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As you’ve no doubt heard or experienced, aging is not for wimps. Approaching 70, I freely admit that I do miss being 35 from time to time. But there are some advantages to those later 35 years: acquiring a long-view perspective, a bit more wisdom and empathy, and getting to watch the next generations come up with their own approaches to life’s challenges.
Gifts such as these are reasons I hope Gov. Janet Mills opts out of running for U.S. Senate next year. I have great respect for our governor — for both what she has accomplished and how she has accomplished it, with strength, humility and great courage as she has served and protected the people of Maine, even standing her (our) ground in response to the president. I think she has served so well.
Now I believe her best role going forward is to be a guide, mentor, wise counselor for the next generation of Maine leaders. We need fresh approaches to fixing the brokenness of Congress, where nearly half of senators are lawyers. We need younger voices, where the average age of senators is nearly 64 years old (and there are more in the 70-79 range than 50-59). And they will surely need trusted advisors as they serve.
It is time for Maine to begin passing the torch, to help build a Congress of new creative thinkers and doers who stand on the shoulders of giants like Mills. It takes a bit of courage, for her to take on a supporting role, for voters to take a chance on someone new, but we are Maine. We can do it.
Nina Wason
South Thomaston
