This week, my group presented This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism by Ashton Applewhite. One of the main takeaways from this book was that the fear of aging is cultural. Before being educated about the joys of aging, I always thought being 30 was “so old.” I believed my teens and 20s were going to be the best times of my life, the peak. In TV shows and on social media, it was always that age group doing the coolest things with their best friends (as seen in iCarly, Victorious, Austin & Ally, the 2014 British Youtubers, etc.). The media really shaped my perceptions of every age group, providing me expectations of what my life would be like.
One of my biggest fears and my initial thought of aging was that being an adult took all the fun from you. In these shows, the parents/older people weren’t being portrayed in a flattering way, they were awkward and the butt of jokes. I thought that aging meant my friend groups, my energy, my interests, and my time to go out would all dwindle.
Two courses that have significantly changed my perspective of aging were USP 145 and USP 141A. In USP 145, I was introduced to the nature and problems of aging, looking at the various health and social policies for aging, and finding the best way to create an age-friendly society. Through the readings, lecture, and videos, I unlearned what I thought. Older people enjoy being older, having a variety of hobbies and many friends to go on adventures with. One that specifically stood out to me was a video about older women who went on regular RV camping trips. It made me look forward to not having the responsibilities of school/work and being able to hang out with my friends without something in the back of my mind. In USP 141A, it has been (,while online,) a more interactive and social way of learning about aging in society. Because of this class, I met Alice, a 101 year old woman from Casa de Mañana, and Mary, one of the women who regularly emails us. Alice and Mary have crushed all misconceptions I had about aging. I thought that I wouldn’t be as active, but Alice played tennis until her 90s. I thought I wouldn’t have as many interests, however, Mary was saying how she picked up a variety of hobbies, especially instruments/dancing as this year is a music year.
By being surrounded by these inspiring women, my idea of what aging looks like has changed. Because I am retired, I am more likely to have a greater time when going out because there’s no impending deadline. While it might be difficult doing some things, I will be able to find new hobbies that I can actively pursue. I may be out of school, however, there are always opportunities to learn and grow, continually evolving and becoming the best version of myself. While I will cling onto my 20s, when the time comes, I will gladly claim my 30s, 40s, 50s, and more.
One of my biggest fears and my initial thought of aging was that being an adult took all the fun from you. In these shows, the parents/older people weren’t being portrayed in a flattering way, they were awkward and the butt of jokes. I thought that aging meant my friend groups, my energy, my interests, and my time to go out would all dwindle.
Two courses that have significantly changed my perspective of aging were USP 145 and USP 141A. In USP 145, I was introduced to the nature and problems of aging, looking at the various health and social policies for aging, and finding the best way to create an age-friendly society. Through the readings, lecture, and videos, I unlearned what I thought. Older people enjoy being older, having a variety of hobbies and many friends to go on adventures with. One that specifically stood out to me was a video about older women who went on regular RV camping trips. It made me look forward to not having the responsibilities of school/work and being able to hang out with my friends without something in the back of my mind. In USP 141A, it has been (,while online,) a more interactive and social way of learning about aging in society. Because of this class, I met Alice, a 101 year old woman from Casa de Mañana, and Mary, one of the women who regularly emails us. Alice and Mary have crushed all misconceptions I had about aging. I thought that I wouldn’t be as active, but Alice played tennis until her 90s. I thought I wouldn’t have as many interests, however, Mary was saying how she picked up a variety of hobbies, especially instruments/dancing as this year is a music year.
By being surrounded by these inspiring women, my idea of what aging looks like has changed. Because I am retired, I am more likely to have a greater time when going out because there’s no impending deadline. While it might be difficult doing some things, I will be able to find new hobbies that I can actively pursue. I may be out of school, however, there are always opportunities to learn and grow, continually evolving and becoming the best version of myself. While I will cling onto my 20s, when the time comes, I will gladly claim my 30s, 40s, 50s, and more.