Friend Kristine's wonderful essay about aging gracefully on mattersthatmatter.com set me thinking about it.
Sure, I'd love to have smooth, unwrinkled skin again...and a body I didn't mind putting in a swimsuit (but I minded it as much when I was younger as I do now, so what's the big deal about that?)
I was recently reminded that cosmetic surgery does not make us look 30, but instead it makes us look like we are “trying” to look 30.
That aside, I have recently taken a great deal of interest in watching the women my age (nearly 65) and noting what it is about them that still makes them attractive at this age and older.
The common traits I find are a smiling or happy countenance; eyes that reflect their interest in new things, their wisdom about things that seldom change, their passion about living life fully, and their compassion for others after having seen the good, bad and ugly of life; good posture, and a great haircut (no matter what the color….white or outrageous red). There you have it!
I’m so happy I am no longer making bad decisions with men, no longer care what others think, and that I have the freedom to finally be the person I have aspired to be my whole life.
I have watched life enter the world and attended to it as it left. I have been threatened by health issues serious enough to make me face my own mortality. And I feel blessed that all of these things have happened to/for me. I wouldn’t trade this for my 3 mid-thirties daughters’ lives for anything.
About life (and this could apply to the artist's journey as well) Joseph Campbell once wrote, "What I think is that a good life is one hero journey after another. Over and over again, you are called to the realm of adventure, you are called to new horizons. Each time, there is the same problem: do I dare? And then if you do dare, the dangers are there, and the help also, and the fulfillment or the fiasco. There's always the possibility of a fiasco. But there's also the possibility of bliss."
I hope you are following yours....
Go Getter
6 months ago
3 comments:
What a great post! It's women who age wonderfully -- that make it easier on those younger. I hit 60 in May of last year -- I have thought more about aging than ever -- but this post reminded me that aging is actually a good thing. Thanks!
(hope since I posted in January I'm eligible for the free art drawing :)
Hi Judy,
It's a challenge, isn't it? But then so was being young (and we didn't appreciate what we had then anyway...and we had none of the wisdom we have now).
Your name is in the drawing, Judy! Thanks for posting.
I agree,I am just 60 and NOT happy about it but I wouldnt go back to 20 for anything!
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