The Hit List -Brownies and Ageism

When I was a little girl, my mother enrolled me in Brownies (Girl Scouts for little kids). She thought it might be good for me to hang with girls my own age and play outside.

I was a lone wolf and a book nerd. I was also never one for the great outdoors and I despised group activities. Even at that tender age, I’d rather be sitting in the library by myself. I was NOT scouting material.

A few months into campfires and hikes, I begged to be let out. Mom was disappointed but relented.

I gleefully tossed that itchy brown uniform and never looked back.

I was free to do my own thing. Huzzah!

Imagine if I changed my mind and wanted back in now at the ripe old age of almost-50. It’s impossible because the age requirement is 6-7 years old. They certainly don’t want my middle-aged ass hanging out on a sit-upon discussing Frozen. That would be weird. Plus, there are no uniforms in my size. In other words, I’m cut off.

What would happen if I insisted? Maybe staged a protest or threw a tantrum? Or, better yet, sent the Brownies nasty little emails declaring they were “ageist.”

Would they let me in then? Probably not. I’d most likely get ignored – or find a cease and desist letter in my mailbox.

It’s because the Brownies are created to serve young girls. There is an age restriction for a reason and it’s accepted (and acceptable). Nobody is going to mess with that because it’s their prerogative to have a club solely for young girls.

I understand that because I love working with young people myself. One of my missions is to share my experience with the younger tarot set because I want to help them avoid some of the hard knocks I went through when I started reading professionally.

I have reached out with apprentice contests, and, recently, a free school catered to budding tarot pros. I’m doing this because I care, see a need, and remember all too well what it’s like to be a young reader. It’s a total heart project for me.

Each time I’ve created an offering for fledgling tarot pros, I’ve received a lot of support from my same-age peers. It’s because they remember the early (pre-internet) days too.

But, sadly, I also get this:

Accusations of “ageism” and “discrimination”
A long winded comment from an enraged “esoteric tarot reader” with an anti-business and anti-youth bias (sent with a fake email address, of course)
A jealous jab from a peer disguised as praise or a joke (I’m alert to passive-aggressive stuff, yo)
Emails requesting that I change the age requirement
Demands that I explain why I have an age restriction
Comments stating that I “should” help older tarot readers

Never mind that I have a tons of free business content on my blog or a wealth of services and offerings that wannabe pros of any age can purchase.

I’m suddenly an asshole for having an age limit.

On a special offering for young people.

Pause.

I do not understand that entitled vibe but can only assume it comes from a place of frustration and scarcity. When you reach a certain age and have yet to realize your goals, it may be tempting to feel resentful, especially when it looks like someone else is getting a “lucky break.” I can grasp that and I feel ya. But I also believe this attitude serves no one and it sets a poor example.

Instead of sitting around and asking “what’s in it for me” or crying “not fair” when you see a gift offered to someone else, how about saying “what can I do to help” or “where am I needed?”

Pitch in! Reach out and share your talents and wisdom. Keep on building your own skills as you help others to build theirs. Teach. Mentor. Lead. Do that and you’ll have more than enough, plus you’ll feel better, not bitter.

Everyone has a skill to contribute and if we make the effort to help our younger peers (or whomever you prefer to serve), we are creating a legacy that will carry the torch forward with pride.

Be that elder.

TaoZen doesn’t worry about too much. He’s his own cat.

Other stuff:

I’m a sucker for romance. This man gave a Chrsitmas present to his future wife – 11 years before they met! Awwww…

Do you remember the movie 10 Things I Hate About You? One of the stars has just created his own religion. There is a music and a parrot mascot. Sign me up!

Seth Godin just wrote a new book. I ordered my copy. Get yours.

100 years of beauty in just one minute. I LOVE this.

Read this + think from Kiese Laymon: My Vassar College Faculty ID Makes Everything Okay.

Tarot lovers – check out Hawkwind’s Galactic Tarot Deck from 1971!

Who’s your daddy? There were some cheaters in Richard III’s family tree. DNA don’t lie, peeps. I’m seeing a future Maury episode here…

A very interesting post on a poor guy who voted conservative – but then shifted gears.

I recently did an interview with Natasha Senkovich over at Adventures in Spirit and Entrepreneurship. Listen in as we discuss intuition and business!

20 Things Every Girl Should Know: I’d like to add to that list – “how to say no” firmly.

It’s no secret that I like little mammals. Check out this vintage museum with taxidermy charm. (I would have LOVED this museum when I was a kid.)

Chris Rock is a funny man. He’s also intelligent, intense, and insightful. Digging his interview on Ferguson, Cosby and Obama. A must read!

Here’s a clever idea for transporting your tarot cards from Tarot Unlimited: create a scarf bag.

A cataquarium? YES.

Weird WTF Japanese Beauty Trend Products. I don’t even know what to say about these.

Mission for next year: learn to make a proper soufflé. I’m looking at dishes and might go with this one: HIC Porcelain Souffle 8-inch, 64-ounce, 2-quart. Any recommendations from you cooks out there?

What I’m Grateful For:

Thirty degrees and no snow

A homemade fish fry

Blue pens

Reading glasses all over my home

Being the age that I am

A day off at the symphony

Soundtrack for 12/6/14: Ante Up by M.O.P. – a little gangsta action for your weekend!