Aging Gracefully ??

Try not to worry about. Worrying causes wrinkles. LOL.

Age is just a number. It's how you feel and what you do with your life that matters. I just turned turned 43 today. I am probably heathier now that I was in my twenty's. If I had taken my health more seriously in my 20's and 30's then I would probably be even healthier and not having to fight to get these last few lbs off. That's one thing that definitely gets harder with age, (loosing weight). I also hate having to color the grey hair, but I've been doing that since I was 24 so I don't relate to getting older. I'm more settled in my life and really wouldn't want it any other way.

Jean
 
<what do I have to look forward to - wrinkles, sagging skin, age spots, retirement, death... There just isn't anything positive that I can see.>

Michele -
On the contrary, there's SO MUCH that's positive about getting older. Yes, skin will lose it's elasticity and you will develop laugh lines from a lifetime of smiling and having good times, and maybe some worry lines from fretting over some of the obtacles life hands us but which also make us grow with experience, and some sun spots from those long lovely days enjoying the world outside. Life is about so much more than what we look like, and retirement is something that sounds pretty fun to me because I plan to keep doing all the fun things I do now, ski, scuba dive, dance, play with kids and dogs, exercise, party with my friends and spoil my family, and if I play my cards right I may not have to keep my job but if I want to I will! And as far as death is concerned, I have a 96-year-old grandma who says she looks forward to death so she can meet up with Grandpa and her long-gone friends and Jesus Christ himself. It just doesn't scare me at all. Once you get there I think you'll enjoy it. I'm 46 and I wouldn't go backward. I'm liking this age and I look forward to the years ahead.
 
I just want to chime again to say thank you, waterlily, for posting this. I'm really enjoying reading the great responses.

And as I was riding to work this morning I thought, if I could have smooth, young skin again and not have to wear reading glasses, would I trade it for: all of the professional achievements I've had, the salary I'm making, knowing that I'm reaching financial independence, being more confident in myself and enjoying life more? Well, what do you think my answer was? }(

I wouldn't go back for anything.

-Nancy
 
I'm about to turn 31 and I weigh less than I did in high school (and I have two kids.) I still get carded and a teenage boy made pathetic attempts to flirt with me a few weeks ago. The poor kid was shocked when I told him I was 30 and married with two kids. Getting old hasn't been too bad for me. You have the power to get healthier and hotter as you get older. At the rate I'm going, I can't wait to see how I look when I turn 40!

Kristy

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good
 
Your words have truly been inspiring. Yet, I know I will still be worrying. I think I am just gonna try and try new activities and games and try to suck up as much life as I can. After all, you only live once!!!!
 
My 20's were horendous.30's filled w/child rearing.40-45 time of self exploration. Now I'm heading to 46. Kids are out of college.DH gets to retire. And I'm right along with him. Selling our house and most of the useless material stuff, buying an RV, and hitting the road for a couple of years. Just had a friend pass away at age 44. I'm no longer waiting to live my dreams. There are just too many mountains to climb! "You are only dancing on this earth for a short while"(Cat Stevens)Live while you can and never fear growing old, it is a waste of precious time. Every day is a gift. Who cares about a couple of wrinkles any how.....
 
Hey waterlily try not to worry so much. Re-read your last sentence "you only live once". I bet you're very pretty and you will probably age gracefully.

My mother will be 72 on St. Patrick's Day. I took a "real" good look at her on Sunday, and I can honestly say she really have no wrinkles or crow's feet. I said to myself, it must be her chubby face stretching them out....lol. And the most amazing thing is (my mother as a child, teenager) she didn't know squat about make-up, moisturizers or any of the things we have now. In her hey days she swore by vaseline and Pond's cold cream. She has 12 children, 11 girls and 1 son and that vaseline & Pond's cream was used on us daily, and mama is still going strong.

I will be 44 next month and looking forward to 50. I have to admit I love when people tell me I don't look like a grandmother of 2. I will also admit when I can tell a young man who is trying to flirt with me, "I'm old enough to be your mom or big sister". But that's not always a good line to use, because sometimes they'll come back with, "well your not my mom or my sis", then it's like awww hell now I have to talk to them and bench press them at the same time, gosh, if they only got the message the first time......just kidding.....lol.

So please don't let aging worry you especially if you're no where near the age of what you think is "old".

Can you do any and all of Cathe's w/o? If so, you're still a pretty young thing. :)

http://www.PictureTrail.com/haydee1

Haydee
 
Who cares about a couple of wrinkles any how.....


Yeah, who cares. Ok now if you have wrinkle lips that's a different story. I'm sorry I have to say this. About 17 years ago, my girlfriend's brother told her he was going to buy her a tiny iron for Christmas and she said, "why", he said, "so you can iron your lips". But to this day, my friend still has wrinkled lips.


http://www.PictureTrail.com/haydee1

Haydee
 
odd isn't it. i was just watching tv, and yep, victoria principle came back on and i just think "wow" you look amazing. to me she doesn't look like she's had a face lift. she looks amazing. sure when she say's "i'm 56" i think, facelift. but not because i think she looks like she's had one but because i've not seen anyone look that amazing before. though saying that carol maggio, facercise fame, she looks amazing. really really good. and i know she's not had a facelift. maybe she is on to something?????
 
Okay, waterlily, this is my last attempt at allaying your fears:

If I had known on my 30th birthday what I know today, a week before my 50th birthday, I would not have wasted a single moment worrying or being afraid. The last 20 years have been far better than the 30 years that preceded them.

