By Guest Blogger Gloria Fallon
I really don’t.
When I’m 62 I want to be able to eat and do whatever the hell I want. And if that means I’m “pleasingly plump,” then good for me. When I’m 62, I don’t want to be doing stomach crunches, applying fake tanner and scrutinizing my ass and thighs before I go to the beach. I’m tired of doing these things now, so no way am I doing them when I’ve reached the respectable age of 60-somethings.
What is with this constant push for women to look young and thin?
Ever since Kate Moss emerged, being thin or even emaciated is the ideal “look.” I wish I could say I’ve always had enough self-confidence to be whatever weight my body felt comfortable in, but that would be a complete lie. I started exercising at age 9, I’ve starved myself on more occasions than I can count, and even though I’m at a healthy place with food and weight right now, I still weigh myself every single day. Society pushes these ridiculous standards on us, and it becomes what we see as attractive.
We’re supposed to look “young” even if we’re not. I don’t look my age and neither do my friends, maybe because we have so much more available to us now that can help us look younger. 40 never seemed like anything but old to me, but Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Halle Berry and Sandra Bullock all make it seem like just a mere extension of your 30s. I don’t mind this so much because it feels right. But looking younger is work—work that I do not want to do when I’m 62.
Because 62 is not young. It’s not even young-ish. 62 is old (there, I said it!!) Hell, 50 is old. We should not be afraid to age. When I’m 62 I don’t want to be worried about cellulite. I don’t want to worry about the crow’s feet that show how much fun my life has been. When I’m 62 I’m going to do what I want, eat what I want and wear what I want! And when I’m 62, I’m going to be the happiest old lady around.
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About Gloria Fallon
Writer. Non-enthusiast. Contributor for Someecards and US Weekly Fashion Police.
Visit Gloria online at: @GloriaFallon123.
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I love Gloria’s honesty, and I think it’s liberating and refreshing! Feel free to leave her a comment below. She will be reading.
I’m trying to age gracefully too, and embrace all the new lines, new cellulite, and other shit that come with aging. Why? Because aging is a PRIVILEGE, in my humble opinion. We don’t all get to do it.
Hell yeah! Preach!!!
We are a beauty obsessed society and I am guilty of getting caught up in the hoopla of it all. This view is so refreshing so thank you for being so honest. I think it’s about living as healthy as you can and whatever comes as a result of that we have to accept and embrace.
At 62 I’ll be on a nude beach rejoicing.
Always adore Gloria Fallon’s writing, and her perspective! Having just hit 50 last month, I look it, and am genuinely THRILLED by the laughlines (well-earned and well-practiced) that grace my face. GRACING my face, not marring it.
The only way we can move beyond the youth-looks-as-ideal mindset is by genuinely embracing it personally…and living a life that reflects length of experience joy.
Thanks for spreading the word, Gloria! (and for sharing it, Erica!)
Certainly it makes sense to “age gracefully”, but in reality, women are constantly trying to look better. I would love to “embrace” my age and not care what others think of me, but I do care what I think of myself and I don’t want to look older. Some days I look in the mirror and I wonder who that is. Inside my head, I am still that 20 something fun person who loves, fun, dancing, rock music and life in general, but I am almost 70. Women are often judged by the way they look, men, not so much. Money and power give men an edge over looks. The double standard is still alive and well, as much as I hate to admit it. Look at all the ads for botox, makeup, skin care products, diet pills etc. and what are they telling us? Don’t get fat, look young, stay attractive women or you will be invisable. So I stay active, watch my weight, use botox occasionally, cover my gray and hope for the best.
Great point! The older I get, the less I want to care what I look like 🙂
I will be turning 50 this year and have never looked my age because I have a childlike face…. When I was 25 people thought I was a teen mother. Now I just look like an older version of that kid. Wrinkles, laugh lines and age spots. It helps when you are not in the public eye or a celebrity- You need some serious self esteem to age gracefully in that world. Too many women are overly obsessed with looking good. Life is so much more than that.
Love it Gloria.
We went to school together now age together.
Live is more than looks.
Eachday is a blessing.
My great-aunt lived to be 101 (grandma died young at 91) so I’m not ready to think of 50 as old. That would mean you can spend half your life being old, which is downright tragic.
Besides, I’m 47 and still go sledding. Young at heart and all that stuff.
I turn 40 in a couple of months. I used to be a professional bellydancer with a gorgeously muscled stomach. Then I was pregnant with twins, whom I took to term and who were born at 6 lbs apiece. I don’t have amazing abs any longer. But I have 3 beautiful children whom my body carried, birthed and nurtured. My body is amazing regardless, my children are healthy, and my husband can’t keep his hands off me. What more do I need?
I love it. I don’t want to be sizzling either, but I want to breathe well and deeply, and feel awesome. I want sparkly eyes and a great smile. I even want to be better at yoga than I am today. Trust me, you will not want to slack off. Most great women just want to get better and better at being who they are. The really funny thing is, when I was younger, I had a very different definition of “eat what I want” and “work” I had to do to make me look good. Those things evolve, but I still strive for health and happiness, which are the most amazing beauty tonics on the planet.