how we think about aging (or, are we complicit in ageism?)
Man, I'm looking old.
It was an immediate, involuntary thought as I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror one very recent evening. I startled myself when I thought it: I never look at myself and think that. And then I thought is this what the flood has done to me?
To be honest, I wouldn't be surprise if the events of the last couple of months have left their mark on my face. But as I thought about it more ... would that actually be a bad thing? For better or worse, I've just endured a life-changing event, one that will leave a distinctive mark on the tapestry that is my life -- shouldn't my face reflect that? Shouldn't I be proud of that?
I was thinking of all of these things when I came across this amazing TED talk by Ashton Applewhite on ageism -- she states that it's so pervasive, we all participate, and it "pits us against our future selves." Click here or on the image below to a moment and listen (it's only 11-1/2 minutes long). It'll make you stand up and cheer -- and it even may change the way you look at getting older for the rest of your life.