Agesim
A Systemic Bias7 total reviews
Comment from Tami Urbanek
I really enjoyed reading this piece! Very well-written. I do agree there tends to be a mentality regarding the older generation. But I also see a mentality towards a younger generation-making assumptions that the younger generation doesn't know what they're doing or lack wisdom. This can be the case for anyone-regardless of age.
I'm in my mid-40s. I use skin care products, strength train and keep active because I know doing so is helpful for my health. At the same time, keeping an active mind, brain and emotional sense is a must too. Looking for adventure, travel, and enjoying relationships keeps one active on multiple levels.
What I've heard my father say (paraphrasing): "you grow old when you stop learning"
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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I really enjoyed reading this piece! Very well-written. I do agree there tends to be a mentality regarding the older generation. But I also see a mentality towards a younger generation-making assumptions that the younger generation doesn't know what they're doing or lack wisdom. This can be the case for anyone-regardless of age.
I'm in my mid-40s. I use skin care products, strength train and keep active because I know doing so is helpful for my health. At the same time, keeping an active mind, brain and emotional sense is a must too. Looking for adventure, travel, and enjoying relationships keeps one active on multiple levels.
What I've heard my father say (paraphrasing): "you grow old when you stop learning"
Comment Written 14-Feb-2020
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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First, let me be clear that I am not saying one should stop caring about their physical health. On the contrary, I believe it becomes more important as we age. My daughter is 48 and she works out and mountain bikes. Up into my late 60's I resistance trained and I also did wind sprints and walked with a 25lb weight vest. My exercise program is a bit less intense these days, but the basics still apply. Additionally, I also use skincare as I feel it is yet another way to keep the ravages of time at bay.
I think in my piece that I should have used another word besides skincare to make my point. All I am trying to say is that society puts undue press on older people, especially women, to be forever young if they want to be relevant. We are so much more than Madison Avenue gives us credit for. It is important to keep in mind that we are dimensional and therefore should try not to get hung up in the shallowness of physical appearance only.
As for the youth not being give credit as individuals simply because they are young, I agree that this is true as well. I learned early on with my own children and now my grandchildren, that if we take the time to truly listen to them and converse with them, they have a great deal to teach us.
Thank you for taking the time to write such a thoughtful review of my piece and for the generous rating. I greatly appreciate it.
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:)
Comment from Deniz22
I don't agree with your conclusive quote, but that aside, bravo! The truth is, younger people need us around because we've been there, done that, learned from it and we are here to tell the story. What they do with it is up to them, but we can at least warn of errors we have made and the need to develop discernment for future choices.
Two ways to learn the stove is hot; believe Mom or get burned. Instruction is a better teacher than hurtful experience. Enjoy the warmth, an experience without the hurt.
Thank you, good piece indeed. Well written and so very true. When my young friends tease me about age, I just remind them wisdom is with the aged. God bless!
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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I don't agree with your conclusive quote, but that aside, bravo! The truth is, younger people need us around because we've been there, done that, learned from it and we are here to tell the story. What they do with it is up to them, but we can at least warn of errors we have made and the need to develop discernment for future choices.
Two ways to learn the stove is hot; believe Mom or get burned. Instruction is a better teacher than hurtful experience. Enjoy the warmth, an experience without the hurt.
Thank you, good piece indeed. Well written and so very true. When my young friends tease me about age, I just remind them wisdom is with the aged. God bless!
Comment Written 14-Feb-2020
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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I do agree that we have a lot of life experience to pass on to future generations if they care to listen. However, on their way to being who they are it is more than likely they will burn a few fingers. I know I did and that was, at times, how I learned hard lessons. It seems to be part of the process of becoming who we are.
It is always good when, as a parent, you finally get some credit from your kids for knowing a few things. As they go through their lives and their experiences mount, they tend to realize that you as their parent might know a thing or two.
Thanks for the read and the generous rating. I appreciate both.
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Yes, It's a pleasure to hear one's children teaching their children what we once taught them,,,and often not without protest. :)
Comment from JudyE
I enjoyed reading this and agree with your comments. Some seem so desperate not to age but, as you say, it's inevitable.
I've listed a few points but more to draw your attention to them than to say they need 'correcting'. Please ignore any that you don't agree with.
Aside from the physical appearance of stereotyping, there is the way younger people and I use that term broadly, as my son is now fifty-one, approach seniors in general. - I might have placed a comma after 'people' and deleted the one after 'broadly'
so if we resist it will lead to the stagnation of our spirit; our ability to find pleasure in living - commas needed either side of 'if we resist'
Slapping on tons of skincare potions and wearing clothes designed for millennials will not guarantee us one second more of life or a second shot at our youth - should that be 'nor a second shot...'?
I'm in my 7th decade too and can relate so well to your comments.
Best wishes
Judy
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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I enjoyed reading this and agree with your comments. Some seem so desperate not to age but, as you say, it's inevitable.
I've listed a few points but more to draw your attention to them than to say they need 'correcting'. Please ignore any that you don't agree with.
Aside from the physical appearance of stereotyping, there is the way younger people and I use that term broadly, as my son is now fifty-one, approach seniors in general. - I might have placed a comma after 'people' and deleted the one after 'broadly'
so if we resist it will lead to the stagnation of our spirit; our ability to find pleasure in living - commas needed either side of 'if we resist'
Slapping on tons of skincare potions and wearing clothes designed for millennials will not guarantee us one second more of life or a second shot at our youth - should that be 'nor a second shot...'?
I'm in my 7th decade too and can relate so well to your comments.
Best wishes
Judy
Comment Written 14-Feb-2020
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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Thanks so much for taking time to review this piece. Additionally, I appreciate your punctuation suggestions and I will be revising my work accordingly. It always helps to have a second pair of eyes.
