Have you ever thought about how cool older people actually are?

Author Alison Bryant* writes about how society in Western countries often perceives older people as boring and superfluous, instead of treating them with respect. Here are her thoughts on how older people can actually be a lot of fun – and why she thinks they’re actually pretty cool.

1. There is almost nothing you can do to shock an elderly person: they have already heard and seen everything. If you join the line of retirees at the post office, you will often hear quite a lively discussion. My sister once said to her children (then teenagers): “There is nothing you can do that I haven’t already done!” Believe me, this is true for most older people, who are probably ready for things that you wouldn’t expect!

2. Older people don’t care what anyone thinks. They say what they want to say and don’t worry about it. This can be awkward at times, but it is also very refreshing. When you grow old, you will be able to do the same without anyone reproaching you, because “old people are like that”.

3. Older people know some great stories. Have you ever talked to older relatives about their lives? You can discover things you didn’t know about them. They can be a source of information about family history, about the time when you were a child…

4. Some of them are full of surprises! Have you ever read the news about robbers who attacked an old woman, thinking she would be an easy target? Read this story…

5. I like older people who have the attitude that it is never too late to start something. So what if they have been retired for 30 years, and their careers are long behind them? However, they decided to learn something new. My uncle never used a computer until he received one as a gift when he was 84 – the next thing that happened was that he became addicted to the internet.

6. There are some incredibly well-groomed older ladies who refuse to accept “old clothes”. I once saw a lady in her 70s who looked very good. She had beautiful long silver hair, and wore a simple, elegant black dress. Check out this blog about senior styles…

7. As already mentioned, old people don’t really hold back when they speak. They can upset you when they say something that is considered unacceptable today, but they can also make some incredibly funny comments. Read this – unless you are easily offended…

8. Older people are everything, just not boring and deserve full respect. Maybe we should redefine what it means to be older ste You are old only when you decide to be, and not when other people label you that way.

NSHC promotes intergenerational solidarity and care for the elderly, as part of the “Paperclip” project supported by Diakonie Österreich and Brot für die Welt.
The project is funded by Otto per Mille Valdese.

 

(*Author’s text downloaded and translated from: http://allwomenstalk.com/8-reasons-why-old-people-are-cool)

Photo: Alex Blajan, unsplash.com