Embrace Age with a Longevity Mindset | Helen Hirsh Spence | TEDxKanata

Summary

This inspiring talk explores the concept of aging in today's world, challenging the traditional 'learn, earn, retire' model. The speaker, nearing 75, shares their personal journey of embracing a 'longevity mindset', advocating for age diversity, and combating ageism. They highlight the benefits of aging, such as improved judgment and emotional regulation, and encourage viewers to view aging as a time of opportunity and strength.

Takeaways

• 📈 Aging Population: 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day, and globally, two people turn 65 every second, indicating a rapidly aging population.
• 🗣️ Redefining Old Age: The concept of 'old' is evolving, with the speaker questioning their own age as they approach 75 and plan for many more active years ahead.
• 🏔️ Personal Growth: The speaker's personal experience of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at an older age symbolizes overcoming age-related limitations and achieving personal goals.
• 🔄 Lifelong Learning: The speaker emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and adapting to new roles, such as stepping back from educational leadership to engage in volunteer work.
• 🌟 Longevity Mindset: The idea of a 'longevity mindset' is introduced, which is about embracing the additional years of life made possible by advances in technology and medicine.
• 📉 Changing Social Norms: The traditional life stages of 'learn, earn, retire' are no longer applicable due to increased life expectancy, necessitating a reevaluation of societal structures.
• 🌱 Volunteering and Impact: The speaker's post-retirement activities include volunteering in various countries, demonstrating the value of giving back and making an impact.
• 💡 Epiphany and Change: A pivotal moment during a descent from a mountain led to a decision to redefine the speaker's life and embrace a new role with a focus on age diversity and combating agism.
• 🚫 Agism Awareness: The script highlights the issue of agism, the discrimination based on age, and its negative impact on self-perception and societal participation.
• 💡 Self-Directed Agism: The realization of internalized agism, where negative societal messages about aging are internalized, leading to a loss of self-esteem and a sense of invisibility.
• 🌐 Global Impact: The World Health Organization's report on widespread bias against older adults underscores the urgency to address agism on a global scale.
• 💼 Social Entrepreneurship: The speaker's reinvention includes starting a social venture to promote age diversity and educate about agism, reflecting a commitment to social change.
• 🧠 Cognitive Benefits: As people age, they experience improvements in judgment, perspective, and problem-solving skills, highlighting the cognitive advantages of an aging brain.
• 🌈 Emotional Growth: Aging is associated with a decrease in ego and an increase in empathy, contributing to better emotional regulation and a desire to leave a positive legacy.
• 🎨 Creativity and Productivity: The script argues that there is no expiry date on creativity or productivity, and that life experience can enhance performance in these areas.
• 📈 Optimistic Aging: Research by Becca Levy suggests that an optimistic mindset about aging can lead to a longer, healthier life with reduced cognitive decline.
• 🚀 Longevity Mindset: The final call to action is to adopt a longevity mindset, which sees aging as a time of opportunity, strength, and self-discovery rather than decline.

Q & A

How many Americans turn 65 every day according to the transcript?

10,000 Americans turn 65 every day.

What is the expected aging trend for Canada's population in the coming years?

A quarter of Canada's population will be over 65 in the next few years.

At what age is the speaker turning and what is their perspective on being 'old'?

The speaker is turning 75 in two months and they consider themselves not old, with a plan to live actively for at least another 25 years.

What significant physical achievement did the speaker accomplish?

The speaker climbed to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, reaching 20,000 ft above sea level, to see the sunrise.

What was the purpose of the volunteer trip to Tanzania?

The purpose was to build a much-needed school in rural Tanzania and to ascend Mount Kilimanjaro for acclimatization.

What epiphany did the speaker have on the descent of Mount Kilimanjaro?

The speaker decided to step back from their role as an educational leader and take advantage of the 'longevity bonus' of additional years of life.

What is the 'longevity mindset' as described by the speaker?

The 'longevity mindset' refers to embracing the extra years of life that people now have as the new norm, focusing on a positive impact on how we act, think, and live.

How does the speaker describe their experience with agism?

The speaker felt invisible, irrelevant, and confused due to agism, which is the bias or stereotype based on age, and realized they had internalized these negative messages.

What social venture did the speaker start at age 67 to combat agism?

The speaker started a social venture that promoted age diversity and educated about agism.

According to Becca Levy, what are the benefits of an optimistic mindset about aging?

An optimistic mindset about aging can add 7.5 years to one's life, reduce cognitive decline, and promote faster healing.

