I guess I am officially an elderess. I've never ascribed to any narrative outside my own so I hardly care what makes good copy or click bait from my 20's to now (60's). For me the big joke is (if there is a narrative) is that for some (many?) of us, it turns out you feel absolutely in your skin, stunningly beautiful and viable to yourself at this point. I feel radiant and energized. Being older and healthy is a super power. You get moxy, wisdom, charm, grace and humour. When I was a single mother, I read many articles about the plight of the 'poor single mother'. It made good copy I guess. But I never felt like a victim. I felt like a Titan forging my own path. I still feel that way. There are gains and trade-offs for every year we are blessed with.

Ok, to be honest, I am surprised at the harvest of confidence one gets if you keep being you - do the work/passions/people you love and don't look up and don't read toxic narratives - which are generally one narrow opinion expressed over and over until it's a meme, then a book, then an interview, then a headline. Ignore all of it and live your life.