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We accept, at least theoretically, that we are getting older every day. Children often long to get older. so they can do things they aren’t allowed to do as little kids. Adolescence, young adulthood, and middle age are all stages in normal development. Each one has characteristic milestones. We generalize about what’s expected in each stage.

We must, however, beware of stereotyping to the degree where we no longer see the wide variation that exists at each station along the journey. When our generalizations turn into stereotypes, we are in trouble.

That tendency to stereotype can be especially prevalent in our ageist, youth-loving culture. Old age is a landscape most of us don’t look forward to visiting, let alone anticipating and enjoying the landmarks. That might be one of the reasons we share stories from the past more often.