Recent research indicates that AgeEsteem begins when we are children.  The relationships we have with older people, the language we hear adults use to describe older people, and the images that we see illustrating older people begins in childhood.  It impacts our attitude about aging throughout our life – and even contribute to our longevity.

Those who are raised with a positive image of aging and who embrace it with AgeEsteem will live longer, happier lives.

How do you feel about growing older?

Research is showing that our attitude towards aging strongly influences how we actually age – and the confidence, or lack of confidence, that we have.

What kind of relationship did you have with older people when you were a child?  Our attitude towards aging and being older apparently takes root in our childhood.  Did you have old people in your life?  How did those around you refer to old people?

All of this influences how we feel about ourselves today and will continue to color our attitude as we grow older.

Having AgeEsteem and seeing our present age as a happy, fulfilling stage of life adds 7 years to our life.

BBC Newscaster or Barbie?

The BBC is actively seeking to hire a woman over 50 to present the news.

They are being criticized for being sexist and biased toward youth.  For too long now this English public station has had a reputation for hiring young women who look like Barbie dolls, while older men with graying hair are common place.

Sounds like a small step in the right direction.   We need positive images of real people with AgeEsteem entering our homes on the screen.

Participants at an AgeEsteem presentation during an international woman’s conference in Africa came from Holland, Serre Leone, Nigeria, USA, Australia, Kenya, New Zealand, Wales, England, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Each shared one role model and the qualities  most admired in the person.  These role models were real people in their lives – people like you and me.

• An aunt who “had no education but taught through example how to have a gentle heart.”
• A friend who “is wise, not afraid to question, and even during difficult moments has time for her friends.  She gives positive feedback on how I can improve.”
• A boss who “is energetic and passionate, and concentrates on balancing a very high pressured professional life and her family.”
• A friend who “cares for herself and is elegant.”
• A colleague who “encourages others and is open, confident, asks questions, and is intelligent, strong and not afraid.”
• A top media personality “who interviews to highlight the good in people, is sincere, ethical and respected so people listen to her.”

No matter how different our cultures may be, many of the same qualities and attributes that we respect flow among our answers.  What any one of these women expressed, I could very well have highlighted in my life.  Probably the same is true for you.

This emphasizes even further that our words and actions carry the power to affect lives for better or worse.  Each day we have the opportunity to softly teach and influence through example.

Having strong AgeEsteem helps us to be natural models of influence.

I love the message of the Blueberry Star in the previous post.  We don’t  have to travel to foreign places or meet celebrities to discover life’s messages.   The star on a blueberry reminds us that miracles surround us.  We need only to be tuned into them and relish in  their beauty to find courage  and joy in each day.

This is one of Dorothy Oliveau’s  picture poetry messages.  She wrote them for her friends throughout her later years.   She was a very talented woman who managed to find the beauty in each day no matter what was happening in her life.  – A wonderful role model of AgeEsteem.

• The next time you eat a blueberry, take a moment to discover its beauty.
• Enjoy its aroma and savor the taste.
• Remember that blueberries are one of the healthiest foods for keeping your mind alert.

AgeEsteem will become even more important with the current demographic  predicted to continue well into the coming centuries.

• One out of every ten persons is now 60 years or above; by 2050, one out of five will be 60 years or older; and by 2150, one out of three persons will be 60 years or older.
• The older population itself is ageing. The oldest old (80 years or older) is the fastest growing segment of the older population. They currently make up 13 percent of the 60+ age group and will grow to 20 percent by 2050.
• The number of centenarians (aged 100 years or older) is projected to increase 14-fold from approximately 265,000 in 2005 to 3.7 million by 2050.
• The majority of older persons (55 percent) are women. Among the oldest old, 64 percent are women.

Source: Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations Secretariat

To read more:  United Nations Program on Aging

We Are The Age

WE ARE THE AGE…

• We are the age we feel ourselves to be.

• We reflect the age of those around us.

• Age doesn’t exist.  We have no age.

• We are the age of our soul.

All of the above reflect AgeEsteem, because how we see age is internal.  It is a state of mind.

How I relate to age and how I feel about my age works from the inside out.

We are the age we feel ourselves to be

Babies and AgeEsteem
When In Doubt, Laugh!

Laughter is healthy: Babies are often good entertainers, making it easy to laugh; and they usually join in the laughter rapidly.  Laughter is healthy for all of us as every age.  Use it generously.  Even when Baby is upset you can spark laughter by singing  If You’re Happy And You Know It.  Laughter lightens the atmosphere and dissipates doubt.

• Look for the humor in every situation.
• Laugh often.
• Learn to laugh at yourself.
• Store funny experiences or jokes in your mind where you can call on them when you need a laugh.

People with AgeEsteem laugh often!

Babies and AgeEsteem
Expect The Best

Children are impressive teachers.  Just watch them for a few hours. – They will teach you valuable lessons.

Unconditional acceptance: Baby accepts you unconditionally with trust and confidence that you will care for her.  And you do your best to live up to her expectations by learning, testing, and doing what you think is best.

Learn AgeEsteem tips from Baby.

• Expect the best in others of all ages.
• Accept yourself unconditionally, knowing that you will be successful in what you choose to do.
• Accept others for who they are, as they are.

Babies and AgeEsteem
Modeling Personal Age-esteem

How can you instill AgeEsteem in a newborn is a question that puzzled me.

The answer is actually quite simple.  To teach AgeEsteem we need to model our own age-esteem.  We simply need to be ourself, to love the child and help her develop her own personality and independence.  We do this through example and encouragement.  And while we’re doing this, Baby will teach us how to reconnect with some basic qualities of AgeEsteem.

How do you model your age-esteem to children?