OM DENNE EPISODE
“One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made is overvaluing status and undervaluing purpose. And as I get older, I hope to switch that out.” — Maggie Rowe
KEY LINKS
Lisen to ‘50 Words for Snow’ podcast HERE
Learn more about Maggie Rowe HERE
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What if some of the problem with aging is simply that we don’t have good enough words for it?
English gives us elderly, senior, over the hill, anti-aging—and the particularly maddening “you look good for your age.” But in other languages, there are words that describe growing older very differently: as ripening, accumulating wisdom and experience, becoming more grounded, letting go of old burdens, and approaching life with renewed curiosity and wonder.
My guest today is writer and performer Maggie Rowe, co-host of the fascinating podcast 50 Words for Snow, which explores words from other languages that have no direct English equivalent.
Maggie introduces me to words and ideas I wish we had been using all along—including a Japanese concept that compares aging to ripening and becoming more complex and layered with time, another that describes the treasure trove of experience we accumulate through life, and shoshin, or “beginner’s mind”: the ability to approach life with curiosity instead of assuming we already know everything.
We also have some fun deciding which aging words deserve to be retired forever.
But the deeper question is one worth thinking about: Do the words we use merely describe aging—or do they influence what we expect aging to be?
Because if the language surrounding getting older is mostly about decline and loss, it’s easy to start believing that story. What happens when we replace some of those words with ones that recognize what can actually increase with age—perspective, freedom, purpose, curiosity, self-knowledge and the ability to appreciate our lives?
This conversation may make you think differently about the words you use to describe yourself—and this stage of your life.
Listen to this episode and then tell me: What word would YOU choose to describe growing older?
Send me your word at agebetterpodcast@gmail.com or share it with me on social media.
And if this episode made you think, please follow AGE BETTER, leave a rating or review, and share it with a friend.Those small actions make a huge difference in helping more women discover the show.
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