“See yourself as a complete human being who happens to be aging, rather than as a person whose identity is consumed by the fact that you're getting older.”Welcome back to another inspiring episode featuring Jeanette Leardi, a social gerontologist, community educator, and aging wellness leader in the pro aging community who has a deep passion for older adult empowerment.At 72, Jeanette just published Aging Sideways: Changing Our Perspectives on Getting Older where she draws on groundbreaking research, expert opinions, and personal experiences to bust the many false stereotypes about age and provides you with surprising, refreshing, “sideways” approaches for embracing getting older as well as for changing the minds of others in your life in the hope that all of us can transform our society into a truly pro-aging one –– now and for generations to come.Jeanette explains the role of a social gerontologist, recounts her personal journey into the field inspired by caregiving for her parents, and provides strategies for aging positively. The conversation covers the brain's adaptability as we age, the value of intergenerational collaboration, and the importance of reframing how society views aging. Jeanette also discusses the benefits of claiming one's age proudly and offers practical advice for combating ageism through personal stories, humor, and redefining societal perceptions.Join us as we explore the changing dynamics of our aging population, the importance of psychological resilience, and the need for respectful communication towards older adults. It's a conversation that promises to change the way you view aging and inspire you to champion the contributions of older generations. Visit https://www.jeanetteleardi.com to learn more about Jeanette and to purchase a copy of her book, Aging Sideways.If you found inspiration from this conversation, we’d love to hear your thoughts, so be sure to hop on over to Don’t Be Caged By Your Age on LinkedIn or Instagram. Or leave a message on the website here.Listeners, please remember – you have so much to give – don’t let those internalized ageist beliefs prevent you from pursuing new dreams and opportunities – no matter your age.Tune in and let's crush ageism together!Waving from Boston – cheers!Ande ♥CONNECT with me online - I'd love to learn how you're shattering ageism!https://www.linkedin.com/in/andelyons/ https://www.instagram.com/ande_lyons/ https://www.pinterest.com/andelyons/ TikTok: @andelyons JOIN DON’T BE CAGED BY YOUR AGE NEWSLETTERTo receive an alert whenever a new show is posted, please join the Don’t Be Caged By Your Age newsletter! Every month you’ll receive links to the podcast and helpful resources for creating possibilities for your unretirement days.Visit https://dontbecagedbyyourage.com and fill out the email form on the right side of the page.SPONSORSHIPIf you resonate with the show’s mission of shattering ageism and age-related expectations so folks can thrive after 65...