What happens when we say YES to something new? In partnership with Ramble Worldwide
- Jacynth Bassett
- Jun 5
- 7 min read
As many of you know, there are many strings to Ageism Is Never In Style’s bow.
On any given day, we might be consulting with a global firm, advising Fortune 500 companies, designing campaigns, producing reports, guest lecturing marketing students, supporting non-profits, participating in roundtables and think tanks on the UN Convention on the Rights of Older Persons, collaborating with PR and media agencies, or creating opportunities for our growing global community. Whilst those activities may seem very different on the surface, they are all driven by the same purpose: challenging perceptions, shifting narratives, and change hearts and minds around ageing to foster true age and generational inclusion, and happy healthy longevity.
And at heart of that has always been confidence.
Confidence to question the messages we’ve absorbed about age. Confidence to reject outdated expectations. Confidence to challenge limiting behaviours and structures. Confidence to embrace ageing rather than fear it. Confidence to keep growing, evolving and pursuing what matters to us, at every age and stage of life.
And often, confidence to be an ambassador for age inclusion begins with something surprisingly simple: saying yes.
Yes to a new experience. Yes to meeting new people. Yes to stepping outside of your comfort zone.
Because if we’re honest, ageism thrives in comfort zones.
It exists in the assumptions we’ve been taught to accept. The frustrations we’ve been forced to bear. In the stories society tells us about what is “appropriate” at certain ages. In the invisible boundaries placed around who gets to be adventurous, visible, ambitious, curious or bold.
And of course, it doesn’t just come from the outside. It can also show up in the expectations, behaviours and beliefs we absorb over time about what is and isn’t possible for us as we get older.
Those expectations often encourage us to stay within familiar boundaries. To stick with what we know. To choose certainty over curiosity. To choose familiarity over challenge. To continue following ageist narratives and beliefs.
As the brilliant Ashton Applewhite - friend, ally and who I affectionately call the “Godmother of the Ageism Activism Movement” - recently highlighted:
“older people are often the most ageist of all because we’ve had a lifetime of being barraged by negative messages that older people are incompetent or out of touch or can’t learn new things. And these ideas become part of our identity unless we stop to challenge them.”
But some of the most meaningful experiences, connections and opportunities for positive growth come when we're willing to step beyond those boundaries and embrace something new.
I was reminded of that recently during a wonderful weekend in the Lake District that Ageism Is Never In Style co-hosted in partnership with Ramble Worldwide.
The occasion marked two milestones: Ramble Worldwide’s 80th anniversary and 10 years of Ageism Is Never In Style. More importantly, it brought together an incredible group of women from our intergenerational community spanning five decades, all of whom were willing to say yes to a new experience: travelling solo, meeting people for the first time, spending a weekend in nature, and/or simply doing something they might not otherwise have considered.
And very understandably, several attendees admitted they had nearly said no. Not because they aren’t open to new experiences, but because of how easy it is to box ourselves in, feel a little shy, and assume that certain things simply aren’t for us. Sometimes we make those decisions consciously; other times we don’t even realise we’ve made them.It also also called for saying yes to new things - and several firsts - for me too.
It was our first Ageism Is Never In Style retreat, our first travel partnership (stay tuned for more to come), and personally it was also my first proper “walking holiday”.
Now, I should clarify that I walk a lot. I spend hours walking around London and whenever I travel. But I’d not been on an organised walking hiking holiday before (the less said about the moment I discovered that a "day bag" meant a rucksack rather than a handbag, the better 😂 ).
And yet, it exceeded anything I could have imagined.
Set against the backdrop of Buttermere, we spent the weekend walking, talking, laughing, reflecting and connecting. There were scenic trails, shared meals, plenty of laughter, a few brave lake swims, and countless conversations that reminded me why community matters so much.
There was no pressure to be anything other than yourself, and that’s what made the experience so special. As often happens when people are given the space to slow down and connect authentically, conversations quickly moved beyond small talk and into the things that really matter: confidence, purpose, identity, friendship, change, shared life stages, personal challenges, reinvention and the many different ways our lives continue to evolve.
What I perhaps wasn’t expecting was how enriching and nurturing the experience would be for me personally.
