I'm 71 and was laid off day 1 of my state's pandemic lockdowns - the only "oldster" surrounded by GenZ and ME-lennials and the only employee not given a remote work option. This despite in a decade of no work missed ever - compared with GenZ who were frequently absent while I picked up their neglected work assignments. What I see is a preponderance of online and print articles trying to convince "oldsters" that it's all in their heads and there's no such thing as ageism; that if one just engages in "positive thinking" they can overcome all microaggressions against "Oldsters." Just not true. Ageism is seriously engaged in, it is still widely practiced and fully accepted, but it is dangerous to all types of health from financial health to mental health and even physical health as many health care providers engage in ageism with every patient (esp. women patients) over 40. If I see more focus on DOING something about ageism instead of the victim blaming implied in "just change your mindset and you can live forever" then I will happily subscribe to those blogs and news outlets that actually tackle the problem instead of deflecting it against those who experience it daily.
This— “Here’s the most important reason I include people of all ages: I am trying to de-stigmatize and normalize the effects of aging by showing that it’s happening to everyone of every age, all the time…”.
Oldster is anti-ageist.
I’m on the other side of 60. By Including all ages, your publication makes me feel relevant!
Oldster is terrific! Your premise that we are all aging softens the fears of it. When my son turned 10, he burst into tears because he would never be a single number again. He was so sad. But I was able to soothe him: you’ll always have 9 inside you, and 8 and 7 and all the years you’ve lived.
The other day you published an interview with someone who was, I think, 36. I thought about commenting to say this was entirely appropriate. Just that morning, I'd gotten into work at 8 a.m., and the only other person near to my office is a student worker whom I knew had just turned 21 the day before. Since I didn't get to see her on her birthday, I gave her my belated good wishes and then asked, "Do you feel old?" "Yeah," she said, "everyone tells me I am." I told her that although I was (almost) fifty years older than her, I could get it because when it came to all my birthdays, I never felt older than I did the day I turned 25. Compared to that, the other birthdays have been a breeze in terms of feeling old. People decades younger than me can feel very old. I think most older people who've gone through those feelings know that.
I come to Oldster for the writers. AARP is nothing more than an insurance company and I already have insurance.
I rotate my paid subscriptions since I read a lot of newsletters and cannot afford to pay monthly fees for all simultaneously. You are on the list of rotations. If that is not to your liking, and you prefer I don’t read your content, let me know.
We need to say something when we see something. Ageism is real and has consequences. When a 36 year old woman describes how a 60 year old woman feels in ageist terms, we cannot be complacent. Comments such as Chloe’s is the reason I started my casting company for real women of diversity 40+. I realized unless I was part of the solution, I was part of the problem.
I’ve always gotten the Oldster message and knew from the get go that your demographic was different from the podcasts and newsletters you mention, of which I know well. In fact, 5 years ago, I was profiled in TueNight 10.
I’ve always traveled to the beat of a different drum. Some of it was out of my biological control, which might have put me on a different path as a result. I don’t like labels and I don’t like being called a late bloomer because I didn’t marry till I was 47. You can find me most days running a 5K along the water in Chelsea. At 70, it invigorates me.
It's clear that you put a lot of work into your project and are passionate about what you do. I really appreciate all you do.
I loved this so much. I remember every one of those stages. I started being a college professor at 25, and was used to being the precocious one. Early tenure, early full professor. Then, approaching 40, I could not be the precocious one any more. Just one of the regular gang. Thank you. Janet (69)
I’m going to be 80 years old in July, but I’m still me inside! I delight in my marriage with the incredible man, I married 61 years ago. My best friend since I was 12, are still close. I’m level 50 playing Pokémon with my very young friends. I like being me!
Hi Sari, We both read and comment on The Isolation Journals. I write Route to Rise on Substack, am 61, love your site, and would like, please, to be considered as a guest writer. I don't need to be paid. No, I'm not independently wealthy. More like a character out of Oliver Twist. I write because it feeds my soul. Thank you for all your "Oldsters" posts.
Nov 29, 2022·edited Nov 29, 2022Liked by Sari Botton
Thank you for this! I love your posts and appreciate the way you've included people of all ages. Here I am at 71 years old, feeling baffled - how can this be true? Yet, I am also appreciative that I've realized a dream that began 20 years ago. After retirement, I was able to focus on writing and recently signed with an indie press to publish my memoir, a story that addresses the subject of attitudes towards people with disabilities. The story delves into the ways I had to face and accept my own ableist attitudes about my child. The book will actually debut when I'm 72 and I have to constantly remind myself I'm not too old to be a first time author. I appreciate the way you address the idea of ageism (another issue I struggle with!) as I vacillate between joy and fear about marketing, book launches, and building a platform. As an "oldster" I recognize how important it is to challenge the limitations I constantly create for myself. Thank you for stories that normalize the idea of aging!
