Episode 24 - Clinique La Prairie x LLAMA - Why "toxic ageism" is harming everyone by Priscilla Long
How often have you heard an older person refer to themselves as being so many "years young?" What about those who blame a "senior moment" for the occasional memory lapse? These are examples of what the writer Priscilla Long describes as "toxic ageism." Oftentimes, she argues, ageist attitudes are perpetuated by the very people who're thriving in old age, but for some reason, view being old as a state of mind or body to be disavowed. Priscilla is a prolific and award-winning author of science, poetry and creative nonfiction. At the age of 79, her latest work, Dancing with the Muse in Old Age, focuses on what she calls "creative engagement" and "purposeful lifestyle traits" as a road map for the aging process. In this LLAMA podcast interview with Peter Bowes, the Seattle-based author argues that ageism "poisons creativity" and explains why society should stop thinking of older people as "decrepit".