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Radio. Welcome to Fearless Fabulous You. I am your host, Melanie Young,
and today i'd like to talk to you about the privilege of aging.
You know, many products out there talk about anti aging, not pro aging,
like it's evil to age, like you're in your downfall as you age,
But just think about it. Aging is a privilege. I love this
quote by the Jamaican photographer Charlie Phillips. Do not regret growing older. It
is a privilege denied to many. My mother lived at eighty eight, my
father lived in seventy nine. I hope I live that long, but I
hope, more importantly than living long, that I live well and I think
that's important to understand. Don't focus on the fear of aging. Focus on
the joy of now and appreciating what you have and not worrying about what you're
going to look like or feel like later. Just take care of yourself,
investing yourself, and hopefully you will live to have a ripe old age.
But don't think of as old and no longer relevant. You're relevant at every
age. The privilege of aging, the privilege of aging is a very powerful
statement. Just think about what those words signify. Just think about it.
We live in a world where a high value is placed on antiques and aged
wines, and where old homes and prewar apartments carry a higher price tag.
We've been high and hard for classic cars, ancient vases, vintage jewelry,
and artwork by old masters. Yet we can't bear the thought of growing old
ourselves, and we're not always comfortable being around the elderly. Employers retire their
older staff when they're ready to go on or not they're put to pastor whether
they want to be going or not. Employers look for young, fresh talent.
I mean, it's hard looking for a job when you're over fifty.
Trusts me and entire industry caters to making you look and feel young. They
focus on anti aging, not pro living. We spend a small fortune on
those products each year. Think about it. Do you remember when we spend
our allowances trying to look older when we were teenagers. That's right, I
just wanted to look older, and then one day I just wanted to look
younger. What's going on? We fight growing old because we live in a
society where wrinkles and aged spots are considered blemishes not beauty marks, where an
elderly mind may be referred to as feeble instead of enlightened, and where employers
who lead decades old companies producing brands beloved by generations hire fresh young faces to
give their own corporate image a youthful facelift. The US Congress debates medicare and
the challenge of our aging society, as if growing old as a burden to
be lifted instead of an honorable milestone. But other cultures put a high value
on aging. Respect for elders is a national holiday in Japan, where seniors
are respected for achieving age and wisdom, and we're asking one's age as a
sign of etiquette and respect. I would give anything to have my father and
grandparents back in my life so that I could hear their voices and their time
tested knowledge and their childhood stories. And recently I lost my mother at eighty
eight, and while I understand and respect that she was ready to leave this
world, I often wish that I had spent more time talking to her about
her youth, instead of arguing about what she was going to eat, or
if she was going to bathe, or why she wouldn't get out of bed.
Aging is a privilege sadly denied to those whose live's face a premature death.
It is especially hard to see a young person robbed of the right to
grow old. Think of it, growing old is your right. So if
your life is cut short by a major illness or a terrible accident or a
crime, you've been robbed of the rest of your life and even sodder as
if you choose to end your life. It breaks my heart to realize how
many young people are committing suicide rather than choosing to work out their problems and
enjoying and embracing the privilege of growing old. But it's also equally abhorrent to
see people who have their health and have all the potential in the world,
disrespect aging and waste the opportunities they have. We fight it with prescriptions of
procedures, when we should focus on staying vital and vibrant by keeping mentally and
physically active and fit. It is inevitable that with age, our eyes may
blur, our bones may weaken, our hearing may dim, and our body
parts may betray us. But we are all still gifted, and we should
all be grateful for this. When you face your mortality, as I did
after my cancer diagnosis, having years to grow old and experience life is a
gift you long for more than anything else. That was fifteen years ago.
Now I'm sixty four, I'm getting ready to face the medicare years. I'm
excited about it, like I think this is a whole other level and chapter
of my life. I don't consider myself over. I don't consider myself retired.
I consider myself being able to take advantage of all sorts of wonderful things
that people reserve for the older people, the senior citizens. I don't consider
myself senior. I consider myself senior in a better way. I'm a silver
girl, and I'm going for the gold when it comes to growing old.
So aging is a privilege that I embrace now with more purpose and pleasure.
I travel more, I don't worry about the calories. I don't worry about
what other people think about me. I dress the way I want. I
don't need to be trendy. I love what I have. Life. I
still want more, Yes, I want more time to enjoy the life I
have. I definitely want less stress about money, because the only problem is
when you get older, it seems like your income goes down, your age
goes up, your income goes down because it's harder to find work. And
I'm saying that to all you employers out there. You hire people who are
older. Don't just say let's get somebody young for a fresh new look.
You know all your people have fresh perspectives too, because they see things with
wisdom, and wisdom rocks. Aging is a privilege to accept an abrace.
Growing old means you have more years to experience life. You can take a
class, learn a hobby, mentor someone, get married or remarried. You
can travel or stay at home and entertain. You can do anything that your
strong mind, wills and your financial means allow. Being aged specific and I
say that in quotes is up to you, because, as my mother always
would say, rest in peace. My mother would always say, you're as
old as you feel in the day you are in. And that was when
she celebrated her eightieth birthday at a zoo, raising money to bring giraffes to
the zoo. She raised millions of dollars. You know, I think about
my mother because she passed away in the last four months, and I think
about how she embraced her age with grace and dignity even as her body started
to betray her. But she kept her mind active. She read books,
she watched theater on television, she watched the opera. She loved to have
discussions with people about current affairs. You know, it's important to keep your
mind active no matter what. It's important to keep your body active, no
matter what. It's important to say I accept the age and stage I am
in because you can't really reverse it. People say you can, but at
the end of the day, biological aging is biological aging. Go for that
vintage wine, go for that great meal, take that wonderful trip, do
whatever you are over because every year we advanced should be one to be celebrated.
When the party's over. You can't dance on your own grave. So
think about that, and let me leave you with these five tips about celebrating
the privilege of aging. One, be ageless and timeless. Don't let anyone
say you are too old or too young. You are fabulous at any age
you are, and you know what you can choose to be mentally any age.
E one you may be sixty, but if you feel like you fill
thirty, go for it. Two you are never too old to change your
mind, change your life, or change the world. I mean, gosh,
we have a president in the seventies. Julia child I wrote her first
book in her fifties, mastering the Art of French cooking. Think about Ruth
Vader Ginsberg on the Supreme Court. You can do it anything you choose at
any age, and don't let anyone feel you're too old or irrelevant, which
brings me to point three. Age should never be a barrier when it comes
to acts of kindness or appreciation. Be considerate of anyone at any age.
Never talk down to an elderly person. Always speak to them with respect,
and be patient. If I did one more thing more for my mother,
I probably should have been more patient. It's hard, but you know what
they deserve it for. Stay curious. An active mind is your best asset
for aging. You can have a childlike curiosity at any age. I know
I do. And finally, but not astley. If your outlook is ageless,
your opportunities can be endless. That's right. You can have endless opportunities
at any age and stage of your life. So I toast to you if
you're in your forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties, and nineties.
I don't know if I'll live to be ninety, but I know I'm
going to live to be the best person I am at whatever age it is,
because you never know when that privilege will end. I'm Melanie Young,
and this is fearless, fabulous you. I toast you and remind you that
you have the choice to live life on your terms, your way, not
other people's ways. So stick to your guns and always stay fearless and fabulous.
Thank you, used the team