...a wise woman refuses to be
anyone's victim.
Maya Angelou*
Life is a dance. Mindfulness is
witnessing that dance.
Amit Ray**
Internalized
ageism continues to gnaw at me. Self-rejecting language tells me “I'm
old, invisible and irrelevant.” The culture supports this belief
as evidenced by a media that rarely reflects images of naturally
aging olders – unless in ads for medication or adult diapers. All
this contributes to rampant ageism as well as feeds our own
internalized ageism.
Internalized
ageism is a culprit that shrouds the recognition of our true being
beyond age. It came to me that I am experiencing myself as a victim
– a victim of the culture's ageism (and sexism). My victimhood
plays out with abusive ageist self-talk. Added to this, the
internalized voice of sexism shouting: “Because you're old, you're
unattractive and undesirable.”
Labeling
myself as a victim and blaming (victims always blame) the culture for
this was a rude awakening. Each of us know within that we are
more than the appearance we present to the world. A victim becomes
powerful when s/he reconnects with that deeper place within, beyond
the image we present to the world, that is the essence of each of us
– and thus something shifted. I experienced myself as a witness.
A witness to the culture's ageism and sexism.
Language
is powerful. Being a witness shifted my attitude. It is
healing. And, yes, I flip back and forth. I find in
Life's journey – nothing is permanent – we are each a work in
progress. But this shift in language has softened the aging journey
for me – at least for today.
###
*https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/m/mayaangelo578805.html?src=t_victim
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