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I had only to look at the illustration, a bewigged dinosaur in grandma shoes being confronted by a hand mirror, to know that I was in for some teasing and illuminating reading. The older women of today are so far removed from the previous generation or two as far as looking and acting "our age" that it’s positively silly. And yet, here we (I am 53) are with the gift from the younger generations of a great article pointing out to us-of-the-"More" generation just how droopy our efforts are beginning to look. We can’t stay young forever, even if we were to be embalmed in Botox. Our ideas and presentation can sometimes look old, just as our own mothers’ and grandmothers’ did to us. Eventually, it’s helpful to have some truly young people to hold a mirror up to us and our habits and thinking. Why? Maybe so that we can begin to laugh at ourselves and see how eternal and natural it is for the older gen to pass the torch. We can’t expect to have things engraved in granite, and that includes our mannerisms and our ways of reacting to circumstances. It’s a funny little dance between the gifts of experience and the realities of appearances. My first response to this article was to skim it, see myself in it, see my younger friends in it, and react by ordering the book! I want to know how I appear to "the kids". I want to learn ways to enhance my thinking and outward manners. I want to have as many edges as I can wrap my wrinkled, clawed hands around. And as my lover is several years younger than I am, maybe I can learn a few more ways to develop our rapport ;)
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I read this article and thought it was great. I can't find it on the MORE website and I would like to share it with some friends. Do you know how I can find it?
 By: Wendy Rodewald
Hi Sally — The book excerpt that appeared in the magazine is not on More.com (though it is in Pamela Redmond Satran’s book). But you can find more How Not to Act Old pieces on this site under Community > Humor & Chutzpah > How Not to Act Old. |
 By: Sally Scorzetti
I read this article and thought it was great. I can’t find it on the MORE website and I would like to share it with some friends. Do you know how I can find it? |
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By: SANDRA MELO
"How not to act old" This articule was more worrisome than witty.To avoid acting old must we also change our table manners, stop being respectful to our elders, dressing age appropriate and our morals regarding sex? Age brings maturity and wisdom. I choose to embrace this stage of life and to live it before my family and in my community. The youth of today need mentors not more friends or peers. Sandra Melo,56 |
 By: Tina Lathrom
I just loved this article, I see where Audible is coming from, but rather than truly worrying about keeping up, I think we can all use an update as we age, just as we need updates as we mature from teens, to young women in the working place, to an older age. By not updating our behaviors, we would seem overly immature at times when we should have "grown" some, and by the same token, as I get older, its funny to realize the things I thought were "cool" of me being older (sharing advice and such) probably just aren’t the thing. Mind you, I will never type with my thumbs unless I have to on a smart phone! |
 By: Joanna Trusdle
I too enjoyed that article! It was very humorous, and there is nothing wrong with poking a little fun at oneself at times. I do believe the younger generation has a lot to offer us and maybe some workplace environment improvements, as well. I also believe, however, that our generation could teach the younger ones a thing or to, also. Like maybe simple respect for others time and space, but overall I really liked it. |
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Well, congratulations, Phyllis, you shut me right up.
By: Phyllis Le Chat
You might be interested in posting to the RANT against the article instead of the RAVE. Your people are there. |
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IMHO, MORE magazine exists to sell the image of retaining attractiveness to those of us over 40. This involves looking at our mannerisms through the eyes of our peers and the younger generation, not just our skin, makeup, and clothing. I don't think turning around and attacking younger people for their own foibles makes ours any more attractive, do you? I don't get the defensiveness and need to provoke. The only one imagining you to be unattractive sounds like you. It amazes me that four or five little pages meant to entertain and stimulate thinking can instead unleash such "angst", and yes, anger. For that, I am surprised.
By: audible
Well, congratulations, Phyllis, you shut me right up. |
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It's surprising that this book excerpt would show up in MORE Magazine. It's rather pathetic to worry about "keeping up." People do get stuck in their ways, but so do young people because of lack of experience and the desire to be cool. Do we need to go through all that angst again? So much of today's teens and 20--somethings' behavior is learned from reality shows---why do we want to bend over backwards to win their approval? MORE proposes to celebrate life over 40, but this article was a how-to-act piece that is basically saying older women embarrass themselves---and young people are smirking behind their backs. Let me guess--are you imagining me to be fat, letting myself go, and angry? You'd be surprised.
By: Phyllis Le Chat
IMHO, MORE magazine exists to sell the image of retaining attractiveness to those of us over 40. This involves looking at our mannerisms through the eyes of our peers and the younger generation, not just our skin, makeup, and clothing. I don’t think turning around and attacking younger people for their own foibles makes ours any more attractive, do you? I don’t get the defensiveness and need to provoke. The only one imagining you to be unattractive sounds like you. It amazes me that four or five little pages meant to entertain and stimulate thinking can instead unleash such "angst", and yes, anger. For that, I am surprised. |
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By: audible
It’s surprising that this book excerpt would show up in MORE Magazine. It’s rather pathetic to worry about "keeping up." People do get stuck in their ways, but so do young people because of lack of experience and the desire to be cool. Do we need to go through all that angst again? So much of today’s teens and 20—somethings’ behavior is learned from reality shows—-why do we want to bend over backwards to win their approval? MORE proposes to celebrate life over 40, but this article was a how-to-act piece that is basically saying older women embarrass themselves—-and young people are smirking behind their backs. Let me guess—are you imagining me to be fat, letting myself go, and angry? You’d be surprised. |
Thank you for all that original insight — and especially for ordering my book! Please check back here and at hownottoactold.com for ongoing fresh advice, and keep letting me know what you think. |