Does that help? It's the honest truth.

-Nancy
 
I'm not so much worried about the number...but I've always been concerned about my looks, and probably always will be. The best thing about getting older/more mature, is that I'm learning to accept myself more and more. It's been a very sloooow process, and will probably never end.

But for that reason, I don't fear aging, because if I am able to keep on learning to accept myself and appreciate life, it will be worth it. In the meantime, I will always stay physically active and will buy anti-aging creams etc., and if I look like my mom in 20 years I will truly be blessed. Hardly a wrinkle on her!

http://www.picturetrail.com/jackieboy
 
>I definitely think that the first time you start to really
>notice certain wrinkles or jowls or bags or whatever is a hard
>time. It's like part of your face is aging, but another part
>isn't, so there is a lack of harmony. But once things all
>catch up, there is a new harmony that can be just as
>beautiful.
>

Very well said!!

Actually the hardest part of aging is reading glasses...I hate them, hate them, hate them.....I will never get used to them...period. You guys can talk about how wonderful aging is...I'm not in the mood for it right now. Now let me go find where I put my reading glasses so I can finish typing this:p

Robin
 
>Waterlily-
>
> The only
>regret I have is that I spent so much time worrying about
>getting older and being sad about it when I should have just
>been enjoying my life. Just get out there and ENJOY!!
>
>-Nancy
I have to agree with you here totally, Nancy. I , too, was a worrier at a much younger age. I spent my whole 39th year fretting about turning 40 (nine years ago!) and WHAT A WASTE. At the same time, I do look at my *slightly* sagging face and wouldn't mind more fat in it! So I remind myself about the really important things in life. ..my great family and my faith. And I look at women who are much older than me who are just really cool and happy with who they are and I think that that's what it's all about, too. . .be happy with who we are!
 
I have been thinking about this thread alot today. I have to say it bums me out to think of our amazing women worrying about something as circumstantial as age. Probably because I don't understand the psychology behind being afraid of or embarrassed by an age. Age is 100 percent circumstantial. Of course we all worry about being infirm and helpless. But infirmity is not assuaged by botox and face lifts; it's assuaged by taking care of one's body through good food and exercise, by stress reduction and a postive outlook. To say that one fears 45 and wants to look 35 implies that there is something inherently superior about 35, which there isn't, any more than being 45 is inherently superior to being 35. Age is simply a fact, nothing more, nothing less. We are not 45, or 63 or 71 because of some personal moral failing. We are not 19, 22 or 25 because we are superior human beings and have been awarded our "twenties." It's all just a natural process. Every age and every stage has its blessings and its horrors. Embrace each and every one, beautiful ladies, because they'll all be gone before we know it.

Hopping off my soapbox!! :p

Sparrow

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage
 
>I have been thinking about this thread alot today. I have to
>say it bums me out to think of our amazing women worrying
>about something as circumstantial as age. Probably because I
>don't understand the psychology behind being afraid of or
>embarrassed by an age. Age is 100 percent circumstantial. Of
>course we all worry about being infirm and helpless. But
>infirmity is not assuaged by botox and face lifts; it's
>assuaged by taking care of one's body through good food and
>exercise, by stress reduction and a postive outlook. To say
>that one fears 45 and wants to look 35 implies that there is
>something inherently superior about 35, which there isn't, any
>more than being 45 is inherently superior to being 35. Age is
>simply a fact, nothing more, nothing less. We are not 45, or
>63 or 71 because of some personal moral failing. We are not
>19, 22 or 25 because we are superior human beings and have
>been awarded our "twenties." It's all just a natural process.
>Every age and every stage has its blessings and its horrors.
>Embrace each and every one, beautiful ladies, because they'll
>all be gone before we know it.
>
>Hopping off my soapbox!! :p
>
>Sparrow
>
>Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of
>arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but
>rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used up, totally worn
>out, and loudly proclaiming ‘Wow - what a ride!’ — Peter Sage



Sparrow,

Well said. I agree with every word.

Michele
 
>Your words have truly been inspiring. Yet, I know I will
>still be worrying. I think I am just gonna try and try new
>activities and games and try to suck up as much life as I can.
>After all, you only live once!!!!

There is nothing wrong with worrying about it...(you can't help it any way...I couldn't;)) ....just don't ever allow it to paralyze or rule you.....Believe me, you will age just fine and gracefully. Just because I admit to fearing it as well doesn't mean I'm not aging gracefully as others have stated. For the record, I am aging just fine;) If anything a little fear motivates me to take better care of myself and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. It certainly doesn't mean I will hop under the knife. It only means I will make sure I will take very good care of what I've got. A+B doesn't always equal plastic surgery.....why people automatically assume that is beyond me.

As Kathryn so eloquently put it, eventually our minds reach a certain beautiful harmony and accept our aging bodies. I'm still waiting for mine to accepting my aging eyes (d*&n those reading glasses);) Maybe in a few more months I'll adjust to the lousy parts of aging....I'll give it some time. I never had to wear them all the time so they never bothered me...now they do.

Robin
 
I agree with A-jock and others. Also, I still love to run, and skip and jump rope, and ride my bike and swing on swings and just go out and play so I don't think I will ever feel old because I never intend to stop doing all that.

Joanne

ETS: That I am 47 :)
 
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