I used to think that aging well was about looking younger than your years. These days I believe that it has much more to do with a positive attitude and balanced state of mind, than physical appearance. It’s key to get your priorities right and think more holistically in order to enjoy the aging process and find peace in your heart. If you don’t, you’re a lot more vulnerable to feeling lost, unworthy, invisible, unattractive, and unhappy as you get older.
Just like there is no one way to be stylish, there is no one way to age well. How we choose to age with grace, spunk, energy, independence and fulfillment is as personal as the rest of our style.
The people in my life who have aged well and are young at heart have many things in common. They are mentally strong, confident, positive, active, have a good sense of humour, are constantly learning, and keep up with the world around them. They pay good attention to their physical appearance, but are also unaffected. They are at peace with how they look and who they are, laugh a lot, don’t compare and despair, see the good in other people, and have a sense of adventure. They cherish life, and get stuck into what it has to offer with the people and pets that mean the most to them. They appreciate the smallest gestures, and don’t take things for granted. This frame of mind is extremely inspirational to me.
First things first: accepting and embracing the aging process. We can’t stop it, so we might as well make the most of it. I’m 50, and with the gift of a good bill of health, there is a lot I still want to do and accomplish in my next 50 years. I want to focus on that, and how I can make a meaningful difference in the world and to my loved ones. I want to age without the pressure of wanting to look younger than my age. I want to age naturally, energetically, and with an optimistic attitude. I want to feel good about my age, and be grateful for what I have, every single day.
I continue to rise above the thought that looking older is the enemy, and shout that from the rooftops. I want to ignore the anti-aging messages that I’m bombarded with daily on social media and in the entertainment world, because it’s not important. The world’s obsession with youth and young beauty is extreme, which can negatively impact our self-esteem. No thank you. I want to laugh it off and maintain a stylish balance, so that I can relax into and embrace the physical effects of aging with a happy heart.
Physically, I want to continue giving my skin, hair, teeth, hands and feet the attention that they deserve because those are the components of my physical appearance that I think of as most important. I can’t do much about wrinkles, jowls, and sagging skin when aging naturally, but I can strive to have dewy and healthy skin, and maintain well-groomed hands and feet with naked nails. I can look after my teeth, and sport a fun and current short hairstyle with a shiny head of hair.
I will continue to have fun with fashion and style, because I enjoy it! It’s my bread and butter, a hobby, and an unstressful component of my life. I have the power to pick and choose from the buffet of trends every season, and wear them my way. Individualism is the strongest trend of all, and I’ll continue sporting my signature looks until I’m bored with them, and not because they are no longer on-trend or I’m “too old” to wear them.
It’s also important that I stay active and supple as I age, because it gives me energy, makes me think more deeply, relieves stress, and keeps the aches and pains at bay. I want to continue my daily yoga practice for as long as I am able to stretch, bend and move fluidly because it makes me feel centred and grounded. I hope to continue with my urban walking lifestyle, because it feels liberating and therapeutic. It also makes me feel connected to life, and helps me appreciate the beauty that surrounds me.
Aging is a privilege. I hope to age as well as those who inspire me. With each passing year I experience more of what life has to offer. With these experiences come the gift of reflection, wisdom, and self-awareness. I strive to be more open-minded, proactive, patient and problem-solving as I age. I want to go to bed with a clear conscience, and wake up choosing joy.
