In this Episode 13 we meet Ashton Applewhite.

As we become “age-full” we can be present, and curious, and open-minded and explore again – like we did when we were children. So says our guest, Ashton Applewhite. I (Tessa) am a big fan of Ashton’s thinking on the concept of “agelessness.” To me this idea strips us of our years… and we are left with ourselves.

Ashton discusses the concept that was recently announced in the Northeast USA… called “Ageless New York.” In fact Ashton has a full chapter in her book about agelessness. She say that “agelessness tends to minimize the differences which contribute to our lives in all sorts of ways.” Ashton believes we should embrace and celebrate these differences, as they make us special.

Generations

Ashton has a lot to say about the idea of a “generation.” She says there is more diversity in a group of people that we would think of as homogeneous than there is between what we would call disparate groups. The idea of a generation pits us against each other.

Intergenerational Conflict: Ashton says there is no evidence of intergenerational conflict. No evidence that “old people don’t care about young people, and young people want to throw old people to the wolves.” Most us inhabit the middle ground. In fact the World Health Organization just launched a global program to combat ageism.