Celebrating Senior Moments

Celebrating Senior Moments

When someone says, “I’m having a ‘senior moment’”, what comes to mind?  Something positive, inspiring, or fun? Or something negative, embarrassing, or a mistake?  A “senior moment” should make us smile - not cringe. Too often, aging is framed as something to resist or reverse. We’re told to look younger, not live fuller. Cards joke about decline rather than applaud another year of growth.” These are everyday signs of ageism, which is defined as discrimination against older people due to negative and inaccurate stereotypes. We can change the story with your help.

At the ADRC, we’re celebrating the skills, wisdom, and milestones that come with age. We want to highlight positive “senior moments” from right here in Waukesha County—big or small, firsts or finishes:

· Did you finally tackle a lifelong “to‑do” and nail it?

· Can you do something now that you couldn’t at 40?

· Have you discovered new strengths, perspectives, or knowledge with each passing year?

Need some inspiration? Remarkable achievements don’t have an expiration date. Nola Ochs became the world’s oldest college graduate at 95. Betty Kellenberger completed the Appalachian Trail at 80. Colonel Harland Sanders launched KFC at 65. Grandma Moses began painting at 76.

Your “senior moment” might be:

· Enrolling in a language class—or teaching one.

· Volunteering where your experience makes a difference.

· Growing a new vegetable and cooking a new recipe.

· Picking up an art form—or finally finishing a project you love.

Share your senior moment!

We’d love to feature your story in future editions. Email us a sentence or two describing your positive “senior moment.” Share your name if you wish or remain anonymous. Together, we’ll celebrate accomplishments across Waukesha County and join the broader effort to Reframe Aging.

Learn more about thinking differently about aging at reframingaging.org

-Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Waukesha County