Women Aging Gracefully
The anti-aging business is big. Women spend hundreds of dollars yearly on products that promise to retain the fountain of youth. The older I get the less concerned I am about my wrinkles. With age comes wisdom in some cases. When I was in my 30s I fell for every product that advertised it could stop my wrinkles, or make them disappear. Of course many of these products never delivered. I had a bathroom cupboard, a vanity, and a medicine cabinet full of these products. If I added up the amount of money I had spent over the years on anti-wrinkle potions I could have gone on a vacation instead.
We are seduced by advertising that tells us getting wrinkles is bad, that aging will make us less valuable, and that only youth defines a woman's beauty. While I believe that it is important for women to look good, be healthy, and take care of themselves, we also need to accept and love ourselves as we are. Our self-worth and value shouldn't be defined by our appearance. Nor should we be taken in by societies opinion that once we hit a certain age we are no longer of value.
I watched an infomercial last night on an anti-wrinkle cream, and it was good. It made me want to buy the product, to look like the women that were advertising it. It's so easy to get caught up in the spiel. Subconsciously, I think many women believe that they too can look like that if they use the product. And who doesn't want to be beautiful? Chances are though, that many of the women in the advertisements aren't as old as they claim and many have used surgical or other procedures to give them that look.
I decided along time ago that I don't mind aging. I am content with who I am and have accepted my appearance as it is. Aging gracefully means that I see value in myself regardless of how I look, that I have accepted my bodies natural process. I am comfortable in my own skin. The disappearance of youth isn't the end of my worth, but a gateway to beginning another journey as a woman. I can't stop the aging process no matter how hard I try. But, I can embrace with grace who and what I've become, wrinkles and all!
women * aging * antiaging * advertising *#aginggracefully * antiwrinklecreams
Photo Credit: Maegan Tintari - Flickr.com - CC BY 2.0
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Comments
Feisty56 wrote on September 6, 2014, 6:18 PM
There's a lot of wisdom in what you've written here. I do still cover my gray hair and fight a bit with my crow's feet, but everything else is as nature has given me.
By the way -- you are on fire lately! WTG!
Ellis wrote on September 6, 2014, 6:48 PM
Luckily I was born too ugly to fix with the insides of a jar...a woman does not need to be beautiful to be attractive...
tinamarie wrote on September 6, 2014, 7:46 PM
I will age as life takes me. I don't dye my hair - being a natural redhead (strawberry blonde) I'm afraid to. I look more blonde due to all the WHITE... as far as wrinkles... what will be, will be. I figure my 50+ years have earned me everyone, especially with 4 adult children and 6.5 grandchildren... every wrinkle and gray hair belongs to me and I'm good with that.
LynnWrites wrote on September 6, 2014, 9:47 PM
I cover my gray all the time...lol, I still take care to look good but don't obsess about it as much as I used to...or spend large amounts of money trying to look young.
I joined the FOPP , Feisty56 ...and realized it means at least 30 posts a month, I'm trying to get ahead while I have time...lol.
LynnWrites wrote on September 6, 2014, 9:48 PM
LOL.. Ellis . And your right about women not needing to be beautiful to be attractive...very wise!
LynnWrites wrote on September 6, 2014, 9:50 PM
I think you're beautiful, tinamarie . My sister has hair your color and the white blends in like blonde, too. She's in her late 50s and looks awesome. I agree every wrinkle is well earned!
paigea wrote on September 6, 2014, 10:11 PM
This is very well written. I opted for skiing and vacationing instead of the cabinet full of products. My hair went gray very young and I've never worn makeup. I look how I look.
LynnWrites wrote on September 6, 2014, 10:19 PM
Thanks, paigea . I wish I had done the vacation thing instead too...lol.
BarbRad wrote on September 7, 2014, 2:10 AM
I love your attitude. Keep in mind that the media has to convince us there's a problem before we think we need a solution. So they've sold us the lie that we need to keep looking younger than our age. We don't have to believe the lie
tinamarie wrote on September 7, 2014, 11:04 AM
Thank You! :)
LynnWrites wrote on September 7, 2014, 11:53 AM
How right you are, BarbRad . The media has convinced us and we don't have to believe it.
bestwriter wrote on September 7, 2014, 9:22 PM
Premature aging does need cover but otherwise may be just a hair dye will take care of age. Wrinkles are a mark of dignity.
oldies909 wrote on September 21, 2014, 8:42 PM
It would be nice if we could all age gracefully but I think its God's will and beyond our control.
PattyTherre wrote on October 22, 2014, 8:17 PM
I am already old as I creep up on 50 but I do like to keep myself looking youthful. I use some good moisturizers and eye creams but I don't pay a ton of money for them. I also use Retin A which is MIRACULOUS for everyone on earth. It is primarily for acne but has the added benefits of anti aging as it gets rid of the top layer of old skin and helps to reverse sun damage. It's really youth in a tube. I will still be a wrinkly ole lady but just a bit slower than I would have been, I think.