I would take more latitude. In other words, there are things I just don't want to do and I have a hard time understanding why I "should" do them. It could be that being true to oneself is something we get better at as we age and a quality we can model for younger people.
I agree with your "distinction" criteria. I volunteer in a public park doing landscape maintenance & had a hip replacement within past year. I don't feel 100% steady sweeping debris off the long, cement stairways anymore. To me, that's just smart. Besides, I don't consider it playing the age card, but the hip card.
I'm not at all sure that older age is a "card." Ever watch one of those videos of high school athletes following preschoolers around and trying to do everything they do? Short answer: They can't. The high school athletes soon become exhausted. The reality is, every stage of life is different, with different strengths and weaknesses.
PS One of the strength of our sixties and seventies is our lower tolerance for BS.
As usual, I appreciate your thorough writing. You've gotten some interesting comments, too.
First, let me say that when we have a positive attitude about aging we take better care of ourselves so that we don't wither away and become decrepit -- at least not as much as when we don't have a positive attitude.
Now, let me one by one poke your Temptations.
1. Choosing to stay indoors when the conditions are bad is smart, not an age card ploy, IMHO.
2. There may be reasons beyond having stiff fingers besides age -- arthritis (that can happen at any age), having cold fingers, lack of muscle tone because you haven't been playing the guitar enough. ;) That's a lame excuse, as you admitted to.
3. Is faulty memory age related? Or, is it attention related, a temporary brain fart, or a person out of context? If you take care of your brain it will take care of you at any age.
4. With the advent of TSA after 9/11, travel is stressful. For everyone. Lines, noise, delays, tighter seat spaces -- lots of reasons for it to be stressful. Is it an age card excuse to not travel? You fessed up to it being a lame excuse. Good job, Don! :D
5. Not being a digital native is enough reason to appreciate help. By default I agree that's age related, but I don't think it's pulling the age card. You can overcome that deficit with classes and practice.
6. LOL! Yes, that's lame.
7. Maybe that's a fair request. I haven't seen well at night for years -- and I'm far from old. ;) Yet, while I don't see well at night, I caught motion out of the corner of my eye one night, coming home from the drive-in, and screamed bear in time for my husband to swerve away from the bear that also swerved away from us. Whew! I'm going with that excuse as smart, not an age card.
Sorry to poke at all of your excuses, Don. I see them as generally being smart actions and not age-related excuses.
Actually, Kit, we come out in the same place on all but #3. That is actually age related but it's not serious, just a minor irritant and an embarrassment. I will come up with the name, unassisted, 30 to 45 minutes later.
Your point is well-taken. I ask myself whether this is a valid reason or just an excuse for not doing something. I often find myself not wanting to do it - just because - and then searching for a reason to justify the not doing.
I like you essay. Personally speaking, I have no trouble with hobglobins! But I take issue with the research you cite re: positive attitudes towards aging and increased life expectancy. It calls for greater exploration of the causative factor because it could also be the case that seniors with less disabilities (and greater longevity) have a more positive view of aging.
I invite you to check out the study. My impression is that it was a rigorous study, with all the variables accounted for. It is also frequently cited by other researchers.
Of course I did. I'm a retired Sociologist. I just do not accept the premise of the study. How can we know the exact degree to which stereotypes and societal ageism effect longevity. It probably does, but to quantify it so precisely is absurd. Especially since internalization of many stereotypes is at least partially unconscious. As is true for racism and sexism. In short, we don't need these kind of studies to confirm that ageism (like sexism and racism) is harmful to our health.
Another great essay, Don. Both thoughtful and humorous! As for me, I enjoy playing the age card 🤣. Just the other day…speaking to the Cable people…”.Thank you SO much for agreeing to send the nice Cable man to my house to set up the new box instead of Fed Exing it to little old me to do by myself!” (Dripping with Southern charm 😂)
I would take more latitude. In other words, there are things I just don't want to do and I have a hard time understanding why I "should" do them. It could be that being true to oneself is something we get better at as we age and a quality we can model for younger people.
