Dare to Question Why We Are So Afraid of Getting Older: Scilla Elworthy at TEDxMarrakesh 2012

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Published 2012-10-18

SCILLA ELWORTHY is the founder of the Oxford Research Group, a non-governmental Organisation she set up in 1982 to develop effective dialogue between nuclear weapons policy-makers worldwide and their critics. She served as its executive director from 1982 until 2003, when she left that role in order to set up Peace Direct, a charity supporting local peace builders in conflict areas. From 2005 she was adviser to Peter Gabriel, Desmond Tutu and Richard Branson in setting up The Elders. She is a member of the World Future Council and the International Task Force on Preventive Diplomacy. She has been nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Price and in 2003 she was awarded the Niwano Peace Prize for her work with the Oxford Research Group.
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All Comments (21)

@leftykeys6944 4 years ago

Back in 2002, I won an award from a writing contest with just this simple quote: "I am a firm believer in life after youth"
@yowee1234 9 years ago

"When we are useful... that emptiness disappears". There is so much wisdom in this Ted talk. I'm 25 and I'm terrified of growing older. This speech gives me great hope that I can feel peace, happiness, and worth no matter what my age and appearance is. That there is so much that I'm meant for that has nothing to do with my appearance. Thank you for this- I needed it.
@ariellapper53 7 years ago

Is not the fear of getting old per see, it is the fear of being vulnerable, poor and abused. The fear of being lonely and forgotten and a stranger to everyone. That's the real fear.
@shelly9778 3 years ago

I’m 16 years young but I watch videos like this because I’m scared to get older but hearing all your stories makes me so happy to see that I will be happy if I stop worrying so much . this woman is so beautiful.
@Technicolor-mother 7 years ago

We are afraid because we can't fit in our society with how much it loves youthful - not necessarily useful people. Because of invisibility. There would be less fear if we lived in an elder respecting society.
@karlaelvis9815 5 years ago

I am 61 years young - I care not what I look like, though I "look quite good" - only because I exercise daily, eat well and engage in spiritual activities (and I am an artist). If I die tomorrow, I'm good with that. In the meantime, I will continue to live a "life of service", shining my light wherever I can. I have no children and my husband just passed away - I'm on my own... and that is fine. I will continue to move forward on the path that I feel is right for me, with the knowledge that all will be well. FEAR is a plague that I do not wish to invite...
@acajudi100 4 years ago

I am 77, and getting older is a blessing. Death comes at all ages, and even before birth.
@TheAllie321 4 years ago

I am 83 and never in my life did I have the courage to be my self I am so sorry about that and that is so sad.
@Lithiel 7 years ago

It's my birthday today and I'm upset about it, this talk helped me.
@andrealehman9566 2 years ago

My issue with growing older is how people start treating you different, like you're weak or useless, unneeded. I don't look, in the mirror, the way I do in my head (like I'm still in the 20s/30s), people don't treat me the way they did when I was in my 20s/30s. It's almost like an out of body experience, my mentality doesn't match up with how I look, feel, or how I'm treated by others.
@jackbudgen8858 7 years ago

I've only just turned 24 and I'm panicking about being old. I think I need to chill a bit
@notaclue822 3 years ago

There's no denying that youth is beauty, but there are many other things that are also beautiful that many of us don't notice as readily. Scilla's message, that there's beauty in energy, vitality, purpose, authenticity, and talent, is a breath of fresh air. She's beautiful too.
@motherofangels1710 3 years ago

I never put much thought into getting older or dying until my children unexpectedly tragically died... and the world kept moving forward without them in it. It's not so much the dying or being dead... it's the fear of ceasing to exist and going out of this world alone, that is my constant interruption in my mind.
@masterperch4246 2 years ago

I didn’t think as deeply before.. but I’m 28 now and suddenly I realize that I’m about to transition to 30 which seems so old to me. I can never go back to those youthful years and the thought of it freaks me out like nothing else. Getting old is the most terrifying thing we go through as humans. What a weird life.. I hope as I get older I’ll accept it, but at the moment I’m not okay
@pinabarryscott 8 years ago

Lovely lady! You are so right!I am working on my vanity. You are so far ahead of us!
@felixf4378 4 years ago

I'm 23 and I'm afraid of getting old because I won't be able to fend more myself. Right now I'm on top of the world. I don't need anyone, but one day I will be old and tired. One day I will be fragile and weak.
@Ryantravisaol 7 years ago

for me, ageing is just another reminder that time has passed, we don't get a second chance, and death is coming whether you're fulfilled and ready or your'e not
@maryvila5141 3 years ago

I'm so thankful for this speech. Today there's a lot of enfasis on being "young", fast, "updated" to the newest technologies, but few years ago I started fearing we're all loosing something precious in this big fast race. The wisdom one can aquire through their lifetime is not something you can obtain with reading a book or watching a tutorial. I'm happy someone could talk about this (in this elegant way) and share it here. I hope it will reach tons of people. Thank you :)
@agata2778 1 year ago

Absolutely amazing speech. Since I've turned twenty i started freaking out seeing wrinkles on my young faces. I am afraid of aging. Everybody is but we don't talk about it enough, and we aren't taught how to live with it. People prefer to remove eveey sign of growing older with bigger or smaller medical surgeries. Thank you madame for this fantastic presentation. You are an inspiration❤
@the_film_scene 9 years ago

$270 Billion dollars spent on fighting nature? Amazing. The true beauty of who we are should be appreciated with our mental contributions. Share with the world your talents.