Silver Linings: Exploring Aging, Ageism, and Generational Gaps

[@lisae6725]

Children need to be around older people now more than ever! Ever since I was a child, I always had a special affection for the elderly because I could see many of them struggling and alone. I became a nurse and was one for 20 years until I became disabled from chronic pain by age 42. I’ve felt the stigma of being younger with a condition that I have no control over and that has been very painful and isolating. I feel like mentally, I’m at the top of my game, but now as I’ve went through Menopause, I’ve felt that invisibility as you’ve went from a beautiful flower to the petals starting to fall off and the color is fading. If people could only appreciate the life experiences of every organism including us, to see how we still have value to the world around us even if we’re no longer in perfect form, people wouldn’t have to feel that sting of isolation.

[@lisae6725]

When you see women in their 20’s getting Botox because they’re horrified of wrinkles and loose skin, you realize how the industry of beauty harms everyone at every age with misconceptions and irrational fears. I’ve been living in a body that has felt old before it’s time, and that has been very difficult because I looked young still, but I already had arthritis and spinal degeneration that began in childhood. Now that I’m in my 50’s, I’m not disbelieved as much because what was felt inside, can be seen to the naked eye on the outside with all the signs of arthritis becoming apparent. I’m constantly getting ads about beauty products that are supposed to make me look younger, and I’m just sick of all that targeting and messaging of not being enough because of some wrinkles and sagging skin. Only we can break the stereotypes for ourselves by continuing to live our lives as we want to without apologies. I don’t see this being as problematic in other societies where they value their elders and pay special attention to them and celebrate them for their wisdom and accomplishments, it seems to be another way that America has slipped in its dog eat dog mindset that values constant work and productivity.