I'm Not Too Old for Fun

Changing age-related stereotypes in writing is a gift to your older self.

This is part of my “Art of Noticing” series, in which I learn, find, or discover the things around me that usually go unnoticed and turn them into an endless source of creative inspiration.

Today it hit me that I’m not socially supposed to do a lot of the fun things the kids get to do, like go to amusement parks. It made me wonder why we pigeonhole ourselves like that … and why we’d EVER make those pigeonholes worse in writing.

When my kids used to go to roller coaster parks, I went with them. I had to. They couldn’t go on their own.

But when they became teens, they started going with their friends. As they and their friends got older, they were often invited without me, because who invites the adult? I could spearhead those things, but it was telling that if I didn’t, I didn’t get to go.

Ditto swinging on swings. Ditto running around like a crazy person. Why do kids get to have all the fun, but adults feel they have to “act respectable” … which usually means “be boring”?

I don’t know about you, but I plan on getting older than I am now. I’d rather my writing pave the way for cool, fun, no-limits older folks in my writing to help set precedent, because some day soon, I’ll be one of them.

Here's how this "noticing" can influence my stories and art:

Breaking Age Stereotypes

We’re storytellers. We’re supposed to upset the norm. So let’d do it: Let’s break the age mold by occasionally featuring characters of all ages engaging in activities that are usually associated with a certain age group. This will challenge the reader's perceptions as well as societal stereotypes, giving readers — and ourselves — a fresh perspective on what it means to find joy and fulfillment at any stage of life.

Characters who defy age-related expectations can be particularly awesome as examples and role models. Personally, I look to my 73-year-old mother, who gives zero shits about doing “what older people usually do.” Including people like her can inspire readers to reconsider their own preconceptions about age, and the activities that bring happiness and excitement to their own lives.

Universal Themes of Joy and Adventure

Joy and adventure cross all ages, so writing more inclusively feels more real as well. By incorporating experiences and characters that reflect a wide range of ages (in both directions; teenagers who knit are a thing), our stories will resonate with a broader and more open-minded audience.

Remember, age doesn’t have to — and shouldn’t — define us, so it shouldn’t define our characters, either. So let’s do better. Let’s write stories that celebrate the richness of life at every stage … including seniors on roller coasters, maybe.

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