I am sick of feeling old and disrespected
Ruthanne Koyama retired at the age of 70 after 40 years in Service Chain Management. Not one to sit idle as the world went by she decided to write and share her somewhat quirky, but positive attitude on life and how to live the best of what is left of it.
Great, good information for those people looking out for seniors, but what about us seniors ourselves. Outside of the dating site, which for most of my friends is not on the top of their needs list, there is little else that addresses us as people or even human beings.
What the heck is going on? I may be pushing 70, but I am not infirm, nor have I lost my faculties.
A concept that is often challenged by young people.
I was discussing a topic the other day with a young man who was saying he had experience in this, and in that and had done this and that. So I asked him how he could possibly have done and gained experience in some many things.
His response to me was: “You are out of touch with the world, your depth of experience (40 years) in this one area means nothing in the workplace today. The only thing that matters now is breadth of experience and you have none of that.”
The young man was 37 years old.
I was astounded and speechless. Not only because I found his comments demeaning but totally disrespectful. But, heh, maybe I’m just too old and take offence to easily. Again his comment.
But insolent young people aside, where are we as seniors? Are we truly nonentities?
I recall a saying I saw in some craft store one day which read:
▪ At 30 you are invincible
▪ At 40 you become insignificant
▪ At 50 you are invisible
▪ After 60 you cease to exist
This of course, was referring to women, but I’d guess there is something similar for men somewhere and now on the internet, not some little craft store. Being on the net somehow makes it official.
So my question is why aren’t we “the senior crowd” sticking up for ourselves. We taught our kids about it and I guess we are teaching grandchildren, but what about US?
The news abounds with bullying being the number one issues kids face today. But those kids are not alone.
Seniors face bullying on an unprecedented scale from millennials and gen X-ers.
As seniors, we face a barrage of name calling, discounting and rude behaviour, albeit not from our peers, but from the demographic that will someday be in control of our world, the environment and us.
No, I am not crying for a call to arms. Wouldn’t that look just too funny, a band of seniors with some single shot rifles from the Second World War, marching on who? Our kids, our former bosses, our doctors?
All I’m saying is for us to start sticking up for ourselves. Doesn’t matter if you are 50 to 90! Heck, we all need to forget that demographic and start to think and act like we have the best rest of our lives left to live.
Do you agree with Ruthanne? What do you think we seniors can do to change society’s views on ageing? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
For more of Ruthanne Koyama’s work, please visit her blog Healthy Wealth Aging.
If you have an opinion or story to share please get in touch at melody@oversixty.com.au
Related links:
3 questions to ask before coming out of retirement
16 places you didn’t know you could use your Seniors Card
Free online resources to keep your mind active over 60