What does the speaker suggest as the best approach to aging?

The speaker suggests adopting a longevity mindset, being positive, open-minded, and curious about new experiences, and disregarding chronological age.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Embracing the Longevity Mindset

This paragraph introduces the concept of an aging population and the speaker's personal journey towards embracing a longevity mindset. The speaker reflects on the rapid increase in the elderly population and questions the definition of 'old' in today's world. Sharing their experience of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at nearly 60, the speaker emphasizes the importance of using the additional years of life granted by medical and technological advances. They discuss stepping back from their role as an educational leader to engage in nonprofit work, volunteering in various countries, and advocating for a new perspective on aging that goes beyond the traditional 'learn, earn, retire' model.

05:01

😔 The Struggle with Ageism

In this paragraph, the speaker delves into the personal challenges they faced in their mid-60s, feeling lost and experiencing ageism. They describe the societal bias and stereotypes based on age that can lead to feelings of invisibility and irrelevance. The speaker highlights the World Health Organization's report on the prevalence of age bias and how it shapes perceptions and decisions, limiting dreams and shortening lives. They also discuss the anti-aging industry and its negative impact on self-perception. However, the speaker finds a new purpose through social entrepreneurship and social impact investing, deciding to start a social venture promoting age diversity and educating about ageism, ultimately aiming to combat age myths and redefine the narrative of aging.

10:01

💡 The Benefits of Aging and a Longevity Mindset

The final paragraph focuses on the benefits of aging and the importance of adopting a longevity mindset. The speaker discusses the advantages of having a brain that has aged, including improved judgment, broadened perspectives, and enhanced problem-solving skills. They mention the 'UK curve of Happiness,' which suggests that the happiest times in life are early childhood and older adulthood. The speaker also emphasizes the emotional benefits of aging, such as increased empathy and a desire to leave a legacy. Citing research by Yale Professor Becca Levy, they argue that an optimistic mindset about aging can extend life, reduce cognitive decline, and promote faster healing. The speaker concludes by encouraging everyone to disregard chronological age, cultivate a longevity mindset, and embrace the potential and promise of a longer life.

Keywords

💡Aging Population

The term 'Aging Population' refers to the demographic trend where the median age of a population increases due to longer life expectancies and lower birth rates. In the video, it is mentioned that 10,000 Americans turn 65 every day and a quarter of Canada's population will be over 65 in the coming years, illustrating the rapid pace at which the world is aging. This concept is central to the video's theme of redefining what it means to be 'old' in the modern world.

💡Life Expectancy

Life Expectancy is a statistical measure of the average length of life that a person can expect to live, based on the year of their birth. The video discusses how life expectancy has increased significantly, with the average lifespan in the 1930s being 62, compared to 82 today, and the speaker's grandchildren expected to live to 100. This increase is a key factor in the need to reconsider traditional concepts of retirement and aging.

💡Longevity Mindset

A 'Longevity Mindset' is the perspective that embraces the additional years of life that people now have due to advances in technology and medicine. The speaker describes this mindset as having a positive impact on how individuals act, think, and live, and contrasts it with the fear and invisibility they felt in their mid-60s. This concept is integral to the video's message of embracing and making the most of an extended life.

💡Social Entrepreneurship

Social Entrepreneurship is the process of pursuing innovative solutions to social problems, often through the creation of new business models or approaches. The speaker mentions being exposed to this concept, which coincided with their realization of the impact of agism. This led them to start a social venture at age 67 to promote age diversity and educate about agism, showing how social entrepreneurship can address societal issues like age discrimination.

💡Agism

Agism, also known as ageism, is a form of discrimination or bias based on a person's age. The video discusses how agism can lead to feelings of invisibility and irrelevance, particularly for older adults. The speaker's personal experience with agism and their decision to combat it through social entrepreneurship highlight the importance of addressing this form of discrimination in society.

💡Internalized Agism

Internalized Agism is the process by which individuals absorb and internalize negative messages about aging, leading to self-directed age bias. The speaker describes how they felt lost and in a 'dark hole' due to internalized agism, which affected their self-perception and outlook on life. Recognizing and addressing internalized agism is a key part of the video's narrative on overcoming societal and personal biases about aging.

💡Crystallized Intelligence

Crystallized Intelligence refers to the accumulation of knowledge, skills, and experience that a person gains over time. In the video, the speaker mentions that as we age, our crystallized intelligence increases, leading to improved judgment, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. This concept is used to counter the negative stereotypes about aging and to highlight the cognitive benefits of an extended life.

