Aging isn't only a biological process; it's also a process that is heavily influenced by culture.

Cultural views and behaviors around aging and mortality vary widely from one culture to the next, and these differences can have a significant impact on our perceptions of the process of becoming older.

While many cultures celebrate the aging process and revere their elders, in Western societies, where youth is fetishized and the elderly are frequently isolated from the community and sent to hospitals and nursing homes, aging can be viewed as a humiliating and dehumanizing experience. It is common for people to feel dissatisfied with the physical symptoms of human aging, and aging is frequently represented in a negative manner in popular culture, if it is depicted in any way at all.

"There's so much shame in our culture about aging and death," Koshin Paley Ellison, a Buddhist monk and co-founder of the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, told the Huffington Post. "There's so much shame in our culture around aging and death." "As people grow older, they begin to believe that something is wrong with them and that their worth is diminishing."

According to psychologist Erik Erickson, the Western dread of aging prevents us from living complete lives to our full potential. "Because our culture does not have a culturally acceptable ideal of old age, it does not genuinely contain a sense of the entirety of life," he wrote.

Here are some of the lessons we may take away from different cultures, both past and current, on enjoying the aging process.

"Old guy" is not a derogatory term in Greek.

The cultural stigma associated with aging and mortality that exists in the West does not exist in Greece. In Greek and Greek-American society, old age is revered and cherished, and seniors are held in high regard within the family unit as a whole.

In her book, On Becoming Fearless: A Guide to Unleashing Your Inner Confidence, Arianna Huffington describes an encounter with Greek elders who showed her respect.

"I took my children to the monastery of Tharri on the island of Rhodes ten years ago, and they had a wonderful time. Everyone refers to abbots as 'Geronda,' which is a Greek term that meaning 'old man.' This is true across Greece, including Athens. 'Gerondissa' is the title given to abbesses. In my adopted home, they are not exactly phrases of affection. "The concept of valuing old age, and even connecting it with knowledge and closeness to God, stands in stark contrast to the way we treat the elderly in the United States. "

Native American elders pass on their expertise to the next generation.

Native American civilizations have historically accepted death as an unavoidable part of existence, but views regarding death in current American society are dominated by dread.

In the United States, there are more than 500 Native American tribes, each with its unique traditions and views regarding aging and elder care. Elders, on the other hand, are revered and respected in many tribal societies for their knowledge and life experiences. A typical expectation among elders in Native American households, according to the University of Missouri at Kansas City, is that they will pass on their knowledge to younger members of the family.

Elders are held in great regard in Korean society.

Historically, much of Korea's admiration for the elderly may be traced back to the Confucian idea of filial piety, which is a basic value that states that one must honor one's parents (although Confucius was Chinese, Confucianism has a long history in Korea). Family members who are younger in age have a responsibility to look for those who are older in age. Even outside of the family unit, Koreans are trained to respect and show reverence to elders as well as to those in positions of power.

As Confucius stated in the Analects, "Few of those who are filial sons and respectful brothers will exhibit contempt to superiors; there has never been a guy who is courteous to superiors and still causes disturbance." As the saying goes, "A superior man is committed to the essential." The moral law will flourish after the root system has been thoroughly established. Filial piety and brotherly regard are at the very heart of humanity's development.

When someone reaches the age of 60 or 70, it is also common in Korea to throw a large party to commemorate the occasion. In Korea, the hwan-gap (60th birthday) is a pleasant occasion when children commemorate their parents' transition into old age with their parents. The age is regarded as a cause for celebration in part because many of their forefathers would not have lived past the age of 60 if not for the advancements in medical science. A similar huge family gathering is conducted for the 70th birthday, which is referred to as kohCui ("old and rare").

Chinese children take care of their elderly parents in their old age.

Chinese families, like their Korean counterparts, have historically regarded filial piety and respect for one's elders as the highest virtues, which derive from the Confucian heritage. Adult children are still commonly expected to care for their aging parents, despite the fact that westernization has diminished the force of these values in some towns and localities. They are also expected to provide for their own parents in their old age.

If you put your parents in nursing facilities, you would be branded as uncaring or a terrible son, according to Zhou Rui, a Beijing resident who spoke to China.org. A person's family is regarded very dishonorable when they forsake them.

Although this custom has survived for centuries in China, it is beginning to crumble as a result of the country's one-child policy, increased life expectancy, and an elderly population. Nursing homes are beginning to gain acceptance as a more socially acceptable choice for the care of the elderly.

In India, elders are considered to be the family's spiritual leader.

Many Indians live in joint family structures, with the elderly serving as the primary breadwinners and decision-makers. The seniors are supported by the younger members of the family, and in turn, they play an important part in the upbringing of their children and grandchildren.

"They are constantly sought out for advice on a wide variety of topics, ranging from the investing of family funds to the nitty-gritty of traditional wedding rites and intra-family disputes. And this isn't simply passive advise; their word is final when it comes to settling disputes," Achyut Bihani wrote in Slate on the importance of passive guidance. "The elderly are frequently the most devout and compassionate members of the family," says the author of the book.

According to Bihani, disrespecting the elders of the family or putting them to an old-age home has a social shame in Indian society.

In the African-American community, death is considered as a chance to celebrate life.

Death is regarded as part of the "natural rhythm of life" in African-American culture, which helps to alleviate the social stigma associated with aging. The Truth About Death and Dying author Karen H. Meyers states that "African-American funerals are often life-affirming and have a joyous air interwoven with the sadness" as a result of this.

Elders were seen as a valuable resource in ancient Rome.

Individuals who lived into their 70s were usually revered for their knowledge, despite the fact that the average life expectancy in ancient Rome was roughly 25 years.

Doctor Karen Cokayne of the University of Reading writes that the Romans made use of their elderly and had faith in their wisdom and experience, quoting Cicero as saying: "For there is unquestionably nothing dearer to a man than wisdom, and though age takes away everything else, it unquestionably brings us that."

Nevertheless, Cokayne emphasizes that elder people had to earn their high level of respect by leading a moral life.

To get wisdom, one must put in the effort — via laborious effort, study, and above all, by leading a moral life, argues Cokayne. "It was expected of the elderly to maintain their dignity and act with moderation at all times. The elderly were expected to serve as role models for the young, as it was believed that children learn through imitation. This was deeply rooted in the culture of ancient Rome."