If you think you're old - you are!

Words matter—especially the ones we use about ourselves. 

 

Not long ago, I found myself at the hospital being checked for a suspected mini-stroke (I’m fine, thankfully!). As the nurse handed me my paperwork, she asked me to take it to “elderly care.” Wait, what? I was floored. Elderly care? Just because I’m over 60? 

 

That moment stuck with me—not because I was offended, but because it showed how deeply ingrained ageist language is in our culture. 

 

Words like “elderly” and “geriatric” make aging sound like a decline into feebleness. Personally, I’d rather be called an elder. That speaks of wisdom and experience. There's a quiet dignity in it—respect, even. 

 

But beyond how others label us, the real danger lies in the language we use about ourselves. If you keep telling yourself you're “too old,” your brain believes it. Too old to run? To fall in love? To start a new business or change careers? Then yes—you probably are. Not because of your body, but because of your beliefs. 

 

At 48, an orthopedic surgeon told me there was “nothing” he could do for my knees. He told me to "Come back when you're 60 and your needs have reduced" Come again? As if I’d be resigned to sitting on a sofa watching daytime TV by then. I had no intention of slowing down—and I haven’t. 

 

Even a well-meaning comment from a young doctor—“I can’t believe you’re 60”—left me wondering: What exactly are we supposed to look or act like in our 60s? 

 

This is why reframing the narrative matters so much. It starts not with society, but with us. 

 

If you’ve ever said, “I’m too old to…”—stop. Notice the thought. Reframe it. It’s not about denying reality; it’s about recognizing possibility. 

 

 

So here’s my challenge to you: Start catching those little thoughts. Rewire the self-talk. Speak kindly to yourself. Speak powerfully. Speak with belief. 

 

Because if you think you’re old, you are. But if you believe you’re capable, adventurous, wise, and full of potential—guess what? You are that, too. 

 

Join the conversation in the comments – what limiting beliefs about age hold you back? 

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