Eleven minutes, which ended, amazingly, with a standing ovation that provoked a unscripted, arms-in-the-air appeal: “Let’s do it!” That means all of us, not just the TEDsters in that audience, but everyone who’s ready to play a part in ending ageism. Watch it. Share it. Widely: with your neighbors, your family, your reading group, your dog-walker, your friends, you get the idea. The sooner the better—the more traction we get early on, the better the odds that the message will get heard around the world. Let’s make a million views and get this party started.
Just watched the TED talk while sitting with my semi-conscious mother who is in hospice in Tennessee. Other family members will be here later, so I took the alone time to watch the talk. I’ve been here a week and have spent many hours observing how the well meaning staff talk to the residents using phrases that you mentioned.(sweetie, darling, etc.)
I’m 61 and live in the bay area in California and have noticed how people are starting to treat me, like I’m getting old. Also, friends my age are starting to say that they are getting old. Some are resigned to giving up on healthier choices in their life styles. And disease becomes a self fulfilling prophecy.
I’m joining the movement against ageism and will try to get others to aware as well.
Fantastic, Steve. Here’s a post about how those self-fullfilling prophecies harm our health and constrain our futures. You’ve taken a critical step: becoming aware of ageism around us. I hope you’ll think about where those messages come from and what purpose they serve, read my book (over 100 5-star reviews on Amazon), and perhaps start a consciousess-raising group or organize a local chapter of the Radical Age Movement or the Gray Panthers (info here:https://thischairrocks.com/resources/). Ashton
you are wonderful!!!!! in a few mins, am posting link to your TED talk on my blog – hope you enjoy
thank you!
As the Chair of the California Democratic Party Senior Caucus, I would like to send an invitation to you to speak at our next Caucus meeting at the CDP Convention in February in San Diego. Your books and activism are inspiring to those of us involved in issues relating to seniors and those who will be seniors.
I’m a 76 year old male who was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1995. I had also gone through a marital break up in the mid-eighties. About two weeks ago I spoke at an aging conference about getting old. My take was I was in survival mode to worry about aging….I take no meds for the MS but swim a half-mile a day…that’s my pill. I’m still somewhat ambulatory but use my light-weight wheel chair. Life is all about the decisions you make along the way.
Hey Ashton, great talk! I just finished watching it on youtube. I was a victim of ageism; it ended my career in 2008. Too much happened after that, given it ended my livelihood and independence and freedom as well as a result. I’m a year older than you; the dumping of my education, training, hard work and effort down the toilet like that devastated me…for years, unfortunately. I’m with you, I’d like to join in this anti-ageist thing…what do I do? I’ve been working on a journal, and writing projects that have come from lots of introspection these past few years, but I need an editor badly to help me organize it, lol. It’s my voice, I need to share what I’ve learned, but I am uncertain where to take it. I am happy for you that you have a way to express your voice in the world. Kudos to you, thank you for your talk. I agree with it all.
Hi Ruth, Thanks for writing. I hope you’ll pass the TED talk along to family and friends (and anyone else who might be aging …), read my book (over 100 5-star reviews on Amazon), and perhaps start a consciousess-raising group or organize a local chapter of the Radical Age Movement or the Gray Panthers (info here:https://thischairrocks.com/resources/). Good luck with the writing—-you might consider starting a blog, which is a good way to see where you’ve been. No need to be too self-conscious about it; for better and worse, it takes years to build a readership. Ashton
Wow Ashton! Amazing TED talk!! I found you through Retirement Journey’s podcast. At 48, I have not experienced much ageism yet, other than the odd compliment (?) of “you look great for your age.” But, after listening to the podcast and Ted Talk, I now realize how many anti-aging biases I believe, and worse, have perpetrated on others. Yikes! As Maya Angelou said, “when you know better, you do better.” Thank you for enlightening me. I will continue to learn about ageism and do better. Thank you.
Thanks for the great comment, Nikki. You’ve taken the hardest step. Welcome aboard.