AGEISM IS DISCRIMINATION - ALWAYS.

Watch closely - observe your workplace.  Have a look around in the surroundings of ANY business establishment you visit: restaurants, banks, gyms, literally ANY place you conduct business.  Check out the emotional and social atmosphere.

IF you see someone talking down to an older person - or EVEN WORSE - SPEAKING to them as if they were a child or a baby -  (absolutely despicable, patronizing, and humiliating) - Stand Up and Call Them Out.  

IF you are fortunate, YOU'LL be a senior one day!  I hope you have your wits about you, but I know some thirty year old people who struggle with daily activities - at times, texting can become too complicated or overwhelming to perform correctly.  And...I don't know many seniors who text and drive, apply make-up and drive, eat and drive...or drink and drive.  Some perhaps, DO, because seniors are people, TOO, and make poor choices.

Every person on this Earth is as old as they FEEL and THINK.  IF you think you're old - you're old.  But, that's OKAY.  There is nothing in the world wrong with being over 60.  Relish it.  You'll find you're more calm than ever and enjoying the finer things in life - you'll find you may have more time to actually do the things you've been (literally...dying) to DO YOUR ENTIRE LIFE.  Go for it.  With each decade, comes wisdom, relish your parents - ask them all the questions you want because, once they die, their knowledge of life will disappear with them unless they've kept a journal for themselves or their loved ones.

This attitude towards ageing is a problem - and it is not one that is being seriously addressed.  As the decades march by - you might be astounded to know per Terblanche (2015) Australia's elderly population is set to grow from approximately 430,000 in 2012 to over 1.5 million in 2042 (1.9% to 4.2%). This is a massive increase to the structure of Australia's society.  

Ask any female what happens to her once she reaches 'a certain age' and her answer, most likely, will be: 'I'm invisible now; no one SEES me.'

All seniors are not whiney, grumpy, disheveled, irritable, mean-spirited, sad and/or depressed.  You may find 20, 30, 40 and 50 year old people can and do show the above-mentioned traits, too.  I often see these same traits in much younger people!  Who decided over 50 was elderly?  I didn't - I tell everyone I'm old because I used to think the 'proper' thing for me to say was 'I'm older' ~ BULLSHIT.  And, what I have grown to know is:  There is no time for BS in my beautiful and wise old age of 65.   I finished my most important goal on my bucket list prior to my 65th birthday - a university degree in Psychological Science and Sociology and, OMG, my grey cells worked superbly.   Some of us still work out every day (over an hour) and some 'thirty year olds' don't even do that - See???  Time CAN be on YOUR side.  

Ageism is as intolerable and disgusting as sexism and racism or any other kind of discrimination ~ don't kid yourself.   

Old people ~ SENIORS ~ can and do contribute to society - every single day.  

I find I adore people of ALL ages when I find them interesting, honest, knowledgeable, and filled with wonder, hope, compassion, and laughter.  Old people have some of the best stories - you might need to lean in and listen a little harder, but that's okay with me.  

Peace, 

Old Blanco of The Roaming Stevens - delighted to experience life with Old Tinto!

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