To that rumble in our heads that reminds us of everything we have to do, the guilt for everything we have not reached or the self-demand of being perfect … is joined by another heavy burden that increases as the years go by : own age. What was missing. If with all this it is already difficult to be a woman, on top of that we always have to be young. It's over. Being young does not guarantee happiness, being older does not mean being obsolete, inactive and sad. We are going to change this movie together. We are going to beat ageism.
To that rumble in our heads that reminds us of everything we have to do, the guilt for everything we have not reached or the self-demand of being perfect … is joined by another heavy burden that increases as the years go by : own age. What was missing. If with all this it is already difficult to be a woman, on top of that we always have to be young. It's over. Being young does not guarantee happiness, being older does not mean being obsolete, inactive and sad. We are going to change this movie together. We are going to beat ageism.
Ageism: Have you said or done any of these things?
- Lying about your age.
- "But how is that skirt wearing, if she's very old?"
- Go to the doctor with your parents, in case they don't find out.
- Feeling obnoxious or making fun of two people older than you who are kissing.
- "This woman must have been very pretty when she was young."
- Do not wear glasses closely even if you need them …
Ageism does not sound familiar to you, but it is not new …
It is called ageism, it is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and it is just another way of discriminating against others but on the basis of age. And yes, it sounds strange, because we are very used to other forms of discrimination, such as racism, but not to this, even though it is very present and affects us all. It affects our self-perception, the value we place on ourselves, our way of acting, dressing, how we relate to others and even our work. And if not, look at this data: about 30% of people over 45 have suffered discrimination because of their age, according to the National Institute of Statistics.
And that having a birthday would have to be, a priori, a reason for joy and celebration, and even more so when the alternative is to die … It is clear that getting old has its disadvantages, especially physical ones, but even that can be corrected if we carry a healthy life style. However, explains Carl Honoré, author of the book In Praise of Experience (RBA Books), the biggest drawback is "dealing with our toxic vision of aging."
Ageism has many forms
Although ageism is more common in those over 60, it actually affects people of all ages. One of its most serious consequences is found in the workplace. Who doesn't know someone who has been fired from their job over 40 and has had trouble finding a new job? However, many of the manifestations of ageism are subtle. We say of women over 30 that they are going to pass the rice, they give us birthday cards that say "Horror, you're turning 40!", We comment of someone over 70 who "still" goes to the gym or "still ”Leads, we speak to our elders with the same tone that we use with nursery children and exclude them from conversations.
How to avoid ageism now and in the future
Praising the experience, as Carl Honoré says in his book. Giving people of age the place they deserve in our society, making them teachers. Teresa Baró, communication expert and author of the book Nonverbal Intelligence (Paidós), explains that one of the causes of ageism is the little contact that exists between the different generations. It is necessary to value people for what they contribute and not just for their age. At work, Teresa is committed to promoting policies for the transmission of knowledge; and in the family, for maintaining a frequent relationship between grandparents and grandchildren; or, for example, at the family table, mixing ages instead of organizing it by age.
Keys to aging and living better
- Keep learning and experimenting all your life.
- Get inspired by new role models. Michelangelo rebuilt St. Peter's Basilica at the age of 80.
- If something doesn't bring you - objects, work or relationships - let it go.
- Find a purpose that you are passionate about and dedicate time to it.
- Be honest about your age, if you lie, you give that figure a power it doesn't really have.
- Be flexible and open yourself to change and evolution without fear. Rafa Santandreu's blog can help you.
- Enjoy love, sex and passion if you feel like it, whatever age you are.
- Cultivate a sense of humor, laughing gives you energy, brings happiness and influences longevity.
