Each October, I write an anniversary column to share what I have learned from our readers.
It’s now 24 years and 1,174 weekly columns later. That weekly schedule continued until mid-year, when I decided to write a column every other week. To my delight, my wonderful editor, Erik Pedersen, now goes back through the thousand-plus columns and selects ones for those alternate weeks.
So, folks, I am still with you every week.
The process of researching these anniversary columns is both time-consuming and enjoyable. I reread all the communication I’ve received and then sort it all into piles according to topic. This year, there were over 35 topics. Those with the biggest pile typically are included in the column. Often though, a single email may contain a suggestion or experience important to share.
Here are several responses:
My change in the column schedule: The most emails I received this year occurred after I announced I would write every other week. The notes were heartwarming. Here are several of the comments: “Glad I can still read my favorite column every Sunday morning,” wrote one reader. Others wrote, “I am glad you are not leaving me altogether,” “Your core as an educator shows in your columns,” “My Sunday mornings will never be the same,” and “Your column is well-researched and written.” Another added, “The column is written with grace, humility, wisdom and love.” A final comment was, “Go play, dance and twirl; tomorrow isn’t promised to anyone.”
Assistive devices: These include hearing aids and walkers. The major complaint was about hearing aids as an inadequate substitute for good hearing. “They amplify everything and don’t delineate nearby noise,” wrote one of our readers. I suggested she return to her audiologist for an upgrade since the newer ones address the problems she mentioned. Others wrote, “My hearing aids are a disappointment,” “They are of no help,” and “Hearing aids are not like natural hearing,” added another. Readers shared their positive experiences with specific brands of walkers as well as the resistance to using them.
Employment frustration: A 65-year-old woman reported that with many years of administrative and management jobs in New York and Los Angeles, she applied to 100 job listings, had several subsequent interviews and not one job offering, despite coaching from a career counselor. She felt her age was against her as an unconscious bias. Another reader indicated she finally got a job by taking Internet quizzes and landed a job as a product demonstrator handing out samples in a large warehouse. She felt the hiring manager was shocked in the final interview when he saw “an 88-year-old face.”
Employment success: A registered nurse wanted a sense of purpose after leaving her 40-year nursing career. She found a job giving COVID shots. When that ended, she found a job as a school aide and resigned after observing disrespect from students. Not to be deterred, she immediately secured a job at a convention center in her area using her nursing skills with a flexible schedule so she could travel. Yet a concerned 80-year-old woman who loves her full-time work does not want her employer to know her age because of potential ageism.
A generational perspective: A 76-year-old self-employed woman found the older generation more stable and dependable and open to working. Her concern is that after she provides training to older adults, they will leave. Consequently, she prefers hiring middle-aged folks without kids living at home. On that subject, the Society of Human Resource Management reported a conversation with Laurel McDowell from the ManpowerGroup, a global recruiting and staffing firm. McDowerer offered a different perspective, indicating that older persons actually are less likely to leave or seek a different job when they participate in training. However, we know every case and experience is different.
Kindness: In response to a column on kindness, an academic was preparing for a conference keynote address and asked for a list of references I used that might be useful for his presentation. Another requested a copy of the column to forward to his family members. I learned from another reader that we have cities in the U.S. rated high for their kindness; eighteen of those cities are in California. The kindest city named was Toledo, Ohio.
In two weeks, I’ll continue to share other perspectives, experiences, and advice from our readers. In the meantime, stay well and know that kindness is a way of life.
Helen Dennis is a nationally recognized leader on issues of aging and the new retirement with academic, corporate and nonprofit experience. Contact Helen with your questions and comments at Helendenn@gmail.com. Visit Helen at HelenMdennis.com and follow her on Facebook at SuccessfulAgingCommunity