Why 'I'm Too Old' is a Lie We Tell Ourselves

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Let your spirit pride celebrate the journey every single day.

Aging with grace and St in our own special way.

Have you ever told yourself, I'm too old for that?

Maybe it's figuring out social media, learning a new skill, starting a business, or even trying a new workout routine.

We've all been there.

That little voice whispers, you can't do this.

And suddenly we believe it.

Today, we're going to shatter that myth.

Dig into why age is never the reason you can't learn or grow, and talk about how to start rewriting that inner narrative.

Hey, friend, who says aging has to mean slowing down?

Around here, we're all about embracing this chapter with grace, style, and just the right touch of sass.

Welcome to the Aging with Grace and Style podcast.

I'm Valerie Hatcher, your guide to empowering tips, inspiring stories, and a whole lot of laughs for women over 50.

So grab your favorite drink, Turmoil, turn up the volume, and let's dive in.

Today's topic hits close to home for many of us.

The belief that we're too old for something or that I can't do this because of my age.

Spoiler alert.

That belief has got to go.

Let's talk about why and how to break free from it.

I was talking to a woman recently, she's maybe in her 50s, and she told me that she couldn't get into social media because she was too old for that.

I couldn't help but laugh a little, but not at her, but at the idea.

I'm 62, running the podcast, creating social media content for me and my church, and learning new things practically every week.

And trust me, I didn't grow up with Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Her comment stuck with me, though, because it wasn't just about social media.

It was about how quickly we write ourselves off, how easily we let age become a barrier before we even give ourselves a chance to try.

She said, I can't.

Before even attempting to step up to the plate.

I'm going to be honest with you, I kind of rubbed me the wrong way.

It was like nails on a chalkboard.

Okay, you get the picture, right?

You know, I think that we can do anything regardless of age.

We can't promote ageism against ourselves.

But let me tell you another story.

When I started this podcast, I didn't know the first thing about audio editing, equipment, recording, or even how to set up a mic.

I could have said, I'm too old for this tech stuff and walked away.

But instead, I googled, I youtubed, I asked questions.

And now here we are, chatting and sharing this moment together.

There's another woman that I know who didn't try a yoga class for months because she thought everyone there would be younger, more flexible, more experienced.

And when she finally went, guess what?

She loved it and realized there were plenty of people her age in the class.

So why do we get in our own heads?

Social media is just one example of how this mindset shows up.

But it was the social media conversation that I had that prompted this episode.

I've heard women say they're too old to start a new career, too old to learn a new skill, too old to travel solo.

But here's the truth.

Age isn't the problem.

The real issue is the belief that age defines what we can and can't do.

Think about it.

We're bombarded with messages about what aging should look like.

Slowing down, stepping aside, letting younger generations take over.

But who decided that?

Who wrote that rulebook?

And why are we following it?

Here are just a few stereotypes that we need to shatter.

One, older people can't learn technology.

False.

You're capable of learning anything if you give yourself the time and the space to try.

Today, there aren't many excuses because we have so many resources out there to help us learn.

Now.

Sometimes we can get bombarded with resources, but they're available.

Number two, it's too late to start a new career or a hobby.

That's not true.

People like Vera Wang and Grandma Moses didn't even start their most iconic careers until their 40s or 50s and beyond.

As a matter of fact, Grandma Moses started painting at 78 after arthritis made embroidery difficult.

So what did she do?

She pivoted.

And then, number three, you're supposed to slow down after 50.

Cover your ears.

But I need to say this this way?

Hell no.

Why?

Who says slowing down isn't a requirement, It's a choice.

And you get to decide.

So why do we fall into this trap?

One reason could be fear of failure.

Let's be honest.

We all go through this at times.

No one wants to fail.

But sometimes, in a weird growth kind of way, it could be good.

Or comparing ourselves to younger generations.

I'll be honest.

I'm not perfect and I've done this.

I think I've told you this, but recently I was tapped on the shoulder to lead our social media marketing and communications team at my church.

