Love this. I have to note our society still treats aging men differently; yes, it's true that their gray makes them "distinguished" while mine makes me old (which is why I can't bring myself to quit coloring it). We're bombarded with anti-aging products; I just heard an SXSW panel featuring prominent women pointing out that it's high time to focus the marketing on healthy aging, not denial. That would really rock. But it's also true that members of older generations could/should try not to fall into dwelling on the past and endeavor to embrace, or at least understand, the present (including not writing off musical or technological evolutions). Why would anyone want to be out of touch with the world as it exists today? As long as we're still in it, we owe it to ourselves and the future to remain aware and engaged.
And younger generations owe it to themselves to absorb as much wisdom as possible from those with valuable experience and valid opinions. We were stubborn and headstrong, too, and ideally, learned much from our mistakes. There are times when people need to make their own mistakes, but there are times when they can avoid a lot of agony by not repeating what hasn't worked in the past.
Hi, John - been reading these since the outset, wanted to comment to wish you a happy birthday and pose a question/potential food for thought - with regard to ageism in our business, we all seem to have grudgingly accepted the notion that "old guys" are on an uphill trajectory behind the microphone, but with regard to what you said specifically about mistrust of folks from our generation behind the scenes - how much of that mindset might be rooted in generic, traditional ageism and how much might be due to a specific mistrust based on assumptions that many of us are married to outdated notions of how our business works now and willfully ignorant of the changes that have taken place? I've seen a smattering of the latter firsthand, both among peer musicians and folks on the other side of the fence.
Thank you! There's so much of that. That was a lot of the point of writing this, to point out that it's on us to keep up and not become that cliche. Bringing experience to a converstion is only truly useful if it's informed contextualized to where we are now, and ideally where things are going. That's the fixed mindset you're describing, holding on to old thinking and old structures, willfully refusing to accept reality. I see it all the time.
"The mindset of an older person should encompass every person we’ve been throughout their journey, and we should seek to access our younger selves to achieve deeper understanding."
I just spoke to graphic design students at the University of Oklahoma (where I graduated back in ’92) and the biggest piece of career advice I gave them was to “stay curious.” It’s not only integral to maintaining a creative career without locking into a particular time period of influence, but it also helps build and grow relationships since it helps maintain as ego-free a perspective as possible. I think the best of our generation never traded in empathy for cynicism and continue to seek to experience new things while still cherishing the objects of our younger passions.
Happy birthday! Reading your “essays,” I am reminded of how much l liked your writing style when you were a law student. It was always clear, organized, and logical. As a much older person (I will turn 73 in August), I’m not sure about your statement that older people are more willing to accept what they read on the internet than younger people. I have observed the opposite. I understand that there are many Fox News viewers in my age group (which is distressing), but I don’t think failure to critically evaluate sources is unique to older people. I am often surprised and distressed by what people in their 20s and 30s think is credible news. I hope we all learn how to cope with the information that bombards us daily! I love your perspective on aging—and I’m glad your parents are doing well!
Love this. I have to note our society still treats aging men differently; yes, it's true that their gray makes them "distinguished" while mine makes me old (which is why I can't bring myself to quit coloring it). We're bombarded with anti-aging products; I just heard an SXSW panel featuring prominent women pointing out that it's high time to focus the marketing on healthy aging, not denial. That would really rock. But it's also true that members of older generations could/should try not to fall into dwelling on the past and endeavor to embrace, or at least understand, the present (including not writing off musical or technological evolutions). Why would anyone want to be out of touch with the world as it exists today? As long as we're still in it, we owe it to ourselves and the future to remain aware and engaged.
And younger generations owe it to themselves to absorb as much wisdom as possible from those with valuable experience and valid opinions. We were stubborn and headstrong, too, and ideally, learned much from our mistakes. There are times when people need to make their own mistakes, but there are times when they can avoid a lot of agony by not repeating what hasn't worked in the past.
Guess it all comes down to respect and trust.
Hi, John - been reading these since the outset, wanted to comment to wish you a happy birthday and pose a question/potential food for thought - with regard to ageism in our business, we all seem to have grudgingly accepted the notion that "old guys" are on an uphill trajectory behind the microphone, but with regard to what you said specifically about mistrust of folks from our generation behind the scenes - how much of that mindset might be rooted in generic, traditional ageism and how much might be due to a specific mistrust based on assumptions that many of us are married to outdated notions of how our business works now and willfully ignorant of the changes that have taken place? I've seen a smattering of the latter firsthand, both among peer musicians and folks on the other side of the fence.
Thank you! There's so much of that. That was a lot of the point of writing this, to point out that it's on us to keep up and not become that cliche. Bringing experience to a converstion is only truly useful if it's informed contextualized to where we are now, and ideally where things are going. That's the fixed mindset you're describing, holding on to old thinking and old structures, willfully refusing to accept reality. I see it all the time.
"The mindset of an older person should encompass every person we’ve been throughout their journey, and we should seek to access our younger selves to achieve deeper understanding."
Amen.
Well said and great points. Happy Birthday!
Thanks so much!
I just spoke to graphic design students at the University of Oklahoma (where I graduated back in ’92) and the biggest piece of career advice I gave them was to “stay curious.” It’s not only integral to maintaining a creative career without locking into a particular time period of influence, but it also helps build and grow relationships since it helps maintain as ego-free a perspective as possible. I think the best of our generation never traded in empathy for cynicism and continue to seek to experience new things while still cherishing the objects of our younger passions.
Happy birthday! Reading your “essays,” I am reminded of how much l liked your writing style when you were a law student. It was always clear, organized, and logical. As a much older person (I will turn 73 in August), I’m not sure about your statement that older people are more willing to accept what they read on the internet than younger people. I have observed the opposite. I understand that there are many Fox News viewers in my age group (which is distressing), but I don’t think failure to critically evaluate sources is unique to older people. I am often surprised and distressed by what people in their 20s and 30s think is credible news. I hope we all learn how to cope with the information that bombards us daily! I love your perspective on aging—and I’m glad your parents are doing well!