How do you feel about getting old?
I asked this question on Twitter and was surprised at the variety of responses I received. Some ignore the prospect, others got nervous at 20, and a few choose to embrace it:
For me, getting older has been fraught with peril…but not the kind you might imagine. Instead of fighting my body’s opinion on the matter (something I can’t change), I’ve had to fight the media, my social perceptions, and even my friends.
It all started with my 25th birthday. When I told my older – but still totally sexy – acquaintances and friends about my upcoming quarter centennial, they all gave me this pitiful look: “You’re turning 25? Oh…that’s when it all goes downhill.” They then described everything I could expect, such as how my face would wrinkle, my skin would loosen and sag, and my body weight would shift in unforeseen and apparently frightening ways. What they didn’t expect, however, was my reaction: “So what?”
fashions fade, style is eternal by http://www.aj-photograp hic.co.uk/
I’m going to get old. In fact, I plan on it, as the alternatives are either a) an early death or b) chemical injections, then death. If it’s all inevitable – and all of it, from the lines to the sag to the vericose veins, is inevitable – then why would I fight it? Better yet, why would I listen to corporate schmoes telling me to fight it?
- Instead of buying an anti-aging face serum, we should be celebrating the laugh lines that mean we’ve lived a good life.
- Instead of slathering our legs and bellies with cellulite cream, we should be dancing naked in the moonlight, watching the light reflect off the dimples in our skin.
- Instead of trying to stay so young, we should be aspiring to look like those beautiful, regal 80-year-old French women who drink wine and wear silk dresses to their favorite restaurants.
I propose that we embrace our age, whatever it happens to be, and remind our elders of the beauty they possess. If we tell older women that their white hair is regal; their skin translucent instead of thin; their laugh lines perfectly placed beneath their baby blues…maybe we can start a revolution: one that gives all women, young and old, the respect and admiration they deserve. Maybe we can make people forget what old used to mean.
old stories by Mr. Mark on Flickr
How will you celebrate getting older?
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I’ve always looked much younger than my age, annoying as a 20 something, it’s a blessing as I move further into my 30′s. While 29 was an awful age to turn, I feel better with each year since. It’s about taking care of yourself and not letting preconceived notions of age define you.
Pamela Quevedo’s last blog post..I shot Myself In The Foot And It Hurts
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Posted by Pamela Quevedo | May 12, 2009, 11:23 amNew @TheDemoiselles: Fat or Thin…You’re Still Getting Old! http://tinyurl.com/pzu46t
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Posted by Jen | May 12, 2009, 4:18 pmNew @TheDemoiselles: Fat or Thin…You’re Still Getting Old! http://tinyurl.com/pzu46t
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Posted by Birdie | May 12, 2009, 4:18 pmRT @craftyasparagus New @TheDemoiselles: Fat or Thin…You’re Still Getting Old! http://tinyurl.com/pzu46t
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Posted by Deanne Sarah | May 12, 2009, 4:19 pmRT @Birdiee: New @TheDemoiselles: Fat or Thin…You’re Still Getting Old! http://tinyurl.com/pzu46t
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Posted by Pamela Quevedo | May 12, 2009, 4:25 pmRT @Birdiee: New @TheDemoiselles: Fat or Thin…You’re Still Getting Old! http://tinyurl.com/pzu46t
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Posted by Pamela Quevedo | May 12, 2009, 4:25 pmUnlike Pamela, I’ve always looked older than I am. Since I was about 8, people would always tack on an extra 2-4 years when guessing my age.
In many ways, I think I’ve got a mature way of carrying myself, which doesn’t bother me at all! It’s allowed me to be really diverse in my grouping of friends– I get along with 20 year olds as well as 38 year olds.
Ashe Mischief’s last blog post..A Letter to My Younger Self
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Posted by Ashe Mischief | May 12, 2009, 4:30 pmI have not been coping well, your post was he kick in the teeth I needed to snap out of it!
eyeliah’s last blog post..Motivation
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Birdie Reply:
May 14th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Think of it like this: How old would you feel if you didn’t know how old you were??
