Jan was listening to Radio 4 recently and heard a comic say “70 is the New 50.”
Okay, he was being satirical. But someone is probably saying it seriously. Because they genuinely feel that 70 IS the New 50.
How do we know that? Because a decade-and-a-half ago, 50 was the New 30; then 60 was the New 40 or the New 50. And, ta-da, “70 is the New 50.”
We’re sure you can see a pattern emerging. As those of us born between 1945 and 1955 (i.e. the Baby-Boomers) reach a new decade, that decade becomes The New 30, The New 40, The New 50, etc.
Naturally, all the claims about 50 being the New 30; 60 the New 40, etc, have been reinforced with stories and photos, frequently of women of 55 or 60 looking far hotter than a young reporter or sub-editor expects them to look. This is because his or her role model for an Older Women is his or her gran, who may be 91, a touch overweight and thinks style is best left to the “youngsters”.
There are various other explanations for the “50 is the New 30” phenomenon. Apart from the one just suggested, that all those reporters, subs and columnists are very young, so tend to aggregate everyone aged over 50 into a group labelled “old.” Another possible explanation is that the columnists and editors are themselves Boomers. They are keen to demonstrate their continuing value and that of an entire generation by focusing on a specific 62-year old and extrapolating that 60 is the New 17, or whatever….
The more likely explanation, however, is that we Boomers are in state of denial and/or surprise that we are ageing.
We were The Who’s “My Generation” and the generation Dylan sang about in “The Times They Are A Changin’”. We were Steve Jobs and Richard Branson; Mick Jagger and Roger Daltry; Meryl Streep and Charlotte Rampling. We were the Permissive Society and The Pill; we were the Moon Landing, and the end of Polio, TB and Smallpox…
We think we are still across it but we also know the Gen-Xers (and, indeed, our own kids) are snapping at our heels and it scares us. But we are not prepared to, in Shakespeare’s magnificent phrase, “go gently into that good night…” we are going with great reluctance and letting everyone know we are still relevant…
So relevant, indeed, that in 10 years’ time, we should prepare for headlines saying that 80 is the New 40. Actually, with Glenda Jackson, 82, wowing audiences with her portrayal of King Lear at London’s Old Vic, and Bake-Off‘s Mary Berry, 81, set to get a new BBC1 series, and, of course, the ongoing wonderfulness of Dame Judi Dench, 80 already is the New 40 – except those in their eighties are not Boomers.
And in 20 years’ time, if we Boomers are still breathing (and we probably will be because we are also the generation that pioneered fitness as a lifestyle choice rather than as the by-product of simply living) we predict headlines saying “90 is the New 50.”
So what do you think? Do you believe 70 is the new 50, or that we baby boomers are in denial?
You’ve got a valid opinion! Let’s hear it below…
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4 Comments
I think that we are in denial. I consider the best policy is to accept the age that we are which can still mean leading healthy vibrant active fulfilling lives (health permitting). However I am not for pro-acing, anti-ageing or any of the other labels. We are growing older, that is a fact and there is absolutely nothing we can do to stop it. Live and enjoy every moment you never know what is round the corner.
Thanks for taking the time to comment, ChicAtAnyAge. .. we think the Boomer generation is brilliant (Cyndy and I are very firmly Boomers). The “in denial” comment was meant humorously but on reflection it had a grain of truth. Like you, we think that ageing is about both denial AND acceptance; i.e. not letting it stop us from looking fabulous and being active (health permitting, as you say); but, at the same time, accepting that it may mean we need a little lie-down after a heavy day!
No way are we in denial. 70 IS the new 50. When I think of my mother’s generation at this age, they were little old ladies – we definitely are NOT! We are still enjoying life to the full…and will do so for a long time yet!
Thanks for taking the time to comment. .. we also think the Boomer generation is brilliant (Cyndy and I are very firmly Boomers). You may have taken an inference that was unintended. If so, please accept our apologies. The “in denial” was meant humorously: we agree that Boomers are definitely NOT old ladies… In fact we believe it so strongly we set up a website to affirm that!