baby boomers Archives - My New Old Self

If it ain’t broke don’t fix it 1

Aug

11

2017

As with many an old adage, there’s truth in the Ain’t Broke Don’t Fix advice. But it is also true that if something is broken, it is harder than ever to get it fixed. What was once quaintly called “make do and mend” is Not A Thing. Not any more. For a range of reasons. It’s ...

Snowflake Generation: Insult of the Year

Jan

27

2017

I am not happy about the Insult of the Year. Not because it was hurled at me – I’m too old for it. This insult is targeted at the young. Their elders call them the “Snowflake Generation”. “Young adults of the 2010s, viewed as less resilient and more prone to taking offence than previous generations” ...

Y2K + Millennials 1

Dec

29

2016

The Not-so-new Millennium As 2016 nears its end, I’ve been thinking back to that famous New Year’s Eve when we welcomed the 21st century – and all the fearmongering leading up to it. You remember Y2K – which turned out to be Apocalypse Not. You remember the widespread hoarding of canned food and candles in response to dire ...

I’m with Stupid – that’s the post-truth 2

Nov

19

2016

You have probably seen that T-shirt with the words “I’m with Stupid” and an arrow pointing to whoever is walking next to you. Now there’s a new version of that joke online, a satirical response to the US presidential election results that flummoxed the pollsters and shocked the world. This comparison of the June referendum ...

Generations at War post-Brexit 1

Jul

7

2016

Intergenerational war has broken out in the UK. Battle lines were drawn in the recent referendum on Britain’s EU membership, whose result is known as Brexit. For young people the enemy is easily recognisable – by their grey hair and wrinkles. All over our economically fragile world the older generation is getting the blame for ...

Same Old Same Old for Women at Cannes

May

11

2016

There are more women directors with movies in competition at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. But in terms of older women it looks like Same Old Same Old. The Cannes 2016 main jury is headed by George Miller, director of the Mad Max action movie franchise. At 71 he is NSP (No Spring Chicken) but I haven’t ...

Unfollowers? Lucky I’m Too Old to have any!

May

7

2015

When I see the word “Unfollow” I immediately think: LITO! Perhaps you’ll recall the internet slang-style acronym My New Old Self coined for those situations where it’s actually better not to be young: LITO, meaning Lucky I’m Too Old. I enjoy finding opportunities to use LITO, if only to mutter it under my breath with ...

Baby Boomers vs their grown-up babies

Apr

23

2015

We are all foreigners somewhere. Here you are part of us, but over there you would be one of them. Somewhere, some day you may be a foreigner. Then you could be a victim of xenophobia. Ageism is unlike any other ism or phobia. You could avoid xenophobia by never leaving your homeland (although poverty ...

How to be old and happy in Denmark

Jun

19

2014

My New Old Self is taking an occasional look at the wide world through the lens of aging. The idea is to check out what’s it like getting old in various places around the globe. This is a quick look at Denmark. Without this Scandinavian country of only 5.6-million people, there would be a lot ...

Older Persons, it’s your day – and week 1

Sep

28

2013

We’re in the limelight this week, so here are a few tips to help you deal with all the attention. Have a cup of strong coffee before you read the official UN statement on the International Day of Older Persons because it’s in UN-speak so it might put you to sleep. There’s the usual mention of ...