Aging Gracefully ??

What about women that look better as they get older? Look at Cathe and the girls in her videos- they look the same or better!

I don't worry about it as much as I used to. I try to eat right, workout, use sunscreen, take vitamins.. doing what I can and just taking care of myself. I don't see myself ever getting a facelift or any major surgeries- I've seen what they do on TV and it's a little too much for me. Laser or botox maybe if I really feel I need it later on. Other then that I just look at what I enjoy most in life and am happy with what I have.
 
I can't add anything to this thread that hasn't already been expressed. I think aging is just the normal cycle of life. If I was to have any regrets...it would be that I won't be alive to see my children's, children's children become adults and who knows...maybe I'm the great-great grandmother of a future Nobel Prize winner, or a future President, or a future scientist who discovers a fuel source that does not require natural resources.

I am 40something and I can get pretty darn philosophical about aging and the passing of time. I am at a point in my life where I am starting to lose family members and...life long close friends. And it is at these times when you really start to appreciate what you have, what you have done with your life...and what your plans are for the future. We all are born, and we all will die. Some sooner than other's. It is what we do with the time we are given that matters.

My life has sort of unfolded in stages. My twenties were spent getting an education and living life to the fullest and most extreme degrees at times...but that is the badge of youth! My thirties were spent building a career and reputation in my field and having my children. My forties are now spent basking in the success of my (and DH's) twenties and thirties and watching my kids grow up and trying to teach them about life like my parents did for me.

Life is a cycle. The wrinkles, the gray hair, the slowing step...those are signs of aging...but that doesn't mean we should resign ourselves to the rocking chair and be miserable and wait for death. No, we must live each day to the fullest because every day is a gift from God and it shouldn't be wasted worrying about a new frown line.

But then I never had that attitude at 20. I wasn't afraid of turning 30...or 40. Life isn't about a number. It's about getting out of bed every morning and trying to make a positive difference in the lives of the people around you.
 
>Actually the hardest part of aging is reading glasses...I hate
>them, hate them, hate them.....I will never get used to
>them...period.

I already had glasses, but several months ago, I got bifocals (I'd been putting it off, reading small print by lifting my glasses up). I REFUSED to get the lined bifocals. I don't need any more 'visible signs of agiing," and to me, lined bifocals are a big sign saying "middle aged"!
 
I agree 40something. I turned 40 last month. I was a little depressed but aging gracefully has NOTHING to do with your appearance. I'm sure everyone can pause and recall a woman (or man) that had a positive impact on their life that was not considered "attractive" by this world's standards.

I actually have been quite a bit down lately. It is not the wrinkles, reading glasses, etc (although I can't believe it when I look in the mirror!). Its the death and deterioration of older family and friends - I get more depressed over their birthdays! Sometimes I think "how will I manage without my mom or mil?" I am so close to them. Lost my dad 5 years ago to cancer and it was awful. Then, of course, there are my brothers , who are all older than me. Looking at my own kids can get depressing! Ds is going to the prom! The prom? How can that be? How did he get so grown up so fast? These are the things that have been bothering me about getting older.

Aging gracefully, to me is about being useful to someone in some way. I know quite a few older people. Some of these women have been wonderful mentors to me. They have overcome amazing hardships and still keep going. They are INVOLVED in life. I can think of many women like this that are in their 70's and 80's (my mil is 80 and still mows her yard - and uses a push mower for the trimming. She is on the go all day and has a grace and peace about her I can only hope to attain). I have never once even contemplated the "appearance" of these women. Their wrinkles are of no consequence. Marnie
 
I haven't read all the opinions here, but I'm posting anyway. I turn 29 in May.

For me, I don't want to keep getting older because that means I get to have less fun (less time before I die)! I HATED being a kid, just hated it, as I wasn't allowed to do all kinds of things.

I look forward to my 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and pray that me and my bod can reach 70s and 80s!!! Each decade has something I really look forward to. I'm not trying to get there quickly, but I've pointed out certain aspects that only comes in that decade. Qualifying for Medicare in my 60s so that I can finally stop thinking about the costs of medical care (if MCR is still around!), getting a majority of gray hair and wearing it long (always been appealing) whenever that comes, CROWS FEET because you only get those if you've smiled a lot in your life, and on and on.

Yesterday was my 18 year anniversary of being diagnosed with diabetes. I thought back to being 10 and I must say, I am pretty damn proud of myself and all I've accomplished in the past 18 years. When I think about my 38th anniversary, and think about what I might have to look back on then... it's just amazing!!!

LIVE YOUR LIFE and all that entails. It's all we've got, and it's a wonderful gift. :) (Sorry if that sounds really preachy!)
 
I am worried about getting older, but not because of wrinkles or sagging skin, etc.

I have so much I want to accomplish while I am here that I am afraid I won't even come close. As I get older, time seems to travel at warp speed and that scares me more than anything else. I fear not being able to absorb and appreciate my life while I am living it!

Sometimes I just wish I could slow the aging process down a bit.

Amy,
I really admire how you handle your diabetes! You should be proud. :)
 
George Carlin's Views on Aging

Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when
we're kids? If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging
that you think in fractions.

"How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half.
You're four and a half, going on five! That's the key.

You get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next
number, or even a few ahead.

"How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna
be 16! And then the greatest day of your life . . . you become 21. Even the
words sound like a ceremony . . YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!

But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad
milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a
sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?

You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes,
it's all slipping away. Before you know it, you REACH 50
and your dreams are gone.

But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!

So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.

You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70! After that it's a day-by-day
thing; you HIT Wednesday!

You get into your 80s and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN
4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start
going backwards; "I Was JUST 92."

Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid
again. "I'm 100 and a half!"
May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!


