EMBRACING AGING

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“Embracing Aging: Ashton Applewhite on Fighting Ageism, Wisdom, and the Joys of Act III

An Open Nesters Encore Presentation

In this episode, Amir and I reflect on the conclusion of Season One and the upcoming content that delves deeper into key topics surrounding aging. The focus here pivots to the enlightening conversation with Ashton Applewhite, an advocate against ageism and author of “This Chair Rocks: A Manifesto Against Ageism.”

“Embracing Aging: Ashton Applewhite on Fighting Ageism, Wisdom, and the Joys of Act III

[Tessa] Ashton presents a transformative perspective on aging, encouraging listeners to embrace growing older as a journey toward wisdom rather than a decline. I emphasize how Ashton’s messages resonate deeply as many enter what she calls “Act III” of life, navigating new challenges and opportunities that come when children leave home. The discussion reveals the prevalent cultural biases regarding aging, particularly the obsession with youthfulness, and how these narratives can be dismantled. Ashton articulates that successful aging is less about resisting the signs of getting older and more about acknowledging our inherent value at every stage of life.

Ashton and I explore the paradox of why society equates aging with negativity, exposing how this conditioning impacts our self-perception. Ashton shares insights on the “u curve of happiness,” highlighting the reality that many people find greater satisfaction in the later stages of life, contrary to popular belief. We tackle the concept of agelessness, challenging the notion that one should strive to appear younger.

Resources for You

We want to provide you with support and many many resources for your own Open Nesting Journey. Our resource page has so much to offer as does our private discussion group on Facebook:

Open Nesters Resource Page

The Open Nesters Private Facebook Group

- ask to join and we’ll let you in

Ashton’s Book: This Chair Rocks

People are happiest at the beginnings and the ends of their lives. Only 2.5% of Americans over 65 live in nursing homes. Older people enjoy better mental health than the young or middle-aged. Dementia rates are falling, fast. So how come so many of us unthinkingly assume that depression, diapers, and dementia lie ahead? That the 20th century’s astonishing leap in life expectancy is a disaster-in-the making? Underlying all the hand-wringing is ageism: discrimination that sidelines and silences older people. So I’ve written a book. I blog about it. I led the team that developed Old School, a clearinghouse of anti-ageism resources. I am the voice of Yo, Is This Ageist? (Go ahead, ask me.) I’ve written a consciousness-raising booklet. And I speak widely. All tools to help catalyze a movement to make discrimination on the basis of age as unacceptable as any other kind.