Comment from Ricky1024
"Agesim".
Was well written and rich in Theme and Imagery.
It read well and flowed well with no Grammar Issues.
...
The Adjective and Objective Contents were both Excellent and Exceptional while Descriptive Measures aligned Perfectly.
Thanks,
Doctor Ricky 1024
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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"Agesim".
Was well written and rich in Theme and Imagery.
It read well and flowed well with no Grammar Issues.
...
The Adjective and Objective Contents were both Excellent and Exceptional while Descriptive Measures aligned Perfectly.
Thanks,
Doctor Ricky 1024
Comment Written 14-Feb-2020
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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Thank your for reading and reviewing my piece. I greatly appreciate your comments.
Comment from Iza Deleanu
I really enjoyed this piece and you are right people don't see us for what we are:all teenagers are useless teenagers, people that lost their work treated like beggers and so on...
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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I really enjoyed this piece and you are right people don't see us for what we are:all teenagers are useless teenagers, people that lost their work treated like beggers and so on...
Comment Written 13-Feb-2020
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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Glad you enjoyed the piece. Thank you for your review.
Comment from Darlene Franklin
You make some excellent points; but as some who uses a wheelchair, the other side of the picture are the times the wheelchair is not provided, or the needs understood. Consider the time I needed a chest x-ray. They asked, can you stand up? Yes, I could. But they wanted me to step several inches off the floor, balance on a six-wide shelf, and not have anything to hold onto. They didn't see the difference between simply standing, and standing stepping, balancing, etc. But ageism is definitely at play, and we have to stay active, physically, and mentally. I am "only" 65, but an author, but I am writing more than I ever did before.
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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You make some excellent points; but as some who uses a wheelchair, the other side of the picture are the times the wheelchair is not provided, or the needs understood. Consider the time I needed a chest x-ray. They asked, can you stand up? Yes, I could. But they wanted me to step several inches off the floor, balance on a six-wide shelf, and not have anything to hold onto. They didn't see the difference between simply standing, and standing stepping, balancing, etc. But ageism is definitely at play, and we have to stay active, physically, and mentally. I am "only" 65, but an author, but I am writing more than I ever did before.
Comment Written 13-Feb-2020
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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There is a broad scope when it comes to how we are viewed and treated as we age. The medical profession can be, at times, indifferent to our individual needs. For example, each time I go to my physician, she or one of her assistance, ask me the same stock questions that are designed for seniors only. They don't take time to look at my chart and see that these questions do not apply to me. The questions apply to seniors that are isolated, not getting proper nutrition and might be suffering from deep depression. Each time I tell them that the answers to those questions are unequivocally no. I feel insulted and as if I am not being recognized for who I am. I know with certainty they would not submit younger people to this sort of questioning.
It's good that you are writing more. Writing is something that provides me with a good deal of satisfaction and I trust it works the same way for you. Thanks for reading this piece and sharing your thoughts. I greatly appreciate it.
Comment from susand3022
Hi Marisa, I really loved this story, I wish I had a 6 right now. I'm in my mid 50's and my parents are old now. My mom is 92 this spring and my dad is the Spring chicken at 89. They both live at home still, and will until the end, us kids will move home when the time comes. My dad is still capable of taking care of them though we don't let him drive long distances any longer, and he doesn't seem to mind that... and he's also beginning to accept help with things like his taxes since things changed again last year. Other than that, he's still pretty good. Mom is a different story though. She doesn't get around so well anymore. She's fractured her hip twice now and she sleeps a lot. I'm not sure how much longer it will be before she doesn't wake one morning. My father keeps saying things like... "Don't you understand? We're old, we don't want to live forever!" We don't want them to go... we can't help it.
The funny thing you were saying about individuality? What do you do when the person you talk to only uses their hearing aid intermittently? When you talk like a normal person, they can't hear you so you speak up... when you speak up they have it in and they tell you you're yelling! LOL We just can't win! Hahahaha! :)
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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Hi Marisa, I really loved this story, I wish I had a 6 right now. I'm in my mid 50's and my parents are old now. My mom is 92 this spring and my dad is the Spring chicken at 89. They both live at home still, and will until the end, us kids will move home when the time comes. My dad is still capable of taking care of them though we don't let him drive long distances any longer, and he doesn't seem to mind that... and he's also beginning to accept help with things like his taxes since things changed again last year. Other than that, he's still pretty good. Mom is a different story though. She doesn't get around so well anymore. She's fractured her hip twice now and she sleeps a lot. I'm not sure how much longer it will be before she doesn't wake one morning. My father keeps saying things like... "Don't you understand? We're old, we don't want to live forever!" We don't want them to go... we can't help it.
The funny thing you were saying about individuality? What do you do when the person you talk to only uses their hearing aid intermittently? When you talk like a normal person, they can't hear you so you speak up... when you speak up they have it in and they tell you you're yelling! LOL We just can't win! Hahahaha! :)
Comment Written 13-Feb-2020
reply by the author on 17-Feb-2020
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I so enjoyed reading this review, as I can truly relate to what you and your siblings are dealing with where your aging parents are concerned. In my 50's I too had to cope with my aging dad. He had a stroke at 74 and that was a game-changer. He didn't think anything had changed, so for him, it was business as usual. However, his driving was terrible and I eventually had to take his keys from him. It was a complete role reversal for us and I became the parent. I walked a fine line between doing what I knew was in his best interest and trying not to injure his dignity. He was a wonderful dad and it was difficult to see him in a diminished state.
It sounds like you and your siblings are devoted to your parents and I am certain that makes all the difference in the quality of life for them.
Thank you for this lovely review.