Some of the women joining us were people I was meeting for the first time. Others had been part of the Ageism Is Never In Style journey for years, supporting our work, championing our mission and cheering us on from afar. Having the opportunity to spend meaningful time together, away from the usual pace of everyday life, felt incredibly special.
Over the course of the weekend, we connected through shared laughter, experiences, struggles, challenges and life stages. We spoke openly about confidence, careers, caring responsibilities, relationships, ageing, reinvention and purpose. Conversations flowed effortlessly, and what struck me most was the generosity with which everyone showed up - for themselves and for one another.
There is something uniquely powerful about being surrounded by women who genuinely want to see each other thrive.
The encouragement, warmth and support I experienced over those few days gave me far more than I anticipated. I left feeling energised, inspired and deeply nurtured by the conversations, connections and friendships that had formed. It’s a feeling I’ll probably be riding the wave of for quite some time.
One moment that will stay with me in particular was when the group encouraged me to give an impromptu presentation about the work we do at Ageism Is Never In Style. As anyone who knows me will appreciate, I can happily stand on a stage in front of hundreds, even thousands, of people, but sharing something so close to my heart in such an intimate setting felt surprisingly vulnerable.
To hear their reflections on the impact of our work, their belief in our mission and ongoing impact, and their encouragement for what comes next gave me an enormous confidence boost. We spend so much time talking about the importance of community, but this weekend reminded me that community isn't just something we create for others. Sometimes it's the very thing that sustains and strengthens us too.
And listening to the voice notes and reflections from attendees afterwards, a common theme kept emerging: the transformative effect of stepping beyond familiar routines and allowing yourself to be surprised.
Surprised by what you’re capable of. Surprised by how quickly strangers can become friends. Surprised by how energising it can feel to try something different.
One of the reasons our partnership with Ramble Worldwide feels so aligned is because their approach goes far beyond walking holidays. For 80 years, they have been creating opportunities for people to connect, discover and experience the world in ways that build confidence and community. Whether travelling solo, with friends or as a couple, their expertly guided small-group trips are designed to feel supportive, accessible and inspiring.
What particularly resonated with many of the women who joined us was the opportunity to experience adventure independently without feeling alone. For those who may have wanted to travel solo but felt uncertain about taking the leap, it showed that independence and connection are not mutually exclusive. In fact, some of the strongest feelings of independence often emerge when we feel supported enough to venture beyond our comfort zones.
This echoes the core purpose of our intergenerational community: creating spaces where people feel safe enough to explore. Explore ageism. Explore new ideas. Explore new versions of themselves. Explore new friendships, new interests and new possibilities for the future.
Ageing isn't about becoming smaller, quieter or less adventurous. It's about continuing to evolve, remaining curious and recognising that growth doesn't have an expiry date. The challenge is often less about our age and more about whether we're willing to question the assumptions that tell us we've become too old, too late or too settled to try something new.
S
ometimes all it takes is one decision, one invitation or one unexpected opportunity to remind us that there is so much more available to us than we may have imagined.
And for Ageism Is Never In Style, this weekend marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter. It was our first retreat, our first travel partnership and, I’m delighted to say, not our last.
One of the most common messages we’ve received since sharing photos and reflections from the weekend has been from women saying, “I wish I could have been there.”
Whilst we couldn’t bring everyone along, I’m thrilled that, as part of our ongoing anniversary celebrations, Ramble Worldwide is giving one lucky winner the chance to experience the magic of Hassness House for themselves with a three-night all-inclusive guided walking holiday for up to two people.
And before anyone immediately decides they’re not “outdoorsy enough”, let me reassure you that someone who arrived believing a day bag was a handbag is telling you otherwise.
Whether you’re a seasoned walker, a hard-core hiker or someone who has never considered a walking holiday before, one of the things I learned over that weekend is that these experiences aren’t really about hiking. They’re about connection, confidence, discovery and giving yourself permission to try something new.
For those who don’t win, Ramble Worldwide is also hosting a series of women-only holidays at Hassness House, including retreats in June and September, and members of our community can enjoy an exclusive 10% discount using the code RETREAT10
Because if this weekend reminded me of anything, it’s that some of the best things in life happen when we simply decide to say yes.
- Brand partnership with Ramble Worldwide
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