WUSUT: Wake-Up, Shake-Up, Thrive! sponsored last week’s first “Congrès Romand Santé au travail 2025: Enjeux et Perspectives” (2025 Occupational Health Congress), where the aging demographic and 50+ were key topics. The following quote from one of the participants inspired this week’s Insider.
“Young people may go faster, but older people know the shortcuts!”
April 1st is a day for “fools” and “tricks”, but what if we told you that many of the “facts” we believe about aging are false? This month, we’re disrupting outdated beliefs, shaking up the data, and thriving by taking action.
WAKE UP: The Myth of “Old Age”
Have you been fooled into thinking age determines ability? For decades, society has told us that growing older means slowing down, becoming irrelevant, and retiring into darkness. But what if that’s just a well-played prank?
Consider this:
- In 1900, global life expectancy was 31 years. Today, it’s over 72 years (World Health Organization, 2024).
- We gain three months of life expectancy yearly (Stanford Center on Longevity, 2024).
- The brain is not on an inevitable decline. Studies show crystallized intelligence—wisdom, experience, and problem-solving—peaks in our 60s and 70s (Harvard Medical School, 2024). Isn’t this cool?
If age determines decline, why is 94-year-old Clint Eastwood still directing films and working on new projects? And why is Ernestine Shepherd, at 88, the world’s oldest competitive female bodybuilder, proving that strength knows no age? What about the 2024 films starring Jane Fonda at 87 and Robert DeNiro at 81? Think about Elizabeth Cameron Dalman, who at 90, continues to dance and influence the world of contemporary dance in Australia. And Dr. Carmen Hijosa who, at the age of 60, founded Ananas Anam, a sustainable textile made from pineapple leaf fibers, an eco-friendly alternative that has been embraced by major fashion brands worldwide.
Maybe we’ve been “fooled” into seeing aging as a limitation instead of an opportunity. Aging nurtures shortcuts.
SHAKE UP: The Data Tells a Different Story
Myth: “Older workers are less productive.” Reality: Research from MIT found that mixed-age teams outperform younger teams because of decision-making and strategic thinking.
Myth: “Memory declines with age.” Reality: While recall speed may slow, problem-solving skills and pattern recognition improve (National Institute on Aging, 2024).
Myth: “Retirement means relaxation.” Reality: A 2023 NIH study found that long-term retirees are 40% more likely to experience cognitive decline compared to those who continue working or volunteering.
We’ve been led to believe that aging is about decline when, in fact, it’s about evolution.
THRIVE: What Can We Do About It?
Instead of being fooled by outdated beliefs, let’s rewrite the narrative:
- Challenge assumptions – If someone tells you, “You’re too old for that,” ask, “Says who?” Make your own rules.
- Stay curious – Keep learning, whether it’s AI, a new sport, or playing the guitar at 75. Mental agility is built and nurtured, not lost.
- Engage with different generations – Intergenerational collaboration isn’t just “nice”; it’s strategic for business and society.
- Redefine retiring into rewiring! Instead of stopping work, transition into something meaningful to you—consulting, volunteering, or entrepreneurship.
From our slightly more seasoned (and much wiser) hearts to yours—don’t let April 1st fool you: the second half of life isn’t the beginning of the end, it’s the start of the good stuff. So whether you’re mentoring a Millennial, learning TikTok from your grandkids, or Googling “What is AI?”—do it with pride, purpose, and maybe a few laugh lines.
Here’s to embracing the shortcuts, dancing past the myths, and thriving with style.
Yours in wisdom and wit,
Ellen & Dominique
For more insights and strategies to challenge traditional aging paradigms, explore our book, Wake-Up, Shake-Up, Thrive, How to Lift Up Your Life in your 50’s and Beyond!
For workplaces, discover if your workplace is “50+ friendly” by taking our free quiz HERE and download our all-new “Future-Proof Employer’s Guide to a 50+ Workforce” for key insights and strategies to harness the full potential of your experienced employees HERE.