I'm 71 and was laid off day 1 of my state's pandemic lockdowns - the only "oldster" surrounded by GenZ and ME-lennials and the only employee not given a remote work option. This despite in a decade of no work missed ever - compared with GenZ who were frequently absent while I picked up their neglected work assignments. What I see is a preponderance of online and print articles trying to convince "oldsters" that it's all in their heads and there's no such thing as ageism; that if one just engages in "positive thinking" they can overcome all microaggressions against "Oldsters." Just not true. Ageism is seriously engaged in, it is still widely practiced and fully accepted, but it is dangerous to all types of health from financial health to mental health and even physical health as many health care providers engage in ageism with every patient (esp. women patients) over 40. If I see more focus on DOING something about ageism instead of the victim blaming implied in "just change your mindset and you can live forever" then I will happily subscribe to those blogs and news outlets that actually tackle the problem instead of deflecting it against those who experience it daily.
This— “Here’s the most important reason I include people of all ages: I am trying to de-stigmatize and normalize the effects of aging by showing that it’s happening to everyone of every age, all the time…”.
Oldster is anti-ageist.
I’m on the other side of 60. By Including all ages, your publication makes me feel relevant!
Oldster is terrific! Your premise that we are all aging softens the fears of it. When my son turned 10, he burst into tears because he would never be a single number again. He was so sad. But I was able to soothe him: you’ll always have 9 inside you, and 8 and 7 and all the years you’ve lived.
The other day you published an interview with someone who was, I think, 36. I thought about commenting to say this was entirely appropriate. Just that morning, I'd gotten into work at 8 a.m., and the only other person near to my office is a student worker whom I knew had just turned 21 the day before. Since I didn't get to see her on her birthday, I gave her my belated good wishes and then asked, "Do you feel old?" "Yeah," she said, "everyone tells me I am." I told her that although I was (almost) fifty years older than her, I could get it because when it came to all my birthdays, I never felt older than I did the day I turned 25. Compared to that, the other birthdays have been a breeze in terms of feeling old. People decades younger than me can feel very old. I think most older people who've gone through those feelings know that.
Wow! So interesting and informative. It makes me love Oldster Magazine even more than I already did.
I look forward to seeing Oldster posts in my inbox. Thank you for all you are doing to normalize and destigmatize aging. I am 77 and feeling proud.
I come to Oldster for the writers. AARP is nothing more than an insurance company and I already have insurance.
I rotate my paid subscriptions since I read a lot of newsletters and cannot afford to pay monthly fees for all simultaneously. You are on the list of rotations. If that is not to your liking, and you prefer I don’t read your content, let me know.
We need to say something when we see something. Ageism is real and has consequences. When a 36 year old woman describes how a 60 year old woman feels in ageist terms, we cannot be complacent. Comments such as Chloe’s is the reason I started my casting company for real women of diversity 40+. I realized unless I was part of the solution, I was part of the problem.
I’ve always gotten the Oldster message and knew from the get go that your demographic was different from the podcasts and newsletters you mention, of which I know well. In fact, 5 years ago, I was profiled in TueNight 10.
I’ve always traveled to the beat of a different drum. Some of it was out of my biological control, which might have put me on a different path as a result. I don’t like labels and I don’t like being called a late bloomer because I didn’t marry till I was 47. You can find me most days running a 5K along the water in Chelsea. At 70, it invigorates me.
It's clear that you put a lot of work into your project and are passionate about what you do. I really appreciate all you do.
I loved this so much. I remember every one of those stages. I started being a college professor at 25, and was used to being the precocious one. Early tenure, early full professor. Then, approaching 40, I could not be the precocious one any more. Just one of the regular gang. Thank you. Janet (69)
Since you started Oldster, I’ve always kind of known all this in the back of my head. That said, thanks for clarifying.
Love all this. Thank you.
I’m going to be 80 years old in July, but I’m still me inside! I delight in my marriage with the incredible man, I married 61 years ago. My best friend since I was 12, are still close. I’m level 50 playing Pokémon with my very young friends. I like being me!
Hi Sari, We both read and comment on The Isolation Journals. I write Route to Rise on Substack, am 61, love your site, and would like, please, to be considered as a guest writer. I don't need to be paid. No, I'm not independently wealthy. More like a character out of Oliver Twist. I write because it feeds my soul. Thank you for all your "Oldsters" posts.
I'm close to your age, therefore you are doing fine ;)
Thank you for this! I love your posts and appreciate the way you've included people of all ages. Here I am at 71 years old, feeling baffled - how can this be true? Yet, I am also appreciative that I've realized a dream that began 20 years ago. After retirement, I was able to focus on writing and recently signed with an indie press to publish my memoir, a story that addresses the subject of attitudes towards people with disabilities. The story delves into the ways I had to face and accept my own ableist attitudes about my child. The book will actually debut when I'm 72 and I have to constantly remind myself I'm not too old to be a first time author. I appreciate the way you address the idea of ageism (another issue I struggle with!) as I vacillate between joy and fear about marketing, book launches, and building a platform. As an "oldster" I recognize how important it is to challenge the limitations I constantly create for myself. Thank you for stories that normalize the idea of aging!
I'm young and old.
This publication is fantastic, you are doing so awesome Sari!