💡Ego

The term 'Ego' in the context of the video refers to the self-centered aspect of one's personality. The speaker notes that as people age, they tend to lose their egos and become more empathetic and caring, which contributes to greater emotional regulation. This concept is used to illustrate the emotional growth and maturity that can come with aging.

💡Productivity

Productivity, in the video, is presented as not having an expiry date, even as people age. The speaker argues that life experience gives older individuals a performance edge, challenging the notion that aging leads to a decline in productivity. This concept is central to the video's message that aging should be seen as a time of increased value and wisdom.

💡Optimistic Mindset

An 'Optimistic Mindset' about aging is the belief that growing older can be a positive and enriching experience. The video cites research by Yale Professor Becca Levy, which suggests that an optimistic mindset about aging can lead to a longer, healthier life. This concept is used to encourage viewers to adopt a positive view of aging and its potential benefits.

💡Self-Discovery

Self-Discovery is the process of learning about oneself, one's values, and one's potential. In the video, the speaker invites viewers to adopt a longevity mindset that embraces self-discovery as part of the aging process. This concept is used to frame aging as a time of exploration and personal growth, rather than a period of decline.

Highlights

10,000 Americans turn 65 every day, and a quarter of Canada's population will be over 65 in the next few years.

The world's population is aging faster than it's being replaced.

The concept of 'old age' is changing in today's world.

The speaker is turning 75 and reflects on their own age and legacy.

Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro at the age of 60 with a group of students and parents.

An epiphany on the descent of the mountain led to a decision to step back from educational leadership.

The 'longevity bonus' of 25 to 30 additional years beyond the grandparents' generation due to medical and technological advances.

The need to rethink the 'learn, earn, retire' model with extended lifespans.

The average life expectancy has increased significantly since the introduction of Social Security and retirement concepts.

The speaker's commitment to not-for-profit work and volunteering in various countries post-retirement.

The concept of a 'longevity mindset' and its impact on how we act, think, and live.

Experiencing ageism and the realization of its pervasiveness in society.

The anti-aging industry's influence on societal perceptions of aging.

The internalized ageism and its effects on self-perception and opportunities.

The decision to start a social venture promoting age diversity and educating about ageism.

The demographic shift with aging populations and declining fertility rates, emphasizing the urgency to combat ageism.

The benefits of aging, including improved judgment, broadened perspectives, and increased emotional regulation.

Becca Levy's research indicating that an optimistic mindset about aging can add years to life and improve health.

The call to disregard chronological age and cultivate a longevity mindset for a life of possibility and self-discovery.

Aging as the ultimate triumph of living, offering a new stage of opportunity and strength.

Transcripts

[Music]

