Nobody really gives a damn about your age when talking business, it's more about what you bring to the table and how you deliver when the pressure is on.
Since I can remember, I have always existed at the nexus of age that is either too young or too old. I was born in June, so from the very beginning, I was one of the 'summer babies' that would be too old to go a grade down--which meant that I had to be the young cat with the rest of my classmates who were born a year before. The best part? I learned so much about age and ageism that it became a superpower. Strap in, because today--we talk about that strange concept that you're traditionally not supposed to ask a lady about: age.
Since I have spent the most of my life trying to understand the nexus of age that I have explained, I have come to understand a great deal about this concept. I was one of the youngest kids in the class through school (especially during my Ph.D. at
Florida State University
). I finished my Ph.D. at 28 and became an Assistant Professor at
San José State University
where I still, to this very day, get asked to join fraternities and student organizations by 19-year-old undergraduates with tents in the center of campus. The buck doesn't stop there, as I was also (and still am) treated differently by 'more senior' academics/administrators--simply because I still look quite young. It wasn't until I began doing some digging that I became quite adept with the concept of ageism (discrimination based on the age of a person). Once I was a bit more seasoned and informed, I began to embrace the joys of youth while also appreciating having an 'old soul' and listening to folks like Frank Sinatra and Billie Holiday (instead of the contemporary artists that I can't even name). This is not an exposition where I am looking to bloviate my existence, but more to show the importance of being where our feet are and embracing the ways that our age is actually a gift...especially if we are fortunate enough for the number to keep increasing.
So let's get to it. Allow me to share 5 things that I have learned about Age and Ageism in the workplace:
- You are always older than someone, and younger than someone else - As previously mentioned, I am used to the nexus of being too old in some spaces...and not old enough in others. I have learned that it is best to embrace our positionality in life and accept the joys that come with the age that we are in the very moment. When we are 'younger,' we spend a lot more time trying to grow up and be an adult (whatever that means). It's fascinating that when we get 'older,' we legitimately flip the script and try to do things that make us feel young again. Believe me when I tell you that going back and forth on this spectrum can have catastrophic impacts regarding our enjoyment in life. We will miss many of the joys of our current age if we spend all of our time thinking forward or back. Instead, it is best to live in the moment and embrace our age in the current moment.
- Age typically comes with experience, and experience is timeless - I have never understood why people are dismissive of the elderly, especially when they typically have mountains of knowledge that they love to share with those they care about. When I still lived in St. Louis, I would spend hours just sitting with my grandfather and hearing all of his stories about life from the 1940's to present. Better yet, he would share the wisdom that he learned from those stories and he always helped me to connect it to something that was happening (or could happen eventually) in my life. I have learned so much about this life from hearing his life stories, along with reading the work of numerous scholars spanning from the 1850's to now. Age is a wonderful gift, and the experiences acquired are timeless in the way that they can always apply to something we are facing in our everyday lives in 2024.
- Remember that age doesn't necessarily equate to intelligence - Plenty of times in my life, I have been considered the 'bad boy' because I am comfortable saying things that others wouldn't dare say. Congruently, this is one of those times and I am here to tell you, age doesn't necessarily equate to intelligence. In fact, age is not an indication of anything other than trips around the sun so be weary of the people who say you should listen to them simply because they are older than you. I know plenty of people two and three times my age that aren't necessarily intelligent--but only because they have not embraced their experiences, learned from their journey, and accepted that we can all learn from anyone we encounter (both younger and older). Part of intelligence is adaptability to changing circumstances, and people who allow themselves to stop learning along the journey...are simply people who exist to travel around the sun without ever harnessing the power of their experiences along the way.
- Embrace the difference in age, approaches, and expertise - I have just started my fourth year as a tenure-track professor and one of my favorite things to share with the members of the class when we are doing the introductory housekeeping (inclusive of our usual
Actually Curious
activity, thanks to my friend
Michael A. Tennant
) is that it is OUR classroom...and we will all learn from each other. I am incredibly thankful to have such great minds that I get to engage with on a weekly basis, and the best part? I have learned an exponential amount from embracing the differences in our ages, approaches to knowledge, and expertise levels. Contrary to my brand name (Savant), I don't pretend to know everything and I thoroughly believe that I have learned what I have learned because I am open to knowledge acquisition from legitimately anyone of any age. Heck, I learn great lessons from my 11-year-old niece just as much as I learn from the Professor Emeritus that I play basketball with. Embrace the differences in age and expertise, as it is the shortcut to learning more while 'doing' less.
- Age is a gift, so don't let anyone make you feel bad for it - When it is all said and done, I can say with undying certainty that every single day we have on earth is a true gift that we would be foolish to spoil. Whether we are 8, 18, or 81 years young, we should embrace every day and see it as another opportunity to both live out our wildest dreams and love with every ounce of intention in our souls. We must remember that it is most helpful for us to never let anyone feel bad about our age. One of my favorite movies is the
Netflix
Christmas musical called Jingle Jangle because it show the power of generational influences that work together to achieve the greatness of toy-making (and unconditional love). Much like Jeronicus Jangle and Journey, our skills are best served if we embrace our age for what it is and enjoy exactly where we are in those moments because the gift of life never fails and aat each moment of our age trajectory, we have special talents to offer.
I love being 'older' and achieving the continued progression of increasing the number of years that I have lived on this rock, and I would invite you to do the same. Embrace the idea that perhaps we are always right where we are supposed to be...as people who have lived different timelines and somehow make our ways to each other. Age is wonderful, and nothing brings more joy than harnessing that power in a way that we can enjoy being a kid...and enjoy being and adult (or, elder). That said, I understand that many of us are fearful of getting older because of the obvious biological trajectories that we all must accept...but trust me, life is nothing if we don't live it. Considering the amount of friends and family that I have lost along this journey (even many that I feel ran out of time too early), we would be foolish to spend our time worrying about people who try to demean us based on our age. Instead, we should work to be where our feet are and enjoy our age in the current moment. Everyone has something that we can bring to the table, and both 'young and old' minds can work together to create a more inclusive workspace/lifestyle.
This old man has some work to do, so I'll holla at y'all next week!
