’m hearing the call
Ready for the adventure
Can’t cross the threshold
Until I find a mentor
Why am I afraid of uncertainty
Seduced by the illusion of knowing
It’s all in the past
Keeping me from growing
The whales in the ocean
Come up for air
Their water spouts telling me
They know it will be there
What should I do
As I hang in mid-air
Let go. Let go
Trust that it will be there
Resources for You
We want to provide you with support and many many resources for your own Open Nesting Journey. Our resource page has so much to offer as does our private discussion group on Facebook about queerness and other topics of interest:
The Open Nesters Private Facebook Group
-
- ask to join and we’ll let you in
Resources from Pat Whitty
Previous Episode
#Open (Episode 31)
#Open
(The Open Nesters Episode 31)
Welcome to this week’s podcast! This is Tessa. Amir and I have a big idea to share with you... in a word hashtag open (#open). Our guests are two people living in an open relationship... who are behind this incredible new service, software, app. David Epstein and Amanda Wilson are the co-founders of this community. From the website:
#open is dedicated, first and foremost, to being inclusive: to accepting people of all gender identities and orientations, from all walks of life, in any sort of relationship that makes you happy, no matter what gets you going.David and Amanda consider themselves “open together.” They have been in an open partnership for seven years after David’s divorce. They make decisions together with their eyes at all times on honesty and transparency. They work hard together to satisfy their needs as individuals, and as a couple. Amanda and David are deeply in love, so lovely to see.
I particularly love a phrase that they both used in our interview... a “win-win-plus.” These two inspiring people are looking to make better the lives of so many who are seeking ethical non-monogamy.
Resources for You
We want to provide you with support and many many resources for your own Open Nesting Journey. Our resource page has so much to offer as does our private discussion group on Facebook about queerness and other topics of interest:
The Open Nesters Private Facebook Group
-
- ask to join and we’ll let you in
Next Episode
Hot Flashes and Cool Topics (Episode 33)
Hot Flashes and Cool Topics
(The Open Nesters Episode 33)
Welcome to this week’s podcast! This is Tessa. I have two powerful women on this week’s show. Colleen Ricci Rosenblum and Bridget Biagi Garratt join me in a lively conversation about aging, an empty nest, menopause and... as the title suggests, Hot Flashes. Colleen and Bridget created a podcast for women over 50 called Hot Flashes and Cool Topics. They have had some impressive guests already and have even been featured in Women’s Day Magazine.
A PODCAST FOR MIDLIFE WOMEN
Hot Flashes & Cool Topics Podcast is changing the narrative for women in midlife and beyond. The cultural lag needs to catch up to modern women over 50 who have more spending power, wisdom and positive energy to share with the world. Hot Flashes & Cool Topics features women over 50 that are single/married, professional/entrepreneur/retired, empty nester/childfree but all have in common that they enjoy the freedoms that come with this time. We cover every aspect of the modern midlife and beyond woman and showcase them as we are today and will continue to be tomorrow.
COLLEEN
Colleen started her professional career as an attorney, then a stay-at-home mom, Pilates instructor and now podcaster. She is married to her high school sweetheart, has two beautiful adult daughters and two adored pets.
BRIDGET
Bridgett is the married mother of two, former elementary school teacher, turned small time actor, turned podcaster along with friend and co-host Colleen Rosenblum. Bridget and Colleen started this podcast because the want to be the “umbrella” of topics that relate to midlife women... in a conversation style to ensure their voices are heard.
Resources for You
We want to provide you with support and many many resources for your own Open Nesting Journey. Our resource page has so much to offer as does our private discussion group on Facebook about queerness and other topics of interest:
The Open Nesters Private Facebook Group
-
- ask to join and we’ll let you in
Resources from Bridget and Colleen
Hot Flashes & Cool Topics Blog
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