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Disrupt Ageing

Disrupt Ageing

What is it and how do I do it?

My 14 year old daughter told me the other day that her friends all think I’m “hilarious”. Hmm, what does THAT mean? Am I hilariously embarrassing or do they think I’m genuinely funny?

Getting older can sometimes mean finding more funny things in life. I've raised my kids and now I want to have fun and laugh at myself…and them.

We’re told that turning 50 is the beginning of our long descent into illness and social irrelevance.

But experience gives you permission to say: This is how I am, the best and the worst of me. I don’t need your approval.

Much to the horror of my kids, I plan to disrupt ageing by cutting all my hair off to military buzz length and dyeing it bright pink. I don’t plan on sitting around knitting, I'm going to be clicking my Care Alert Smart Dialler once a week to see how many cute young firefighters show up!

So what does “disrupt ageing” mean exactly? It means to upset the status quo…to not accept stereotypes.

Bob Knight, a professor of psychology at the University of Southern Queensland says many older people fall into the trap of “introjected ageism” and mistakenly blame many of their problems on age, believing there is nothing they can do.

Professor Knight told news.com.au “There’s a belief that any changes in your abilities means everything is starting to change and it’s just not true. If you’re hearing is bad it doesn’t mean you’ll have trouble walking or trouble with your eyesight”.

An Australian Human Rights Commission Report about the stereotypes of older Australians in 2013 listed some of the most common ones as being forgetful, lonely, isolated and likely to be sick. Are you doing something to disrupt ageing? Georgina Harwod certainly did! In March 2015, the South African great-grandmother celebrated her 100th birthday by jumping out of a plane with 15 friends and family members, and followed it up by swimming with sharks. The thrill-seeking granny completed her first tandem jump when she turned 92, in 2007. Being alive for a century is more than enough reason to have a wild birthday party, but Georgina also used her jump to raise money for South Africa's National Sea Rescue Institute. She enjoyed champagne and cake when she touched down and then two days later she went cage diving with great white sharks off the coast of Gansbaai to raise awareness to over fishing practices. Georgina's motto:

Do it now! Whether it’s comfortable or uncomfortable, good or bad, relaxing or challenging – don’t delay."

I’d love to hear from you if you’ve done something (or know someone who has) to reinvent what it means to age. Maybe you’ve decided to start up your own business, take up belly dancing, get that uni degree or cycle through China. Let’s share these wonderful stories with others and share the inspiration..

kayley@fiftyupclub.com.au

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Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

Hi I am 60 .In August I began a psychology degree. Life is so full I'm loving it. As a society I feel we should have no age that dictates when we must retire and become old.Its like being old enough to retire means you are no longer useful to society.I say no ,life is for living until we no longer can . Regards Pam 

Yve
Yve from NSW commented:

I decided to defy encroaching years by "doing" something exciting every zero birthday. Climbed the harbour bridge at 70 - too tame. Was exhilarated by hang gliding at 80 and felt that 10 years was too long to wait for the next adventure. So, jumped from a plane on my 81st birthday, which was empowering. I was invited to undertake my first pillion passenger ride on a Harley Davidson when 82 - the most dangerous celebratory event to date, so am planning to jump again next birthday - my 87th. Am presently studying and playing American Contract Bridge to help revitalise my memory. Yve 

Elsie
Elsie from NSW commented:

Elsie from Sydney I lost my beautiful son of 23 in 1991 to a horrific accident - a very healthy young man, full of life and at the prime of his life! This saddest episode in my life has changed my views completely about enjoying life while you can - 'seize the day' as one might say. I now vow to enjoy the things I like most like travelling. Procrastination' is one word that is not part of my dictionary these days - Tomorrow might never come for some of us!!! 

michele
michele from WA commented:

Hi just been on hoilday with my son 24 join his trip dream group for 4 days. Me just 53 yesterday got onto speedboat at the pier we needed to climb out of speedboat into a boat to get onto pier. On way back had to step of pier to climb on haul of speedboat to get into our speedboat. Sokething i never expected myself to do also did hill climb just a bit short of making the top but i was proud of what i did. Age didnt matter to me was having fun. Live life 

Someone
Someone from NSW commented:

"Hands on" sharing the caring of your young grandchildren if you are lucky enough to live near enough. They keep you young. You have no time to sit idly by worrying about getting old and decrepit. 

Leeann
Leeann from NSW commented:

At 52, I decided to enjoy partying, so much so that my son's year 12 graduation meant that I got to take part in the rite of passage of some awesome teenagers, starting out in life in the adult world. The Fridge 2 Fridge event, (at my house) had an alien theme and with about 100 plus graduates, I got to feel that as long as you're friendly and having enjoying others, your age is IRRELEVANT! 

Someone
Someone from VIC commented:

hi kayley really en joyed the article no i wont be getting old amy time soon i am 67 years old and just recently retired i have not got any adventures to contribute yet but working on it . cheers susan 

Alayna
Alayna from NSW commented:

I have never thought of it as disrupting aging. I simply continued what I have always enjoyed - that's Bollywood dancing and falling in love indiscriminately. I chose not to have a family so I suppose there is a bit of selfishness to me. Maybe that is what is needed. Perhaps the Third Age is the time to put oneself first - for those who haven't always, that is. 

warren
warren from QLD commented:

Yes one must remember "age is a privilege not a curse" enjoy it 

warren
warren from QLD commented:

Yes one must remember "age is a privilege not a curse" enjoy it 

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