why is the wave of change happening now?
The last couple of weeks, I have been out speaking and have been regularly asked the same question of “Why now? Why is this new way of living midlife emerging now?” There are many reasons, but here at AGEIST we have identified these as the big movers:
–40% of the American population is now over 50. That is a lot of people — perhaps the tipping point needed to be noticed.
–Within two years there will globally be more people over 65 than under 5. That is a first in human history, and it’s a trend that will continue growing.
–Life expectancies are now such that someone who is 50 can have a rational belief they will be alive and highly functional for another 30, 40, 50 years. This causes us to behave in a way that is radically different from our parents.
–Massive social change happens incredibly quickly now. In a single day the entire world can seem to pivot. I recall the gay rights movement took decades to gain acceptance, but the trans movement seemed to happen overnight. The #MeToo movement may have simmered for a long time, but suddenly it exploded.
Combine the above, and we are now at a historical pivot of how we view people our age. It’s happening all around us, sometimes difficult to see. It’s not happening through the historical organizations and channels that are associated with people like us. It is happening in new, modern venues such as AGEIST and myriad others who are supporting and witnessing this change. Stay tuned, the wave is growing.
