AGEISM. What is it and how can you overcome it ?

First just let me say that this is a follow up on a post by a fellow WA member who I respect and appreciate for the work he is doing in this community.

I'm not posting this to criticize anyone or condemn anyone, just offering my opinion on this subject.

AGEISM WHAT IS IT AND IS IT STILL ALIVE TODAY ?

If, you do a google search, a Wikipedia definition of Ageism is defined as : Ageism, also spelled Agism. Is stereotyping and discrimination against individuals or groups on the basis of their age. This may be casual or systematic. The term was coined in 1969 by Robert Neil Butler to describe discrimination against seniors, and patterned on sexism and racism.

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Ageism is real, but it is especially real to those who accept and buy into the ageism label that some might want to attach to the older folks in our community as being.. Too old, irrelevant, and unable to perform or accomplish a task as well as younger folks, or unable to contribute creative ideas, and innovative concepts in a meaningful way.

Now that we have got that out of the way...

If anyone tries to attach that label on you and you don't.. Agree with it.. Buy into it.. Or accept that it applies to you... Then I suggest that you peel that label from off your forehead, draw a smiley face on it and toss it in the trash ! :)

The only label you should wear is the one that you put on yourself. Now if you agree that you are too old and irrelevant then by all means..Own it and embrace it, and wear it proudly.

If, you accept that label, then you should be able to say out loud.. I'm old and irrelevant and proud of it! without shame...

However, if you don't agree or accept that as being true of you, then you need to take that label and re-write the narrative, flip the script if you will.. Whatever way you want to phrase it, show the naysayers that you don't fit into their stereotypical story line.

When I replied to the original post on ageism by my fellow WA member, I included some examples of some older folks who accomplished some pretty incredible things.

These folks defined themselves as not being too old or irrelevant .. Not by their words, but by their actions and accomplishments.

For example, there is the woman in her 70s who I believe.. ( I'm looking for the story so I can post the details on my website. I had the story saved somewhere) .. Broke a swimming record, by swimming non-stop for a few days in shark infested waters a year or so ago.

*(That story like the rest, was about a year from the original post date)

Then there is the 89-year-old man who lifted over 400lbs, who couldn't have weighed much more than 100lbs himself, I have the video of that story but since I try not to post links on my blogs here at WA because of the rules.

I have the link on my profile page along with a link to a story about a 73-year-old first time mom who gave birth to her first child with her 80 year old husband.

*Update. Those links may no longer be available, or working on todays date, which is different from the original post date.

You can copy and paste those links in your browser to view the video and read the full stories, if they are available. There are more examples that I will post on my health news and information site when I find them.

There are many talented young people in our community and I would like to give them credit for their many positive accomplishments and contributions to our world. I give them much credit for what they do to improve our lives and the talents they provide to help us all.

I just don't understand or accept, how some (Not all) can dismiss the talents and abilities of older folks and consider us as being too old and irrelevant.

As I mentioned before in my reply to the earlier post on this subject by a fellow WA member, who seemed to be disturbed by this attitude that he was getting from some purple haired girl, as he discribed her.

No one person or one group of people..Whether it be young or old, rich or poor.. no one group has a monopoly on creativity, talent, ability or relevance.

Is Mozart, Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Pablo Picasso, people long dead and gone still relevant today ? Is their creativity and talent considered outdated?

Do we still listen to their music, view their talent.. Don't we still use Edison s creativity, the light bulb today ? How valuable is Pablo Picasso's creativity and work ?

I don't know of anyone who is younger and just starting to paint who can sell their work at a higher price, and that has the value of a Picasso.

Don't young people today sometimes sample the music of older artist, and include them in their recordings ?

We still use the basic design of the light bulb that Edison invented to light up the night many years ago right now, it hasn't become out dated or been replaced yet by some new form of lighting.

(Although there has been some modifications over the years, the basic design has not changed)

According to history, we went from lighting the darkness... By fire.. The candle.. Then kerosene lamps, to the light bulb..

The same basic design of the light bulb that we still use today, in this modern world filled with innovations and technology.

We can still listen to Mozart on some classical music stations today, even some of his work has been sampled by modern artists.

I guess that old biblical passage still holds true today...There is nothing new under the sun. And speaking of the sun, talk about old design, not even Edison could improve on that original light design

And so the next time the purple haired girl ( You have to have read the first post to know who I'm talking about) tries to tell you that you are too old and your ideas are irrelevant , tell her to turn on the light so she can see you, and listen to Mozart so she can hear you, and tell her that no one person or group owns..or has a copyright or patent on creativity or relevance.

I guess as long as some people have a stereotypical view of what old age means then ageism will live on and be alive and well for future generations of old people.. The ones who are young right now.

I have rambled on for to long, gotta go now, its time for me to get out of my rocking chair and take my nap :)