the age/looks barometer
We have this ageism-flavored drink in our systems y’all.
We are doing a lot of the work on ourselves, lessening the load of those who want and endeavor for us to feel less than as we age.
Question: What is 45 (or any other age) supposed to feel like?
Consider this piece of content:
When I think about the inherence of ageism in our society, this is an example of what I’m talking about. Most days, I love this page. I follow them for a reason, and I don’t plan on stopping. Usually their posts do me good, and I come away feeling inspired, encouraged, seen, understood. But on a regular basis the narrative takes this sharp left and reminds me of how deeply embedded this shit is in our (societal) system. Ageism is so pervasive it’s coursing through our veins as if it belongs there. We’ve been drinking this shit for so long that we don’t even notice its toxicity anymore.
I mean, what is the point of this post? We get it: You’re Gorgeous. You don’t look the way they – the big “THEY” who always seem to have something to say, regardless of whether it makes a damn bit of sense or not – think you’re supposed to look by your biological age. Who cares how ‘old’ or ‘young’ you look? What does any of that even mean? What if we collectively stopped feeding this narrative all together? What would our world look like? What would our lives feel like?
I guess that post hit a nerve: the entire previous paragraph initially came out in ALL CAPS. I looked back at it and felt like I was yelling at myself, and at us. Maybe part of me wants to, but I’m proud to have calmed it back down to a more conversational tone (I hope). All I’m saying is that a little awareness on this topic could go a long way in dismantling ageism as we know it.
And don’t even get me started on the comments.
Ok, I lied: Do. A few choice examples:
- “And you don’t look it either. 45 where?”
- “Our generation is special✨✨”
- “45 where? Just gorgeous! I went to church yesterday with my 31 year old son and everyone thought that I was “about 6 years older” than him. I told them that God has preserved me. Ooh won’t he do it though! God is so good to us even through our hardships and trials.❤️❤️”
Whaaaaaaaht?!
I understand that these are meant to be complimentary responses, and that they are generally seen and widely accepted as such. And this is why I have a blog where I can short-circuit in peace without needing to start a war of perspectives in the content poster’s comments section.
You can be radiant, period. You can be dynamic, period. You can be all kinds of positive things that are to be celebrated regardless of your age. In the world I dream of, you can just look like yourself and never even need to stop by the age/looks barometer on your way into the world every day. Because in the world I dream of the age/looks barometer doesn’t exist. Imagine that.
Or is it just me?
the adult prodigy project 
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