"At the ugly heart of ageism is the idea that to age is to lose value as a human being."
Those are fighting words, no matter what your age as you read them. They're how aging activist and author Ashton Applewhite opens my recent interview with her on the topic of ageism, which means discrimination on the basis of age. This episode really resonated with me!
Like so many people, I've unconsciously adopted ageism myself. When I look in the mirror at age 69, I see wrinkles and sagging and it looks... ugly. And yes, that makes me feel washed up and less valuable. But why?
Ashton pokes and prods as we talk, challenging my assumptions and shedding light on what might be the last acceptable prejudice in our society.
Whether you are older or younger, how do you experience ageism? Is your age irrelevant? Or do you find yourself, like me, feeling washed up and less valuable sometimes? What are you thoughts on aging and getting older?
Please let me know your thoughts by replying to this email. I'd really like to hear (and I promise to respond).
I hope this message finds you well and safe.
I'm finding this to be perhaps the most difficult period of the pandemic, knowing that the vaccine is here but not available yet. At least in the state of Maine.
Click here to go right to this new episode of The Gap Year Podcast to listen and for the show notes which include useful links.
Yours in hope, health, and new possibilities in 2021,
Debbie
P.S. If you want to dive deeper on the topic of aging and ageism, you can listen to my conversation with Ashton Appewhite here. It really changed the way I look at simple things, like how and when I choose to use the words “young” and “old.” You'll be surprised as well.
podcaster | author | nonfiction writing coach
I help writers get unstuck
http://debbieweil.com/book-coaching
mobile: 202.255.1467
private email: wordbiz@gmail.com
The Gap Year Podcast
Visit https://debbieweil.com/podcast
for all the episodes and show notes.
Making the most of the collective gap
year we are all living through right now.
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