ANTI-AGING: HOW YOUNG CAN YOU LOOK?

Photo courtesy of alightfoot8908 at Photobucket

The world we live in today is a world where woman could look 24 at 42. As I look at their perfect faces, I wonder whether this makes sense. Someday I won't be able to tell apart a 50 year old grandma from a college student in her early twenties. It's not a crime to chase youth and beauty but what if you go too far? Is it worth the effort and money?

What is it that we fear so much of aging? Although I'm turning eighteen soon, I have come to accept that someday I'll be old and grey. I don't mind the wrinkles or the grey hair. What I fear most is losing all that strength and energy.

Sometimes I define aging as a terminal disease acquired on the day we are born. You may conceal it but you can't cure it, ever. I think we cringe at the thoughts of growing old because we regard it as the era of slowing down. We fail to see the positive side of it.

While losing your youthful beauty and strength is a fact you're not comfortable with, think of what you are gaining. Being old does not make you weak. You can still be strong and look good in your golden years. You can't stop aging but you can choose the outcomes of it. I see three options for myself.

Option 1:
Take things negatively and become a grumpy old woman who frets about the unfairness in life.

Option 2:
Work hard to hide my true age even if I have to go under the knife. All methods are considered.

Option 3:
Age gracefully. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and stay young at heart.

My choice will be option three.

Fear aging no more. It's a part of life. Reveal your true age and be proud of it. Every birthday is another milestone. You are the experienced one, the wise one. While others are still learning the ropes you can say you've been there and done that.

It saddens me to witness people going to the extreme to hide their real age. I remember back in school my teachers, females especially refused to expose their age - not even if we begged. I bet they guard this secret with their lives. Only those older teachers will tell us their age and when they say it, they say it with pride. Now that is a good example of aging gracefully.

I guess what fuels the desire to look young come from many factors. It could be pressure at the workplace. If you're reaching 40, you definitely don't want to lose out to younger workers simply because of your age. It can also be influence from the media. Nowadays you can find countless advertisements for beauty centres offering you the chance to look say, 10 years younger?

A few weeks back, I remember watching a TV advertisement of women dancing around happily, proclaiming they love their age even when they don't look their age. I mean, it's not wrong to want to look good but how long can you keep this up? Maybe it's a thrill to surprise people when you tell them your real age and their reply is, "Oh my, but you don't look your age at all, you look way younger..." How long can you really maintain your youthful complexion? It's just absurd and ridiculous!

Get real as there will come a time where you must let this go. Let things fall into its natural state. Those lines on your face are no ugly lines for they are signs of wisdom and character. Embrace yourself as your enter another stage of life. Coming to terms with aging is a positive sign of accepting changes. Learn to love
the 20 year old you as much as the 60 year old you.

As I'm still in my youth, I can't say I understand everything. But I can say I have made up my mind about aging. In fact, I'm curious to see how I'll look in a few more decades.

Until then, age with grace my friends.

You can take no credit for beauty at sixteen. But if you are beautiful at sixty, it will be your soul's own doing. -Maria Stopes

Pen

20th July 2010