HOW TO STAY YOUNG
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let
the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them "

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever.
Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the
devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with
us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes,
music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve
it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9 Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to
a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that
take our breath away.
:)

Kathy
 
Here's 10 ways to slow down aging:

1. Wear sunscreen every day (prevents wrinkles)
2. Lift weights (prevents loss of muscle mass and bone)
3. Eat lots of fruits and veggies (keeps your whole body healthy)
4. Do cardio (keeps your heart healthy)
5. Get plenty of calcium (keeps your bones and hair healthy)
6. Keep up with your regular doctor and dentist visits (catches health problems early and keeps your teeth from falling out of your head)
7. Don't smoke or use any tobacco products (stains your teeth and skin, causes wrinkles, and causes all kinds of diseases that will kill you)
8. Avoid stuff that stains your teeth:
smoking (duh)
coffee
tea
artificially colored drinks (like soda and koolaide) - this is my one big weakness
9. PLAY! with your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews, by yourself, whatever. Just stay active and have FUN! Don't worry about acting "your age"
10. Start now

Kristy

I solemnly swear that I am up to no good
 
Hi All!

I didn't read all the above posts, but I received this e-mail the other day and thought I'd share it here. It's pretty funny! Enjoy!

Dallas

******************************

I can almost feel myself losing weight....by forwarding this to you!
You'll understand at the end.

I've seen two shows lately that went on and on about how mid-life is a great time for women. Just last week Oprah had a whole show on how great menopause will be... Puhleeeeeeeze! I've had a few thoughts of my own and would like to share them with you. Whether you are pushing 40, 50, 60 (or maybe even just pushing your luck) you'll probably relate.

Mid-life is when the growth of hair on our legs slows down. This gives us plenty of time to care for our newly acquired mustache.

In mid-life women no longer have upper arms, we have wing spans. We are no longer women in sleeveless shirts, we are flying squirrels in dra

Mid-life is when you can stand naked in front of a mirror and you can see your rear without turning around.

Mid-life is when you go for a mammogram and you realize that this is the only time someone will ask you to appear topless.

Mid-life is when you want to grab every firm young lovely in a tube top and scream, "Listen honey, even the Roman empire fell and those will too."

Mid-life brings wisdom to know that life throws us curves and we're sitting on our biggest ones.

Mid-life is when you look at your-know-it-all, (cell phone) beeper-wearing teenager and think: "For this I have stretch marks?"

In mid-life your memory starts to go. In fact the only thing we can retain is water.
Mid-life means that your Body By Jake now includes Legs By Rand McNally -- more red and blue lines than an accurately scaled map of Wisconsin.

Mid-life means that you become more reflective...You start pondering the "big" questions. What is life? Why am I here? How much Healthy choice ice cream can I eat before it's no longer a healthy choice?

But mid-life also brings with it an appreciation for what is important.
We realize that breasts sag, hips expand and chins double, but our loved ones make the journey worthwhile. Would any of you trade the knowledge that you have now, for the body you had way back when? Maybe our bodies simply have to expand to hold all the wisdom and love we've acquired. That's my philosophy and I'm sticking to it! <>

Send this to four women and you will lose two pounds.
Send this to all the women you know (or ever knew), and you will lose 10 pounds.
If you delete this message, you will gain 10 pounds immediately. (That's why I had to pass this on - I didn't want to risk deleting this.)
 
oy. Don't tell me life is going downhill at 30 :p I'm there w/ ya girl...tis okay. I'll be 30 in less than a month!


"you miss 100% of the shots you never take"


Debbie:p
 
Heard this on Oprah: Age is up to nature, decay is up to you. I have a woman in my fitness class who just turned 80, she is active, travels, volunteers, and generally enjoys life. Nuff said....
 
OK, my 2cents.

There are many more urgent things in life than growing older and worry helps none of them.

"Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength." -- Unknown

"Youth has no age" --Picasso
 
I'm scared of getting old! Oh yes. On that day, I'll lay in the bed instead of getting up to work out. The highlight of my day will be breakfast, lunch and dinner. I will be intimately acquainted with the tv schedule. For social action, if I feel up to it, I'll turn to the internet, or I'll call my daughter and whine to her that nobody pays any attention to me. I'll dwell on my aches and pains. Misery will be my companion.

Oh, wait a minute! That pretty much describes the first 45 years of my life! And the thought of going back there is indeed a scary one.

Wrinkles? Gray, thinning hair? Bifocals and skin that sags no matter how many pushups you do? That's not what makes you old. It's not the number of years you have lived, but how you choose to live those years.

Maintain your health as best you can and give to others. Look past the mirror, live your life, and growing OLD will not be a problem!

Respectfully submitted,
Angel (still young at 56)
 
I have to admit, I was scared to death of turning 30. When I did, which was just about a month ago, it wasn't that bad. I've actually kind of enjoyed saying that I'm 30. I feel like I have more wisdom, than someone who is 20 something. Besides that when I say that I'm 30, people take a double take. (That doesn't hurt!)
I look at my parents and think, that's not how I'm going to be. My mom at 54 can bairly make it up a flight of stairs and is in the beginning stages of type II diabetes. My dad at 72 has had 2 heart attacks and is about 75 pounds over weight. ONce again, can barely make it up a flight of stairs. THAT's what scares, letting myself go. Not caring anymore what I eat or if I've biked my 15 miles, or done my pilates class. That is scary to me. I have made a solem vow to not be like that.
So, now I am just trying to get to know who I am. Finding myself is a better way of putting it. I spent my 20's trying to be a grown up. Now I want to go back? No. I'm happy where I'm at. I have more to learn, and much, much more to accomplish.

Kathy
 
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