Tag: intergenerational

QUOTES

“Everyone is an oldster. We deal with aspects of physical and emotional aging all the time. It’s not just an old person thing.” (Sari)

“We live in an ageist, youth-obsessed culture driven by capitalism. There’s money to be made by making aging a problem that needs to be solved.” (Sari)

“There’s no going back. You’re going to leave some things behind. That anxiety has morphed into curiosity about what other people’s experience is of getting older.” (Sari)

“When we’re not looking at ourselves in a mirror, we have these ideas of who we are that are based on past versions of ourselves.” (Sari)

“The intergenerational conversation happening on Oldster is helping people feel less trepidatious about aging. It certainly has for me.” (Sari)

“People kept telling me, ‘My life took off at 60… 65… 70… 75.’ They found new partners, new careers, stopped caring what other people thought and started taking risks. That really comforted me.” (Sari)

“Whenever we can really exhibit humanity in its truest form, it’s good. It reminds people they’re not alone in their humanity or their messiness.” (Sari)

“I like myself better than I ever have because I’ve become more myself. I’ve stopped trying to be who I think other people want me to be.” (Sari)

“I’m really just shooting my shot, and it’s paying off. As I get older, more confident and more skilled, I’ll shoot even bigger shots.” (Sari)

“I would say to anyone who feels behind in life: You do you. It’s okay not to be on track with everyone else.” (Sari)

“There is so much possibility in getting older. That’s one of the best things I’ve discovered.” (Sari)

“There isn’t just one right path. If you really listen to yourself and be your true self, you’ll find your right path. It might not match other people’s, but it will take you where you belong.” (Sari)

NOTES

Sari Botton is a writer, editor and founder of Oldster, a Substack publication exploring the emotional, cultural and personal realities of aging at every stage of life. A longtime journalist and essayist, she has become a leading voice challenging traditional narratives around growing older through deeply personal storytelling and intergenerational conversation.

Oldster is a reader-supported publication on Substack dedicated to reframing aging as a lifelong experience rather than something that begins in old age. Through essays, interviews and community discussions, it brings together readers of all ages to examine identity, relationships, purpose, grief, reinvention and the many realities of getting older.

Before launching Oldster, Botton served as an editor at Longreads, where she created the “Fine Lines” series that inspired the publication. She also edited the bestselling anthologies Goodbye to All That: Writers on Loving and Leaving New York and Never Can Say Goodbye: Writers on Their Unshakable Love for New York. She is currently working on an Oldster anthology expected in 2027, with plans for a podcast and television series that will continue expanding the conversation around aging.

Botton believes aging doesn’t begin at a specific age. She argues that everyone experiences aging throughout life as they move from one stage to the next, continually leaving behind previous versions of themselves.

She says our culture’s obsession with youth has turned aging into a problem to be solved, often fueled by marketing that profits from people’s fears about getting older.

One of the greatest benefits of the Oldster community has been creating conversations between generations. Hearing older adults share stories about finding new careers, relationships and purpose later in life helped ease her own anxiety about turning 60.

Botton believes one of the most overlooked realities of aging is grief—not only over physical changes, but also over saying goodbye to earlier versions of ourselves, changing relationships and unrealized dreams.

She encourages anyone who feels behind in life to stop comparing themselves to others and recognize there is no universal timeline. Every person’s path unfolds differently, and authenticity matters more than keeping pace with peers.

Rather than presenting an idealized version of aging, Botton believes sharing the messy, imperfect parts of life helps people realize they aren’t alone and creates deeper human connection.

Looking back on her own journey, Botton says growing older has made her more comfortable with herself, more willing to take risks and more interested in pursuing new creative passions. She believes aging brings far more possibility than most people realize.

As the Senior Director of Lifelong University Engagement at Mirabella at Arizona State University, Lindsey Beagley works at the intersection of higher education and senior living. Mirabella at Arizona State University is a retirement community on ASU’s Tempe campus, offering residents full access to the university’s resources, including classes, cultural events, and facilities. 

Lindsey joined us on an episode of Varsity’s podcast, Roundtable Talk, where Derek and Lindsey talked about lifelong learning, intergenerational connections, life in the Peace Corps and what she’s looking forward to as she ages.

Here are some fresh perspectives from that conversation: 

WHAT MAKES MIRABELLA AT ARIZONA STATE A “UNIVERSITY RETIREMENT COMMUNITY”?

Mirabella at ASU is the first certified university-based retirement community in the country. It’s a continuing care retirement community (CCRC)—mostly independent living, but also offering assisted living, memory support, and skilled nursing. What makes it different is its location right on campus and the deep integration with ASU.

We have three full-time staff dedicated to connecting residents with campus life—helping them enroll in classes, get involved in mentoring, or find whatever opportunities match their interests. They have full student ID cards, meaning they can access any campus facility. And students come into Mirabella all the time—using spaces for club meetings, performances, and study sessions. It’s a true living laboratory for intergenerational engagement.

HOW DO TRADITIONAL STUDENTS REACT TO HAVING OLDER CLASSMATES?

At first, most students assume that older adults in their classes must be faculty or observers. When they realize they’re fellow students, it forces them to rethink what learning looks like beyond the traditional college years.

For many young students, college is a transaction—”I need to get my degree and get a job.” They’re externally motivated. But then they see someone in their 70s or 80s taking a class purely for the love of learning, and it’s eye-opening. It shifts their mindset—they start to think, “Maybe learning isn’t just something I do now. Maybe I’ll come back to this one day.”

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITIES THAT WANT TO PARTNER WITH UNIVERSITIES?

Flip the paradigm. Don’t just approach a university and say, “What can you do for us?” Instead, ask, “What do your students need?”

You might be surprised. Universities often need mentors, guest speakers, or judges for competitions, but it’s hard to ask working professionals to volunteer their time. Meanwhile, a senior living community is full of people with decades of experience who are looking for meaningful ways to contribute.

This is a huge untapped resource. Older adults don’t just want engagement for their own sake—they want to be needed. That’s the key to meaningful intergenerational partnerships.

Want to hear more from Lindsey? Check out the full episode of Roundtable Talk for more fresh perspectives. Watch new episodes of Roundtable Talk on the Varsity website and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.