Ageism

Ashton Applewhite  a well-known activist and writer recently spoke at an Institute for Ageing event, on Ageism, here is a bit of what she had to say:

There are a lot of reasons to be an activist these days; it can seem like battling ageism is just something else on the list of things to fight. But Ashton said that today’s rising consciousness is actually the best time to organise. People are riled up against prejudice and bigotry like no other moment in the last 50 years. This isn’t the time to deal with one later; it’s the time to take on everything.

So, what can one do? In her discussion, she talked about ways to be an anti-ageism activist, including:

• Promote consciousness: When talking with acquaintances and community members, promote the idea that ageing is a “dynamic, interesting, and unchartered territory.” It isn’t something to be feared. These are interpersonal conversations you can have, which make a difference. Changing individual minds is a great place to start. You can do this online, as well, by sending out uplifting and accurate messages.

• Organise education seminars: Participants were encouraged to get out and host classes, meetings, and more. Whether at homes for small groups or gymnasiums with the neighbourhood, these are ways to raise more awareness of the issue.

• Train the trainers: This is activism 101. Make sure that people in your circles go out and educate and organise more people. Teach them the issues, so that they can teach others. Intersect with other activists, and see how your missions can work together (for example, older members of the LGBTQ members [link to LGBT Laws article] tend to be worse off than their counterparts, and the same goes for older minorities). As Benjamin Franklin said, hang together, or we’ll hang separately.
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• Stay involved: Challenge Assumptions on Aging, Every Day Stay focused, stay organised, and stay involved. Activist groups are always looking for people to join.

A Fun Way to Keep Your Mind Active After Retirement

You have been a hard and dedicated worker your whole life. You worked with your family on the farm or in the family business and then moved on to your career and your own family. In fact, you have worked for so long that it is all you have really known.

You have dreamed of the day when you could hang up your working boots and retire to a life of leisure and possibly travel the world with your spouse. However, you have been retired for awhile now and the travelling thing is fun but tiring. And you cannot sit around the house and just watch soap operas and fishing shows all day.

In short, you want mind stimulation and you would really like to meet new people while you are at it. How can you do that without taking up gambling or playing bridge every day in the park? Well, the best way to do that is by signing up for some continuing education classes.

Continuing education classes can help keep your mind sharp and help you learn a new hobby or subject all the while meeting new people who share the same interests. Many community colleges, recreation centres and universities offer a wide variety of continuing education courses throughout the year.

The easiest way to find these classes is to call up the colleges and recreation centres in your area to find out more about their upcoming class offerings and how you can register. For example, you can take a class to learn how to make jewellery, learn how to sew or knit, learn how to throw pottery or write the next great American novel.

Or, you can take more of an education type course like a Spanish language class or a literature course. The choices are only limited by your imagination and drive to learn.

The best part, you will probably find like-minded people in your courses that you can become friends with. More than likely, they are probably in the same boat as you and are looking for a way to occupy their time in retirement. You can form a friendship with these people and build new relationships. And who does not like having a lot of friends and acquaintances?

The most important thing, it helps you continue to feel like you are doing something productive. You have spent the majority of your life doing things for others: your parents, your spouse, your children and your employers. Now it is your time to take up a hobby that you have always wanted to try but did not have the time for. Why not! You have worked hard your whole life and completely deserve this time.

So pick up the phone and find out more about the upcoming courses in your area. By this time next week, you could be creating the next blockbuster novel or painting a masterpiece that will eventually land in a famous museum. If you dream it, it is possible and continuing education can be the missing piece to make that happen.

When will your flowers bloom?

When you reach retirement it is time to explore new adventures, but many are afraid of change and want to stay in their comfort zone. 

Think about your life as a garden, In your garden, some flowers bloom in the spring, some bloom in the summer, some in the fall, and some in early winter. We are the same, some people bloom late. Some very late. And some, very, very late.  But, they all bloom. 

And the longer it takes, the more spectacular it is. Quite the deal waiting for you, just around the corner if you only have the courage to take the first step.

Every been disappointed by someone?

Here's a trick for dealing with someone who's disappointed you:

Imagine how they looked as a very young child -- timid, a little scared, really cute, and truly not knowing any better -- and realise this is who you're dealing with now.