Erin Eleuterio posted the following about ageism in the fitness industry: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7244359956596989952/ I applaud Eleuterio for her article and insightful comments.
I entered the fitness industry at age 44, became a first-time fitness manager at 58, created a fitness business at 60 and published my first book at 64. I am acutely aware of how society views older adults, particularly older females.
My age is a chronological number and I give that number meaning, not society.
However, ageism is often times one more unnecessary hurdle to overcome.
Changing societal views about aging is a daunting but much needed task. Increasing self-awareness is one avenue to breaking free of societal views.
This is a premise in my book, “Mind Your Movement”.
Specifically, how we are allowing external forces to define us and limit our choices?
We all have labels, foisted on us as children and often clung to as adults. You’re the pretty one. You’re the smart one. You’re athletic. The list goes on.
In ageism, labels become “You’re the old one”. The implication being: you’re too old. Too old for what?
I’ve had a different path than what society might have expected for me. At age 64, shouldn’t I be thinking about retiring, buying my rocking chair and exiting gracefully, stage left?
If that’s YOUR choice, have at it. Live your life on your terms if at all possible
My point is, if we don’t look at how we each may be internalizing society’s views, we won’t see any alternative paths and we won’t accept other peoples’ choices either.
My choice has been to continue to work and to develop as a fitness professional. A number of my personal training clients still work in their professions in their late 60’s and 70’s. If that’s their decision for whatever reason, why not?
The thing about a label, as helpful as it may be for the brain to organize and categorize information, is that it’s a very narrow definition of a human being. When you label someone (and someone includes you), that label is an attempt to summarize the richness of a person in a word or two, a truly ridiculous proposition.
Remember, ageism cuts both ways. This post concerns older adults though younger adults also encounter negative labels.
What are your beliefs about age?
Where might you be limiting yourself, according to a number?
