Donald Trump Made the Right Decision
By Barbara Morris, R.Ph.

As I watched Annie Duke and Joan Rivers duke it out for the title of Celebrity Apprentice I tried to be fair in my assessment of their competence.

Both women qualified as winners but in choosing Joan, The Donald demonstrated that he understands that advanced age should not be a measure of competence. Even though he made negative reference to Joan's age a couple of times, and it concerned me that it was a tipoff that he was going to be predictable and choose the young and pretty Annie Duke, he finally made the right decision. Perhaps he saw in Joan the specter of his own advancing age, and how people will judge him when he is "over the hill" by cultural standards.

Trump's decision was a huge win not just for Joan Rivers, but for all midlife women who want more out of their remaining years than playing shuffleboard in a retirement community. He gave every older woman with a fire in her belly the green light to do what she wants to do - age be damned.

Donald did more than hand the trophy to Joan. He made her Role Model of the Year. In our shamefully ageist society he raised the consciousness of everyone about the value and abilities of older women and for that he is a winner.

Aside from her triumph, Joan is proof that traditional retirement is for the birds. She is testimony that if you maintain your health, have a purpose in life that benefits not just yourself but others, you don't have to decline.

Her feisty energy and business accomplishments demonstrate that age 75 is not the end of the line. Because she has chosen to avoid traditional retirement and instead, continue to grow and be productive, she is enjoying a lifestyle that women who want to be ageless can emulate.

Joan decimates the concern of every midlife woman who yearns to achieve an unfilled dream but feels held back because of the culturally sanctioned notion that "I'm too old to do that." Joan will never be too old to do what she wants to do because she has discovered the key that unlocks agelessness. Joan Rivers has not only empowered every midlife woman to believe in herself, but she also demonstrates what is possible when women avoid the decline oriented senior culture, and instead, live productively. It's the ultimate anti-aging magic.