My View on Ageism
Our Vision
Be a trusted community discovering, exploring, and joyfully living on purpose.
My Future Purpose
is a multi-faceted membership organization founded by Joyce Cohen and Vicki Thomas who are committed to growing the Purpose Movement. My Future Purpose helps individuals, professionals and organizations harness the power of purpose by providing weekly featured guests on its popular Pause for Purpose series and Meeting of the Minds, a facilitated gathering of My Future Purpose members which combines Timely Topics and Bring Your Own Idea (BYOI). The new format respects Zoom fatigue
and provides time for idea exchange/collaboration. Members discuss current subjects while continuing to build a collaborative community.
Ageism has become a hot topic these days, with many voices expressing
frustration about how older adults are treated unfairly. But here’s a question: Does playing the victim and feeding the narrative that older adults are entitled actually help anyone? Spoiler alert—it doesn’t. If anything, it makes older adults appear helpless and perpetuates negative stereotypes.
At 79, I live a very active life despite having faced significant health challenges. I’ve battled a rare form of uterine cancer, breast cancer, and kidney disease. Both of my knees have been replaced—a painful recovery process, but one I conquered. Today, I’m back in the gym working out every day, pain-free.
Having spent much of my career working in the aging network, I’ve seen firsthand how harmful prejudice and discrimination of any kind can be—especially ageism. It bothers me deeply to see this bias against older adults.
Let’s face it: once we pass our 60s and move into later years, it’s natural for our proverbial “check engine light” to come on. Our bodies may slow down, and challenges may arise, but that doesn’t make us victims or entitle us to special treatment.
I don’t see myself as a victim of ageism. Instead, I embrace my age and recognize that I’ve simply finally accepted that I am a senior citizen and damn proud of it. At this stage of life, I don’t feel I’m entitled to anything I haven’t earned or paid for. For example, all of us who’ve contributed to Social Security have earned the right to benefits when we reach retirement age. Similarly, Medicare provides vital health coverage after age 65, which we often supplement with additional policies we purchase.
Despite my health challenges, I remain positive and happy. I am especially proud of the fact that when, at age 74, I co-founded My Future Purpose, a company with my colleague Joyce Cohen, that helps individuals discover what’s next. I’ve continued to do meaningful work ever since. I refuse to let ageism define me or my life.
Ageism only holds power if we allow it to. Instead of framing older adults as victims, let’s focus on what we can do and the value we continue to bring to the world, regardless of our age.
So here’s my invitation to you: Share one way you are redefining retirement, pursuing a second act, or embracing life with renewed energy.
