What if the biggest thing standing between you and the life you want isn't your age — it's the story you're telling yourself about your age?

Sally Duplantier started her first business at 28, retired twice, went back to school in her mid-60s, earned a master's degree in gerontology, published seven peer-reviewed research papers, and is currently finishing her doctorate at 75. And she'll be the first to tell you she's not special — which is exactly the point.

In this conversation, Sally breaks down the science of internalized ageism and why so many of us quietly absorb the world's low expectations for older adults without even realizing it. She draws on Dr. Becca Levy's landmark Yale research showing that a positive attitude about aging can add 7.5 years to your life — and explains why simply deciding to think differently isn't enough. The real shift, she says, has to come from action. Small, specific, sometimes terrifying action.

We also get into the trap of "comparanoia" — comparing yourself not just to other people but to the younger version of yourself — the Japanese concept of ikigai as a gentler alternative to the pressure of finding your purpose, and the one scary email Sally sent at 66 that opened doors she never could have predicted.

Sally is the founder of Zing and hosts free monthly Wellness Wednesdays — expert-led webinars on healthy aging open to anyone. Find her at MyZingLife.com and on Instagram and Facebook at @MyZingLifeSally.

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