Is 60 The New 40 Or Is 40 The New 60?

Lloyd Garver Says Older Americans May Feel Younger, But They're Still Older Americans

(CBS)  The other day, I read another one of those articles called, "Is 60 the new 40?" We hear about this supposed phenomenon all the time. 60 is the new 40, 70 is the new 50, 110 is the new 108, etc. It means that people are living longer today, they're healthier, and they're enjoying life more. All that is great. However, at the same time that people are feeling much younger than people their age felt in previous generations, an all-powerful culture of youth is dominating our society. People in their 20s are getting cosmetic surgery to look younger. Men and women in their 40s are considered too old to work in some fields. More and more people are forced to take early retirement at an earlier and earlier age. So while older people are feeling younger these days, our society may be seeing them as older, not younger. Maybe in terms of perceptions, 40 is the new 60.

First, the good news: Today, the average age for someone moving into a nursing home is 81. In the 1950's, it was 65. In a 2005 Merrill Lynch survey of people between the ages of 40 and 59, 76 percent said they planned to retire when they were about 64 — and then start an entirely new career. Men and women in their 70s and 80s race in almost every marathon. Seniors teach and take classes, travel, and just seem to live fuller lives than ever before.

But that's not how society sees them. Judging by TV commercials, right when we get out of baby diapers, we have to prepare ourselves to get into adult diapers. And look how young the people are in the ads for Viagra-like products, hair dyes, and arthritis medications. It's as if Madison Avenue is saying that it's over for you once you're past the grand old age of 25.

There is one area in our society in which being older is not held against you. And it's the one area that maybe it should be — presidential politics. Being young can actually hurt a candidate. We hear things like, "Is he too inexperienced?" or "Is he mature enough?" The majority of today's candidates are too old to be considered for most jobs in the "real world." But apparently, Americans like their leaders to look like parents, or grandparents. It's ironic that just when people might be getting a bit more forgetful, when they may have a few more health problems, when they have less and less of a connection to America's youth, that's when they are considered the right age to lead our country. Americans don't seem to want any hand without liver spots to be on that dangerous, red button.

But for the rest of the population, ageism is a problem. People employed in television and other fields no longer worry about being blacklisted. But they fear being "graylisted." If you're lucky enough to still work at your job after 20 or 30 years, those young people who roll their eyes when you start talking about how things were done "back in the old days" are the same people who want your job — and will probably get it.

So, does our culture truly appreciate and admire those who have all that comes with telltale gray hairs? You may read dozens of magazine articles celebrating the vitality of the aged, but you won't see one ad like this in any of those publications: "Lacking Experience and Wisdom? Want to Look a Little Older so More People Will Respect You? Try Our New Aging Cream for Instant Wrinkles and Gray Hair."

But I'm not worried about my future. If I get to the point that nobody in my chosen field wants to hire me, if it takes me even longer to remember people's names, if all my hair turns white, and if I have no idea what young people are thinking about, I'll still have one option open to me: I can always run for president.

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Lloyd Garver has written for many television shows, ranging from "Sesame Street" to "Family Ties" to "Frasier." He has also read many books, some of them written by authors over 40.

[michellem99-2009]

I am 52. I love the fact I am not a kid now. I still love the dark side of the moon. I love 70s music the best. I like some classial. As I age my hearing is not what it used to be. Yet I walk slower. I can yak on the computer, on boards to learn and share. In my day things were different and wish for them. When I was young played spoons in a local bluegrass band for fun. It was fun. I could not pic today when I was young. Sure we talked about it as kids. Just as kids do. I say don't wish growing older until it comes. amerigirl28,have a cool birthday dear. I was 30. I could not wait for my 21 birthday and it came. As child I was taught to not be a rude to our seniors. That was years ago. I feel so old at times. True I don't have that teenage body. So what.I look good not that bean pole girl who was dumb. I am lucky as blind person having been so since birth that a voice is the fisrt thing I heard not what they wore,skin colour. I miss the hearing of my youth if anything.I had an awful growing up. So I don.t miss that. I only ask you young learn to be kind to the aged as you will be one some day.

[nottellin1]

One of the best quotes I have ever heard is "Don't cry because it is over, smile because it happened".

[adian1-2009]

Funny article, indeed. However, the topic deserves to be approached in the most serious fashion. That I am one of the elders? Definitely so: 69. That my ability to think is diminished? Probably, if not surely so. That that is why I dislike writers who joke about aging people? Yes. It is just that I grew up in an environment where we were taught to be respectful to everybody, especially to the elderly!

[lizardbate]

Amerigirl28
Keep those thoughts and you will feel the same at 50. You might be a little more saggy, but love yourself and everything will be "honky dorie."

[lizardbate]

I'm 54 and I don't feel much different than 30. I can still get interested, just might take a little more to get me interested!!!HA! HA! Definitely still got the willpower and the dirty mind. I still chase momma around the house!!!!

[apdepetris]

I went for my annual check-up last summer and the doctor (a woman like myself) asked if I was having any issues about my impending birthday. Apparently, she is the same age as me and was stressing over her impending birthday. I was pretty surprised considering I was only turning 35. It just didn't seem to me that 35 was such a big deal. I don't feel old. I exercise every day so I am in decent shape. Sometimes I look around in awe of my life. I can't believe I have a house and a husband and two kids and have been at my job for 10 years.

But I think people should be happy to be their age. I do my best to take care of myself, but getting older is just something you can't avoid. I have some gray hair. I have laugh lines. After two kids my tummy is no longer taut. I can no longer shop in the Juniors department because I now have hips and the pants won't go past them (I have to say this last one is the only one that depressed me - moving to Misses was a difficult step).

For me, I am going to change the things I can, accept the things I can't, and just try to enjoy life no matter how old I am.

[jegibbons]

My loving grandmother once told me when I was still very young that my daily goal ought to be to become a little smarter every day.

I believe my college diploma my extensive library, my love of books, my avid pursuit of reading and watching film is reasonably good evidence I have pursued my life with a devotion to daily self-improvement.

If that be so, then today at 62+ I am a better and smarter person than I have ever been.
What care I, what some air head twit, his mind corrupted by an MP3 player might think about my bald pate?

ENJOY LIFE! IT'S THE ONLY ONE YOU GOT!

[cdnunn]

I would not trade my age (almost 53) for youth, period. Youth has a lot of advantages, energy for one, but the wisdom and sheer comfort of knowing who I am and what I am about is priceless. Youth is still searching, that is why they need energy; age has found it and It is very, very cool.

[rohink-2009]

One of the reasons most people want someone older to be president, is because they have experience. Hopefully as you get older you learn of few things along the way. The youth have their assets. They have more energy, a fresh way of looking at things, but you still need wisdom.

[enoughsaid55]

It's true; when you get older you want to be younger, and when your younger you want to be older for many reasons. I am now 55 going on 70 and only because my health isn't good. I wish I felt 55 because I could do so much more, though when I am finally well enough to go to work,maybe Home Depot will think I am too old for anything. Oh well, I take it a day at a time.

[gmcnally2]

Amerigirl28-
Weren't you 29 last year?

This is what's wrong with america: you spend your life (12-40) trying to look young. You take the rest of your life and are depressed because you aren't young. you spend your last days coming to terms with life and in the end, you've spent less than a year appreciating the fact that you are one of the few chosen to live and breath in this beautiful world.
I'm 29. I'm so happy to be 29 and when I'm 30, I'm going to have a huge birthday bash, because I'll only be 30 once....love every day and every age of your life.