did you know that 10,000 Americans turn

65 every

day or that a quarter of Canada's

population will be over 65 in the next

few

years with two people turning 65 every

second worldwide our population is aging

far faster than it's replacing

itself so how old is old in today's

world I'm turning 75 in two months am I

old that's the right

answer I tell my children that they

shouldn't expect their inheritance for

at least another 25 years and they laugh

but they know I'm serious

I didn't give much thought to these

issues until I found myself on top of

the world I was literally on top of the

world I could see the curvature of the

Earth from 20,000 ft above sea level I

had just climbed the last 5,000 ft with

nothing more than a headlamp so that I

could arrive at the summit to see the

sunrise I was

exhausted out of

breath but smiling from ear to ear

I had coordinated a volunteer trip for

some of my students and their

parents to build a much needed School in

rural Tanzania at the base of Mount

Kilimanjaro the plan was to then Ascend

the mountain gradually so that we could

acclimatize to the

altitude I was by far the oldest on the

track approaching the age of 60 my

students all girls were between between

15 and 17 and their parents were

probably about

45 I made it to the summit some of the

others

didn't on The

Descent I had an epiphany and I made the

Bold decision to step back from my role

as an educational leader and take

advantage of my longevity bonus you know

those 25 to 30 additional years that we

have Beyond our grandparents generation

thanks to technology and medical

advances I was aware that that old

refrain of learn earn retire didn't work

anymore with our extended lives

today think about it Social Security and

retirement were Concepts introduced in

the 1930s in the United States when the

average lifespan was

62 today it's 82 and my grandchildren

will have an average life expectancy of

100 it's really time for us to think

again about what it means to age and

that's exactly what I did I devoted the

next stage of my life to not for profit

work wherever I traveled I made a point

of volunteering to offset my carbon

footprint at 60 I was in India coaching

a secondary school principal I was

writing brochures travel brochures for

the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan at 62

and 63 I was designing developing and

delivering in Spanish communication

workshops for the Honduran tourism

sector and for a leadership team at a

bahai university in

Bolivia at

64 I was giving courses in the Canadian

Arctic in kuwak on board governance to a

group of

Inuit and at

65 I was helping a rural District School

Board in Kenya to develop some strategic

plans and on my way home I decided to

stop over in Ethiopia to climb in the

Simeon mountains which I did with a

guide a cook two mules and a guard with

a shotgun to ward off

kidnappers I never could have done done

any of this without my life experience

and my longevity

mindset what do I mean by longevity

mindset I mean those extra years that we

now have as the new norm and no longer

the

exception a longevity mindset has a

positive lasting impact on how we act

think and

live my friends considered me to be

Fearless but I was anything but I was

terrified of what was happening to me in

my

mid-60s I was

lost I felt like I was going down a

rabbit hole of Despair suddenly

Merchants were calling me Deary or

sweetheart at the checkout

counter I didn't recognize myself I felt

invisible irrelevant and quite confused

it was likely

agism the bias or stereotype based on

age the only discriminatory practice

that is still socially acceptable

unchallenged and largely

unnoticed agism creeps into our lives

shaping our perceptions influencing our

decisions limiting our dreams fostering

disconnection and shortening Our Lives

it steals our

future the World Health Organization in

2021 came out with a report in which had

stated that one out of two persons

worldwide is biased against older

adults it's no surprise that we fear

growing

older we have been fed messages about

Anti-aging products and how to look feel

and stay young since early childhood

it certainly affected

me I was lost I felt like I was in a

dark hole until one

day I realized when somebody mentioned

it to me that the anti-aging industry is

worth $62 billion doar annually in the

United States that's a lot of money

spent on making us feel negatively about

something that is a natural

process another time I was listening to

the radio and I heard somebody describe

exactly the way I was feeling it had a

name it was called

internalized or self-directed

agism I had absorbed all those negative

messages throughout my lifespan and they

stuck

fortunately at at that point one of my

former students re-entered my life and

she exposed me to social

entrepreneurship and social impact

investing it coincided with the

realization of what was happening to me

with agism and so I decided to reinvent

myself at age 67 and start a social

Venture that was intended and did

promote age diversity and educate about

agism

it was also at this point that I was

became more aware of the fact that we

have an emerging demographic shift with

populations aging and fertility rates

declining it's more urgent than ever for

us to combat agism if we're going to

thrive in the 21st

century I was committed to dismantling

those age myths and I also wanted to

tell everybody the real story about

aging because we've been terribly

misled granted we have lapses in

short-term Marin sometimes and there are

parts that are in disrepair and need

replacement in my case it's a

knee but our chronological age doesn't

Define

us there

are so many benefits to aging those

years Beyond age 60 are some of the best

it's referred to as the UK curve of

Happiness on this end we have early

childhood and on this end we have older

adulthood these are the happiest times

in our life and in the middle we have

crisis and challenges with family career

finances there are also benefits to

having Had a Brain that's been around

for a

while as we age our judgment

improves our perspectives

broaden our brain continues to develop

with trillions more connections between

brain cells than when we were

younger we gain crystallized

intelligence which stems from life

experience reasoning and problem solving

skills we increase bi hemispheric

processing we have better single task

focus and

concentration and as we age we also lose

our egos we become more empathetic more

caring about others we want to leave a

legacy and that contributes to Greater

emotional

regulation the best however is that

there's no expiry date on

productivity or creativity in fact life

experience gives us a Performance Edge

these are the Hallmarks of growing

older it's a pretty impressive list I

would

say but we have more extraordinary

information Becca Levy a Yale Professor

has determined through thousands of

studies that with an optimistic mindset

about aging we can add 7.5 years to our

lives reduce cognitive decline and heal

faster when you next think about your

age no matter how old or young you are

now I invite all of you to disregard

your chronological

age cultivate a longevity

mindset be positive be open-minded and

curious about new ideas and experiences

experiment learn something new step out

of your comfort Z comfort zone and build

relationships across all

generations aging isn't a countdown it's

a count up to unparalleled value and

wisdom as we adopt a longevity mindset

one that acknowledges that we have

longer lives today we have the chance to

reframe The Narrative of Aging to be a

time filled with possibility promise and

self-discovery after all aging is the

ultimate Triumph of

living as bety freedan

said aging isn't lost youth but a new

stage of opportunity and strength

[Applause]