I'm lucky because there is a diversity of age on our team.

But for a Few seconds.

A few minutes.

Okay, a few hours.

I was in my feelings thinking, these young people are going to wonder, what on earth does this old lady bring to the table?

And what does she know about social media?

But, you know, I got over it quickly because what I realized was how awesome it is that we are learning from each other.

We all bring something unique to the table.

The truth is, these stereotypes only hold power if we let them.

But let me remind you, those societal messages don't define us.

They're not the rule book.

And we get to rewrite it.

One of the most empowering things that we can do at any age is to commit to lifelong learning.

Think about it.

How dull would it be if we just stopped trying new things?

Learning is part of living.

Those of us who still work, we learn new things on our jobs almost daily.

We have to in order to stay relevant as our work environments change.

So why do we stop at work?

We can expand our learning outside of work.

And here's why this is so important.

It keeps our brain healthy.

Studies show that learning new skills keeps your brain sharp and reduces the risk of cognitive decline.

Yeah, it's like a workout for your mind.

It builds confidence.

Every time you learn something new, you prove to yourself that you're capable.

And that confidence, it spills over in every area of life and it opens new doors.

Learning creates opportunities that you might not have even considered.

I can truly attest to that.

Maybe that cooking class, decorating skill leads to a new hobby or a new business.

There are some practical resources out there for learning, like YouTube tutorials.

They're out there for just about anything.

There are local community classes, workshops, online courses, conferences.

I have learned so much from the online communities that I'm a part of.

And remember, you don't have to master everything.

The goal is to enjoy the process of learning and not be afraid to learn.

And most importantly, is to remove the I can't because I'm too old from your vocabulary.

So how do we break free from the I'm too old mindset?

Here are a few steps that you can take today.

Reframe your thoughts.

Replace that I'm too old with I'm ready to learn and I'm ready to try.

Are we going to be experts at everything?

No.

Are we going to maybe realize that we don't even like that subject matter?

Possibly.

But it's about reframing.

So here's an affirmation for you when you fall into that trap.

Just say, I am capable of learning new things, no matter my age.

And then start small.

Take one small step toward a new skill or goal.

Here's an example.

Watch a beginner tutorial on something that interests you and then surround yourself with growth minded people.

Connect with others who inspire you to grow and learn.

I have that person in my life.

Yashi is so advanced in all areas of business, marketing, video, tech stuff.

I won't ever be her, but watching her pushes me to aspire to learn more and celebrate every win.

Whether it's learning to post a photo on Instagram or walking maybe a new trail.

Or just celebrate your progress.

Fear Failure is at the root of so many of these beliefs.

But here's the thing, and I alluded to this earlier.

Failure isn't the opposite of success, it's part of it.

So let me give you a quick framework of overcoming fear.

Identify the fear.

Are you afraid of looking silly?

Of not being good enough?

Pinpoint what's holding you back and then reframe the failure.

Failure isn't final, it's feedback.

Every expert started as a beginner.

And then celebrate the process.

Focus on progress, not perfection.

Trying is the win.

So let's pause for a moment.

I want you to think about something that you've always wanted to do but you've told yourself you couldn't because of your age.

You got it.

Now ask yourself, where did that belief come from?

Who told you that?

Was a society, a loved one, or even yourself?

What's the worst thing that could happen if you try?

Now write it down.

Because the first step to breaking through a limiting belief is to recognize it for what it is.

So this week I challenge you to pick one thing that you've been avoiding because you think that you're too old.

Maybe it's signing up for a class or learning to use social media, or starting a blog.

Whatever it is, just take the first step and do it.

If this episode resonated with you, then share it with a friend who might need a little nudge to break free from their own limiting beliefs.

Together, we're rewriting the story of aging with grace, confidence, and style.

See you next time.

Thanks for hanging out with me today.

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Join me at pod.agingwithgraceinstyle.com for more tips, story and a whole lot of connection.

Until next time, keep shining with grace, style and a touch of sass.