Yes, I like that. I just have to be careful to be honest when I don't want to do it, and not come up with an age-card excuse.
I agree with your "distinction" criteria. I volunteer in a public park doing landscape maintenance & had a hip replacement within past year. I don't feel 100% steady sweeping debris off the long, cement stairways anymore. To me, that's just smart. Besides, I don't consider it playing the age card, but the hip card.
The hip card has a lot of credibility.
I'm not at all sure that older age is a "card." Ever watch one of those videos of high school athletes following preschoolers around and trying to do everything they do? Short answer: They can't. The high school athletes soon become exhausted. The reality is, every stage of life is different, with different strengths and weaknesses.
PS One of the strength of our sixties and seventies is our lower tolerance for BS.
As usual, I appreciate your thorough writing. You've gotten some interesting comments, too.
First, let me say that when we have a positive attitude about aging we take better care of ourselves so that we don't wither away and become decrepit -- at least not as much as when we don't have a positive attitude.
Now, let me one by one poke your Temptations.
1. Choosing to stay indoors when the conditions are bad is smart, not an age card ploy, IMHO.
2. There may be reasons beyond having stiff fingers besides age -- arthritis (that can happen at any age), having cold fingers, lack of muscle tone because you haven't been playing the guitar enough. ;) That's a lame excuse, as you admitted to.
3. Is faulty memory age related? Or, is it attention related, a temporary brain fart, or a person out of context? If you take care of your brain it will take care of you at any age.
4. With the advent of TSA after 9/11, travel is stressful. For everyone. Lines, noise, delays, tighter seat spaces -- lots of reasons for it to be stressful. Is it an age card excuse to not travel? You fessed up to it being a lame excuse. Good job, Don! :D
5. Not being a digital native is enough reason to appreciate help. By default I agree that's age related, but I don't think it's pulling the age card. You can overcome that deficit with classes and practice.
6. LOL! Yes, that's lame.
7. Maybe that's a fair request. I haven't seen well at night for years -- and I'm far from old. ;) Yet, while I don't see well at night, I caught motion out of the corner of my eye one night, coming home from the drive-in, and screamed bear in time for my husband to swerve away from the bear that also swerved away from us. Whew! I'm going with that excuse as smart, not an age card.
Sorry to poke at all of your excuses, Don. I see them as generally being smart actions and not age-related excuses.
Poke back, please.
Actually, Kit, we come out in the same place on all but #3. That is actually age related but it's not serious, just a minor irritant and an embarrassment. I will come up with the name, unassisted, 30 to 45 minutes later.
Your point is well-taken. I ask myself whether this is a valid reason or just an excuse for not doing something. I often find myself not wanting to do it - just because - and then searching for a reason to justify the not doing.
Exactly. We have to be honest with ourselves.
I like you essay. Personally speaking, I have no trouble with hobglobins! But I take issue with the research you cite re: positive attitudes towards aging and increased life expectancy. It calls for greater exploration of the causative factor because it could also be the case that seniors with less disabilities (and greater longevity) have a more positive view of aging.
I invite you to check out the study. My impression is that it was a rigorous study, with all the variables accounted for. It is also frequently cited by other researchers.
Of course I did. I'm a retired Sociologist. I just do not accept the premise of the study. How can we know the exact degree to which stereotypes and societal ageism effect longevity. It probably does, but to quantify it so precisely is absurd. Especially since internalization of many stereotypes is at least partially unconscious. As is true for racism and sexism. In short, we don't need these kind of studies to confirm that ageism (like sexism and racism) is harmful to our health.
Another great essay, Don. Both thoughtful and humorous! As for me, I enjoy playing the age card 🤣. Just the other day…speaking to the Cable people…”.Thank you SO much for agreeing to send the nice Cable man to my house to set up the new box instead of Fed Exing it to little old me to do by myself!” (Dripping with Southern charm 😂)
Looking forward to seeing your portrayal of a Southern lady for myself!