Why does every ex-elder who went through so much turmoil while being an elder always whine to me about how much it sucked, yet when I mention that I don't want to be one, they suddenly get all nostalgic and tell me what a blessing it is to serve as an E-man?
This reminds me of almost every dude I've ever known who has been in the military, including my father. The far majority of them had absolutely nothing positive to say about their experiences in uniform. Yet the ironic part is, the far majority of those same folks will encourage someone else to join the arm services. They'll use every persuasive argument from it being an honor, to it being your duty, to it making a man out of you. Meanwhile 5 minutes before praising the armed forces, they were badmouthing their entire time spent there and everybody else in their units. For them to encourage someone to join, it's almost like they find it unfair that there's people out there who haven't felt their pain.
As far as being an elder is concerned, I've jokingly argued with my dad, telling him that he suckered me into this appointed bull crap. I should have known better too, considering all the years as a child our house would be on pens and needles when dad was on his way home from an elder's meeting. We were always worried about him being in a bad mood, and irritable. He wasn't physically abusive or anything, but borderline verbally abusive, and more prone to say regretful things after an elder's meeting. Why I followed in his footsteps and didn't rebel like other youths of my generation, I'll never know. Probably fear......
As far as being nostalgic, and viewing it as a blessing, in my opinion being an elder is about as much of a blessing as being diagnosed with cancerous hemoroids.