JUST HOW OLD ARE YOU

You may appreciate that you are only young once but have you considered that you are only old once too?

As a ‘lady of a certain age’ a polite way to say ‘middle aged’, ‘getting on a bit’, ‘past her prime’, ‘over the hill’, ‘past her sell by date’ etc. etc. I am impervious to any of these remarks because I appreciate and value every one of my years spent from birth to now.

I write this post because many of my friends (and one of them has a birthday today) often lament the passing of time and the fact that they are getting increasingly older.

It seems to me that there is an acceptance that no-one enjoys getting old and perhaps this attitude comes from the role models of our parents and people from generations ahead of us. Maybe, the experience of ‘old age’ needs to reconsidered especially in our present day society. Here are a few of my own observations that you may, or may not agree with.

When I was a child, people in their sixties were old and life expectancy was lower. Now, women in their sixties can be regarded as attractive and desirable. Think Meryl Streep, Susan Sarandon, Helen Mirren, Jane Seymour, Twiggy etc etc. The sexy ladies from the 60s are still lovely in their 60s.

Now, we can’t all look like they do but if you are 40 , 50, 60, 70+ you have been 20, 30, 40 etc. you have had youth, you have had the opportunity to enjoy every single perceived advantage of being young. Take time now to fully enjoy the benefits of being ‘more mature’.

Chances are, if you look at photos of yourself from 10 years ago you will remark on how much younger/thinner/more attractive you were. Yet, did you appreciate it then ? In 10 years time you will look back on your time now and realise how much younger you are than the future you. Please enjoy it NOW not in retrospect.

I am 57 and proud of it. I’m proud of it because I’ve achieved more in my 50s than in any other decade. I’m happy because I choose to be and I’m aware of the many benefits of being older. Statistics suggest that I am now in the happiest stage of my life. I agree, for me this is true. So maybe I should be sorry for you younger, more youthful folk !

I’ve changed my role models and I hope to follow in their footsteps. Mary Berry is my absolute heroine, she is to me the epitome of a lovely older woman. She is positive, enthusiastic, optimistic and fun and she knows how to flirt too (as seen on the Graham Norton show).

I don’t apologise for my age, I flaunt it and no-one can give me the excuse that they can’t start something because they are too old. I have never felt older than 27. It is my body that is getting older, my spirit just feels brighter.

Maybe it’s genetic. My lovely Mum, is nearly 80 and still working hard as a Relate Counsellor. Age is an attitude and it’s your choice which attitude you adopt.

If you didn’t know how old you were and had to guess, what number would you choose? If it’s lower than your age, great. If it’s higher, then maybe it’s a warning that you need to address something – health, fitness, relationships, leisure time etc.

Enjoy being you today whatever age you are. You’re only old once !

Here is a video of a lady who seems much younger in spirit than in years