Also: “Nature gives you the face you have at 20, but it’s up to you to merit the face you have at 50.” (Coco Chanel)
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Posted by eyeliah | May 12, 2009, 6:40 pmI retweet about old people. http://tinyurl.com/pzu46t (New @TheDemoiselles)
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Posted by Jen | May 12, 2009, 9:11 pm@craftyasparagus retweets about old people. It’s a good thing! http://tinyurl.com/pzu46t (New @TheDemoiselles)
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Posted by Birdie | May 12, 2009, 9:21 pmI can’t wait to be a fabulous 60something woman. But I will embrace the Italian way of my mother, and aunts: no plastic surgery, no injections, but vibrant or vampy hair colors.
My mother, and her fur hats, and blood red lipstick, to the grocery store on a Sunday afternoon, I’ve already taken her cues, that woman is fabulous.
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Birdie Reply:
May 18th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
She sounds like an amazing lady!
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Posted by Bailey | May 15, 2009, 10:50 pmhopefully i will age gracefully. my mother is 49 and still has the soft, glowing skin she had her whole life. she looks literally 10 years younger than she is, and she takes care of herself very well.
i can’t wait to see what i look like in 5 or 10 years. i’m excited!
plus, i think lovey dovey couples in their 60s and up, are the cutest, most beautiful people in the world. their wisdom and deep, deep love just shines in the way they look at each other. my grandparents just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. i can’t wait to be that!
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Posted by Carly | May 16, 2009, 12:29 pmBeautiful post, beautifully written. I feel the same way and this is a very timely subject. Well done!
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Posted by Corinna | May 19, 2009, 8:50 amLovely post and bravo for being proud of the aging process!
I have to say when I was your age I planned to age gracefully and joked I couldn’t wait to have a full head of long white hair but things changed. But then on the morning of my 30th birthday, at a fabulous French restaurant on Park Ave with my whole family for brunch, I broke down and started sobbing like an infant because I was sooo old! Seriously, I became hysterical and sobbed through the entire day, it really was like a punch in the gut. I intended to be mature about my age but….
Natanya’s last blog post..Fashion Industry Piracy
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Posted by Natanya | May 20, 2009, 11:04 pmooh, i love this topic…. i loved life after 30, for a while, but it seems that as soon as i got comfortable in my skin, it started sagging in some places, puffing in others, not all wrinkles are beautiful like laugh lines (like the 11′s) and my neck… its starting to happen.
when i was in my 20′s i didn’t see the big deal, but as i’m aging, i’m starting to understand what the panic is all about. i don’t mind being older, i don’t mind looking my age, but i don’t want to look bad.
jennine’s last blog post..Hot or Not? Affiliate Links in Twitter
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Posted by jennine | May 21, 2009, 5:54 amHow do I feel about getting older? Well, after I broke 40, I noticed I was way more likely to slap people who complain about feeling old in their 20s
WendyB’s last blog post..Aquascutum on Sale
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Posted by WendyB | May 21, 2009, 9:52 pmi agree with Jennine –
I feel like it took me so long to get comfortable in my skin,
that by the time I did,
I’ve not had much time to enjoy it before it’s all seeming to go downhill!!
violetville’s last blog post..BEST Vtg 70s TENT/TRAPEZE BoHo PRINT SUMMER DRESS~L
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Posted by violetville | May 22, 2009, 4:28 pmAbsolutely.
Great post.
hasoon’s last blog post..
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Posted by hasoon | May 23, 2009, 1:00 pmHey, I get your drift,and being old is okay to a certain point. As long as you are able to do things for yourself. I take care of elderly people, and there´s nothing nice about not being able to wipe your own butt, going around with diapers, geting alzheimers and not knowing your own kids, not being able to take a shower alone , etc, etc.
As long as one I can take care of myself, I´ll be ok getting old. But when I have to have someone else wipe my butt and do all the things I mentioned above for me, and then some, then I´d I know what I´d prefer….That my days end when I´m still fresh enough.
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Posted by pipi | May 25, 2009, 3:39 pmI am embracing my impending crone-hood with a vengence. I have tattoos older than some of my young friends…. And I intend to be a scandalous, marvelous old woman.
BTW, I found your blog looking for formal steampunk.
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Posted by threadbndr | May 25, 2009, 3:54 pm