The Defy Aging Newsletter
Anti-aging psychology, holistic health, and wellness
a biweekly e-mail newsletter for helping you think, feel, look, and be more youthful and live with purpose.
Number 121
This issue:
Attitudes are Improving
ACTION TO TAKE
Be encouraged that Americans' attitudes toward aging are improving.
WHY
TV, radio and print media have story after story about how we can't afford to support the swelling ranks of seniors. Some stories suggest young people will be stuck with supporting a legion of seniors who got in on the Social Security "multi-level marketing scheme" but Social Security won't be there for them. The stories could easily create a battle of the ages that would dwarf the battle of the sexes.
Americans aren't buying it. In a December 2004 nationwide survey of 2,092 adults, a Harris Interactive Survey conducted in Dec. 2004 found: Only 9% agreed that: "With Medicare and Social Security, older people receive more that their fair share of benefits." Only 4% agreed that: "Older people are a burden to society." Only 4% agreed that: "Older people don't contribute much to society." 83% agreed that: "Older workers work as hard as young and middle-aged workers. 92% agreed that "Older people are just as interesting as younger people and middle-aged people."
Why? Perhaps because we see more employed seniors from the greeter at Wal-Mart to Supreme Court justices. Perhaps it is the sheer number of seniors out and about that results in just about everyone having contact with seniors. Perhaps it is experiencing seeing how seniors are often more knowledgeable, conscientious, and polite than younger workers. Perhaps it is the political weight of Baby Boomers who are redefining age as mostly a state of mind. It is possible that some of the people gave politically correct answers. Even if that is the case, it is still progress.
It is heartening to know that at the very time we are aging, attitudes toward seniors are becoming more favorable--again. I say again because in most of history, seniors were valued and revered. It was only in the twentieth century that we became obsessed with youth culture and tried to marginalize seniors.
QUOTES
We'll order now what they ordered then because everything old is new again.
No need to remember when because everything old is new again
Dreams can come true again When everything old is new again.
~all quotes were lyrics to the song, Everything Old is New Again by Peter Allen and Carole Bayer Sager (1974)(popularized in the Broadway musical and 1979 film All That Jazz)
HUMOR
A man comments to a 100 year old man, "Life's Tough" The centenarian retorts, "Cheer up Jack...the first 100 years are the hardest!"
~Flo & Friends cartoon strip
Radio talk show caller: I’m 75, Flo. I used to want to live fast and die young! Flo: And now? Caller: Well…now I just want to die young at a very old age.
~Flo & Friends cartoon strip
My grandmother has a bumper sticker on her car that says,"Sexy Senior Citizen." You don't want to think of your grandmother that way, do you? Out entering wet shawl contests. Makes you wonder where she got that dollar she gave you for your birthday.
~Andy Rooney
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Anti-Aging Psychology
Holistic Health and Wellness
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"Dr. Michael Brickey, The Anti-Aging Psychologist, teaches people to think, feel, look and be more youthful. He is an inspiring keynote speaker and Oprah-featured author. His works include: Defy Aging, 52 baby steps to Grow Young, and Reverse Aging (anti-aging hypnosis CDs). Visit www.NotAging.com for a free report on anti-aging secrets and a free newsletter with practical anti-aging tips."