Proud to be an ESO
Have I mentioned in any of the blogs I’ve written so far how much I despise being referred to as “elderly.”
Have I mentioned how much I hate being viewed as a “senior.”
Have I mentioned the disdain I feel toward people who refer to me as being “old.”
These are not questions; they’re statements meant to push back against society’s tags and titles. Generation This and Generation That, you’re a Boomer, you’re Gen X, Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Gen Beta, Gen Kiss My Ass. All this separation is not helpful, especially in social media.
The lines are blurred now. Many of us cross over these defining lines, wearing whatever clothes we enjoy, streaming many of the same movies and series as everyone else, and listening to the same music as those younger than us. And truth be told, most of the songs I hear on the remaining free radio stations that I can find, play music from my generation. I constantly hear Phil Collins, Cyndi Lauper, The Police, Led Zeppelin, The Stones, etc. My kids and grandkids know the words to songs I was rocking out to as a teen from the movies they’ve seen.
But I’m getting off track here. My main point is that the terms “elderly,” “senior(s)” and “old” have such negative connotations. It feels as if the perception is that we no longer matter because we’re close to dying anyway. These terms make us sound feeble and vulnerable, hardly able to take care of ourselves and barely able to survive. How do we even drive anymore or figure out how to use a computer or phone. It’s all so negative and demeaning, yet we worked damn hard to get here and we’re doing great!
Little old feeble me could potentially live another 30 years so I will have spent almost half my life being referred to as “old.” Really?
It’s kind of funny because in a recent blog, I stated how I’ve accepted aging, lol; but what I’m saying in this blog touches on a different aspect. One where we don’t always get treated with respect as a normal part of society, as human beings who can still contribute toward the betterment of our lives and those of others. Our experience is invaluable, we are humbled by what life has thrown our way, and overcome obstacles that younger people have yet to encounter.
So maybe we can start a trend and refer to ourselves as the “experienced” instead of the “elderly,” as the “savvy” instead of the “senior,” and perhaps the “originals” instead of “old.”
We can stand united as the “Experienced, Savvy Originals,” the ESOs.
To those non-ESOs who are reading this, you are glimpsing your future right here. Hopefully, you’ll now have a better understanding of who we really are.