‘Did you post how old you are?’
That was a question a woman asked me when she saw my Facebook post on my birthday.
I responded ‘yes, of course, why not?’.
She proceeded to tell me how she would NEVER tell anyone her age, and makes effort to hide her actual age due to discrimination
Age discrimination is real. I tend to live a little outside the realms of ‘society’ and am lucky not to completely rely on careers within the ‘system’. Unfortunately, many people who work in jobs they truly love have to endure things like prejudices against their age. It’s really fucked up and I do ‘get it’ some ways.
I get the nice comments-
Wow you don’t look that old.
Wow you look like early 30’s.
Wow you look so good for you age.
While these comments are from a place of kindness I assure you that my body is ageing just like every single other human, and that's ok. Genetics and lifestyles of course do impact the rate individually, but still why do we place so much value on a persons age?
I have more lines in my face.
I have seen some grey hairs (lol rarely because I’m forever changing/colouring my hair but I assure you they are there)
My skin elasticity has definitely changed, especially this past couple of years.
I noticed some skin gathering on top of my knees.
I can see the thinning of the skin on my arms and the small skinfolds in certain positions.
I can see my hands getting the little scales.
But I also see-
I have sooo many beautiful memories and favourite days that I can look back on that make me smile.
I have so many experiences that allow me to enjoy such a great perspective and so much peace in my life.
I have so many accomplishments that prove I have achieved success in my life.
I have had such a range of high and lows that allow me a powerful and reflective mindset to overcome anything that is thrown my way, and these contrasts allow me the ability to truly appreciate the beauty of life.
I am blessed to have spent so many years with loved ones, with hopefully so many more to come.
I can honestly say I have never allowed the age rhetoric to influence my life and I refuse to ever hide my age or be ashamed of the privilege of getting older. I will NEVER support that view of life and engage in it. I believe when we hide or mislead in our age we are fueling our own shame, lying to ourselves, bowing down to idealism (discrimination), and in affect contributing to the problem.
I completely get it, you may lose opportunities. Trust me when I say I have lost out on soooo many opportunities in the health and fitness industry by speaking up and standing in truth and integrity to those people in positions of power. I sacrificed a lot of opportunities by realising that bowing down and following along when I knew there were indiscretions being committed that I would miss out. But I decided nothing was worth me not being truthful to myself. I instead went on to personally create my own opportunities and over time those people have all had to ultimately face their immoral behaviours and everything turned out pretty well for me.
As a community if we as women want change, we must start with ourselves. We must be willing to be proud of who we are and challenge the value placed on us by how we look or how many years we have been on this earth. If you are in a position of influence in any way you must choose to be a part of the change. Where there is option (and of course merit) you should to choose to employ, purchase from, work with, or provide an opportunity for woman over 40 (and men) if they are deserving REGARDLESS of if it costs you slightly more.
People of ALL ages have incredibly unique values, no matter what generation. Every generation has a completely new perspective of the world and is able to see things through an entirely new lens, as we continue to be raised through so many rapid world changes.