Old Is Not a Number!!!: The New Reality at 50+: It's Not Retirement - It's the Rest of Your Life

By Kathleen Kelleher, CASL

Old is Not a Number!!! The New Reality at 50+: It's Not Retirement - It's the Rest of your Life Change is in the air. What we always assumed about "old" isn't exactly what it used to be. This book addresses the issues of the changing view of ageing, ageism, the revolution in ageing for the Boomer Generation. See what they are learning from their parents who are leading the longevity boom. It serves as a wake-up call to let you know that things are changing and that most people don't and won't have to adhere to previous notions of old. It shows the need to understand the opportunities available for the rest of Boomers' lives and to recognize that "Old is Not a Number". Boomers should not be pigeonholed by prior generations' point of view. Most importantly, it allows the reader, to become aware of the longevity bonus and determine where you are in living the rest of your life and the opportunity to determine how you feel about your life-stage and what you want to do about it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Apr 8, 2011
• ISBN: 9781257489213

Book preview

Old is NOT a Number!!!

The New Reality at 50+:

It's Not Retirement - It's the Rest of YOUR Life

Old is NOT a Number

The New Reality at 50+

It's Not Retirement -–It's the Rest of Your Life

©Kathleen Kelleher 2008

eISBN: 978-1-25748-921-3

Introduction:

Old is not a number Change is in the air. What we always assumed about old isn't exactly what it used to be.

Since my 50th birthday, I have been on a path towards helping people, including me, recognize the opportunity that is possible in the second half of their life.

Think about it. What is old? First, let’s look at some definitions. As defined in the Free Dictionary website, Old (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age. Some of the descriptions are positive and some are negative.

Positive Definitions of Old:

Experienced – having become knowledgeable or skillful from observation or participation

Mature – having reached full natural growth or development;

Senior- older; higher in rank; longer in length of tenure or service

Negative Definitions of Old:

Non-current – not current or belonging to the present time

Stale – showing deterioration from age;

Non-modern – not modern; of, or characteristic of an earlier time

Our society tends to focus on the negative definitions, which leads to the discrimination of ageism. Ageism refers to systematic stereotyping of and discrimination against people because they are old… In an ageist society, old people are categorized as senile, rigid in thought and manner, old fashioned in morality and skills (Butler, 1969:243)

Old, in the negative sense, has little to do with numerical age. Take a look at old from the standpoint of deterioration or a negative view on life. Enthusiasm for living for some people lasts until they die, no matter what the numerical age.

Think about it, almost every age has its physical issues from growing pains, acne, menstrual cramps, etc. Not everyone has the same physical strength (not even in youth) and as we age, we have different physical limitations. However, as we grow in numerical age we also grow in experience and wisdom, which frequently offsets the need for physical effort. Look at this from the standpoint of a laborer. In youth there is greater physical strength and ability. With more numerical numbers, there is wisdom in how to do the job and the job becomes less physical and more directional. Young surfers have more physical strength to conquer the waves, older surfers have more experience to know how to ride and enjoy. Experience matters! While the young often succeed with brute force and endurance, as we age we have the ability to enjoy more from our wisdom