Connect to those who are fighting Ageism.

The first step is being aware that ageism exists.

It's everywhere and affects everyone.

When your birth date comes up in conversation, generalizations and assumptions are made by society, especially when it comes to those of us with birthday cakes that need a fire hydrant to blow out.

Every day, I hear comments such as, "She looks good for her age," "He must be having a senior moment," or even worse, "Am I too old for this?" We often laugh it off and treat it as funny. However, this kind of thinking isn't good for society. And it isn't good for our own psyches.

For instance, if we substituted 'age,' 'senior,' or 'old' with 'race' or 'sex,' and made those same comments, it would not be cool with most people. It would be readily recognized as prejudice and would feel wrong.

Ageism is almost treated as harmless. But I'm pretty sure it is causing harm.

I'm not a scientist, never studied psychology, nor do I have a single credential. All I can do is help people become aware of the issue and start the conversation.

Many people, groups, and organizations are actively engaged in fighting ageism. My goal is to link their resources to this blog, connecting them with the appropriate information. Stay tuned as I figure out how to accomplish this.

What I do know is that there is so much to learn about this topic, and what good is a journey if you don't satisfy your curiosities by exploring diverse perspectives and viewpoints?

In conclusion, no matter where you are in the aging process, I hope you see where we can do better and help us do them.