In this episode of "Aging with Grace & Style," Valerie dives into the topic of ageism and how it affects individuals over 50. She explores the impact of ageism in the workplace, social circles, and communities, and offers insights and strategies to combat ageism and continue thriving as we age.
Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction to the episode and topic of ageism
02:58 Insight #1: Lifelong learning is key
04:15 Insight #2: Showcase your skills and creativity
05:38 Insight #3: Stay involved and adapt to change
07:47 Insight #4: Defying stereotypes and making an impact
09:49 Insight #5: Taking responsibility for your own growth
Key Takeaways:
Embrace lifelong learning to stay relevant and adaptable, regardless of age.
Showcase your skills and experience in the workplace, and don't shy away from self-promotion.
Stay involved and open to change, demonstrating your value and adaptability.
Defy stereotypes of aging by staying energetic, engaged, and enthusiastic about life.
Take responsibility for your growth and development to prevent being left behind.
Connect with Valerie:
* Facebook, Instagram, and Threads @iamvaleriehatcher.
* Email at hello@agingwithgraceandstyle.com
Join Us Next Time:
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Stay tuned for more inspiring chats, tips, and stories about the midlife journey.
See you soon! Let's continue to age with grace, style, and a touch of sass.
Transcripts
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You know, I have a whole series planned for February,
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but there's been a topic that's really been on my mind
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this week. And I thought
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we're gonna pivot a little. See, that's the beauty of doing this thing
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solo. Because if I decide I wanna do something different
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Or if I'm led to do something different, then I can. But
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lately, I've been thinking a lot about
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how Age can sometimes feel like a
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limiting factor. So whether it's in the workplace,
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social circles, or Even within our own communities,
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ageism can really rear its ugly head.
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I've also been thinking about how we, As
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individuals over 50 are perceived and
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how we perceive ourselves in this rapidly changing
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world. This topic impacts many of
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us as we get older, and the topic is
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ageism. Now ageism refers
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to stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination
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toward individuals based solely on their age.
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And yes, it's true that ageism
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often comes from how others view us.
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But sometimes it's also about how we
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act, how we react, or how we resist
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change. We can be our own barriers, can't we?
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So let's dive into this together. My
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goal with this episode is to provide some thoughts and
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strategies to help combat ageism, to
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stay engaged and continue thriving as we age.
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So I have 5 key insights to explore
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today that will help us navigate this complex
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terrain. So how do we
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navigate this sometimes challenging landscape and continue
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to thrive regardless of the number on our driver's
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license. So let's unpack this together, shall
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we? Let's get started.
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Number 1. I'd say lifelong learning is
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key. First, I wanna emphasize the importance
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of continuous learning and adaptability.
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The world is constantly evolving and changing with new
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technologies and innovation, and so should
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we. It's crucial that we
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keep learning new skills and that we stay curious
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regardless of our age. Lifelong learning is
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essential for staying relevant and adaptable no
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matter your age. So This could evolve
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involve rather taking online courses,
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attending workshops, reading industry
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publications, or simply engaging in
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stimulating conversations with people from different
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generations. Whatever helps you keep
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your mind engaged and sharp. Now when we
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stop learning, we become stagnant.
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Number 2 is showcase your skills and your
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creativity. Now don't underestimate
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the power you hold. Take initiative to showcase your
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skills and your experience in the workplace.
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Actively seek Opportunities to contribute your
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ideas and your expertise. Volunteer
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for challenging projects or Share your knowledge
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maybe through mentorship, but don't be afraid to
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self promote your accomplishments. Collaborate
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effectively with younger team members and adapt to
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new systems. I think Sometimes we get in our own
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way, and we get frustrated because it
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seems like younger people on the team or younger people in the environment
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in which wherein they're starting to move more to the forefront
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and get the the light or be in the
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limelight rather, and we step back. Well, we step
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back because we wanna step back. So we can't be mad
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at them from moving forward when we are the ones who have
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stepped back with the attitude. Remember, you
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have a unique perspective and
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valuable insight to offer. So maybe
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consider obtaining maybe like a certificate or
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some training in new work related
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skills. Remember, our experience
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is our superpower. Number 3,
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I'd say, stay involved and adapt
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to change. So stay involved
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with organizations and communities that are important to you,
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Even as younger leaders emerge, change is
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inevitable and sometimes it can feel
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overwhelming, but It's also an opportunity,
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and I think sometimes that's how we have to look at it, not
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as a negative, but as an opportunity to continue to grow and
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to continue to learn. So instead of
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resisting it, try to embrace it. Be open
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to new ideas and technologies and
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actively participate in changes happening around
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you, whether it's taking on a leadership
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role, Volunteering in your community
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or simply learning a new skill, staying involved
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helps You adapt and remain
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relevant. It's important that
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we demonstrate our value. And don't just assume
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that people should know. They should know how good I am. They should know
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all I've done. You have to show
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people sometimes. Remember, growth often comes
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from stepping outside of your comfort zone.
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Number 4, defying stereotypes and making an
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impact. Now let's really talk about defying
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stereotypes of aging. We've all
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heard them. Right? So I'm gonna go through a few common
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stereotypes. Number 1, Older people can't keep up
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with technology. Well, this stereotype
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says that older individuals are that are
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unable to use modern technology.
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Or number 2, resistant to change. Older
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people are resistant to change. So there's this belief that
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people over 50 are set in their ways and resistant to new
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ideas or methods. Now that is sometimes true, but
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we can't generalize that for everybody over
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50. Next is older people are
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less energetic or productive. So
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a common misconception is that aging
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equates to a decrease in energy or productivity.
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Oh, here's another older people are out of touch with
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current trends. The idea that
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Older individuals can't understand or keep up with current
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trends, be it fashion, music, or pop culture.
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That's not true. And then lastly,
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older people have limited interest interest.
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Well, so that stereotype is that aging
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narrows a person's interest, especially toward
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more age appropriate activities. So
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you know what? It's time to flip the script and defy these
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stereotypes of aging by maintaining an
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active healthy lifestyle.
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Let's challenge the assumptions by staying
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energetic, engaged, and enthusiastic
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about life. Let's be the ones who
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redefine what it means to be over 50.
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So what stereotypes do you wanna break?
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Think about it. Now we
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have taking responsibility for your own growth to
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prevent being left behind. So our
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final insight for today is about taking
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responsibility for our own growth and our own development.
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We can't rely on others to provide opportunities.
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It's up to us to keep up with the times,
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to Stay curious and to
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stay engaged. Be proactive in finding ways to stay
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relevant. The world or anyone in
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the world doesn't owe us
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anything. We have to put in
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the effort. And again, we can't assume that
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people know what we're interested in, What we're good
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at, what we do, what we used to do. Again,
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the no one owes us anything. It's up to us
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To keep in the forefront of people's
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minds, but then to show that we're not saying it should be me. It should
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be me. It should Be me just because I've done it in the past. It
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should be me. It should be me. It should be me because I have the
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skills necessary to do it. So set goals,
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challenge yourself, and don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort
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zone. Remember, You're in control of your own
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journey regardless of your age. Ultimately,
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the power to thrive lies within you.
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And that's a wrap. Ageism It's a complex
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issue. The key is embracing
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change while valuing the experience that we
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offer. Stay hungry for knowledge,
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up to date on the world, and open to
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evolving. Maintain a youthful spirit
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of curiosity and growth. So
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what are you waiting for? With some concerted effort,
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we can combat ageism. Now I hope
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that these tips provide a helpful starting point.
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Let's keep this conversation going. I'd love to hear
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your thoughts and stories on this topic. Reach out on
