Everyday Ageism: FEMAIL columnist CHRISTA D’SOUZA, 59, says a slow pace of life could be prematurely ageing her
- Christa D’Souza, 59, has always dreamed of retiring to a cottage in her 70s
- She revealed her dream has come true a decade early thanks to coronavirus
- UK-columnist argues a slower pace of life could cause premature ageing
- Coronavirus symptoms: what are they and should you see a doctor?
It’s the last tolerated prejudice. But Femail’s had enough. It’s time we called out those day-to-day moments when we’re patronised for no longer being young…
My dream had always been to retire to our cottage when we reached our 70s.
Well, thanks to coronavirus I am living my dream a decade early, and though I appreciate how profoundly lucky I am, I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand it is lovely to hear the owls at night and to breathe in all that fresh air, to have a garden to sit in. On the other hand, the stillness and slow pace of life may be prematurely ageing me.
Christa D’Souza, 59, (pictured) claims ageism has never been more rife in her household
Houseparty and Zoom (the face-to-face social networking apps enabling people to keep in touch) obviously help keep the synapses and neurons firing, but I fear some of mine may have already died.
Only last night someone called on the landline and my partner picked up. ‘It’s Lulu,’ he said to me, and I found myself waving frantically at the phone receiver, blowing it a big photogenic kiss.
The kids thought it was hysterical, obviously — everyday ageism has never been as rife in our household as it is now with them both living at home — but I wonder. Is this the gentle slope down?