Growing old: The unbearable lightness of ageing | Jane Caro | TEDxSouthBank

Ageing is a gift, according to Jane Caro. In this funny, insightful and at times challenging TEDx talk she encourages us all to embrace ageing.

Jane Caro has a low boredom threshold and so wears many hats; including author, novelist, lecturer, mentor, social commentator, columnist, workshop facilitator, speaker, broadcaster and award winning advertising writer. The common thread running through her career is a delight in words and a talent for using them to connect with other people. @JaneCaro
@TEDxSouthBank

[sally]

Worked for almost 40 years. I'm 71 and I adore being invisible to both men and women. No one gives a hoot about who I am, how I look or what I say and I feel the same about them. I'm a stranger in this land of old age, but I'm settling right in and plan to sparkle like champagne until the end.

[williammussetter]

As a 72-year-old male of the species, I can't say I understand how the female feels. I know we age differently, both physically and mentally. But I do have a beautiful 71-year-old wife who has shown me how to age gracefully. I didn't realize how much she means to me until last August when I almost lost her. Thanks to the skills of one of the top heart surgeons in the country and 4 bypasses, she is still in my arms at the end of the day and I still start my day looking into those big, beautiful blue eyes! As I said earlier, she gets more beautiful each day. Of course, maybe it's just that my eyes are traveling in time and I see her as she was at 22 when we got married. But, no, she IS beautiful and smart and kind and giving beyond measure and her grandchildren worship her, as do our children and I. I think the granddaughters just tolerate me. The eldest, who is 16 (her sister is 10), reminds me once in a while that I am getting older, but never says that about grandma! But just when I think my grandchildren are ready to put the old guy out to pasture, they put my favorite movie in the DVD player, grab some pillows, soft drinks and a big bowl of popcorn and snuggle up to me on the couch. With the heads of the two most beautiful girls on the planet resting on my shoulders, I know I am one of the luckiest old guys on the planet! And I know I am truly blessed and God is giving me a glimpse of heaven.

[STICKITINYOUREAR]

When I reached 70 years old, I thought this can't be 70. I'm not stooped over, arthritic, filled with aches and pains and I don't shuffle along when i walk. WOW, was I happy to be 70. How the heck did I get here ? I figured that it had to do with me telling myself when I was 25 years old that I needed to change my attitude and become a happy, upbeat, positive person. It worked ! I was also inspired by two more ideas. 1) life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it. 2) Barbra Streisand quoted someone who said, a life without love or passion is no life at all. I believe both. I am now 72 years old and l still look forward to everyday. I learn something new everyday, ( whether I want to or not : ) ). With the internet, google earth, webcams etc, you can connect with the world. I wonder what new technology will come next. I can hardly wait. I have decided it is time to learn another language. I have chosen Italian because it sounds like a very lyrical language and mostly because I watched an Italian movie on youtube, with English subtitles, and it drove me nuts to have to read the subtitles to understand the movie. Wish me luck with that. I have discovered that what goes on in your body depends mostly on what is going on between your ears. Be good to yourself. Be true to who you are and NEVER lose your inner child.

[fayefaraldo]

I loved this talk and agree with most of what she said, cheers. I am 84yrs young and feel great. I get more respect now with this white hair than I ever had before in my life. I did what I was put here to do and now I am free. Thank you God!

[KingStix]

I'm only 20 but watching this makes me feel alot better about aging

[missredumbrella]

Age 42 ....3 kids ....one grandkid and I was in crisis till I watched this. Old age was my biggest fear.I LOVE THIS! Growing old gracefully has to be better than aging skint in a cage made by society and the media. Thank you!

[twang]

I don’t understand why this has only less than 60k viewers after 3 years. Every person can benefit from watching and listening to Mrs. Caro.

[fionaboxall]

Great fun and so true. It's refreshing to hear from a competent, articulate woman celebrating her age and owning it for the achievement it is. All us "middle aged" oldies should all be acting our age and enjoying every minute instead of mourning a youth that was often not all that great.

[lilithrogers]

Love this talk.  I always say, "Old is what you get if you're lucky."

[bonniec]

My son is her age and my daughter two years older! We still refer to them as the kids! Me, I'm having fun and have been singing and swinging for 45 years since I got sober! Yay!

[kimbrian]

She is fantastic! I'm 48, 2 Daughters, a Grandson and separated and I'm loving it.

[juliamk]

Jane Caro, I love your attitude to growing old! You are a funny lady who makes a lot of sense!

[marjoriejohnson]

Fantastic.. I'm heading for 70 and I just loved this talk..right on and FUNNY.

[sassaknack]

I really enjoyed this talk, Jane is very funny, and lots rang true. But she does not speak for every aging woman. She jokes about having children, but she doesn't realize how lucky she is to have been able to have them. She is married/coupled, and doesn't have to worry about her looks because she doesn't have to worry about finding a partner at her age. Being invisible is great if you aren't single and alone. I am invisible when I go shopping for electronics, when I am waiting to be seated in a restaurant (where I am given the worst table most of the time), and I am invisible to all men anywhere near my age. Aging is a very different experience when you are a single woman.

[jazzbirdbecky]

67 feel great. Perfect bloodwork and the best love life ever🔥

[lightdweller]

😂 I can’t see how this is a Ted Talk... she sounds like someone on the comedy stage circuit. She’s like an inspirational comedian, she has her own brand... brilliant!

[oliviajeanette]

I've been mentally struggling recently with the idea of what the rest of life will being with it. This talk has inspired me and helped me immensely. I plan to rewatch this regularly. I wish the best to everyone on their journeys! Thank you to this lovely woman♡

[SuV]

I would say not having a period anymore is THE best thing about menopause ☺️

[hfortenberry]

I totally agree with her! The older I get, the happier I get. I am 49. Sure, I liked being skinnier but I would not want to be younger again. I have come to far to go backward. Besides, what is gone is not that big of a deal to me because I love who I am overall now. I think there is a lot of truth in the fact that people who don't age well are missing something inside, loving themselves. When you love yourself, you really do let go of all of those other limitations of worrying about how you look or how others perceive you. The MOST important thing to me is not how others perceive me, but how how I perceive myself. :-)

[lucylu]

What a breath of fresh air this lady is. I couldn't agree with her more, and the bonus was that she made me laugh. Thank you Jane Caro.