Aging In A Filtered World

 Kim Kardashian has stated that she would do anything to keep up her youthfulness including "eat poop everyday" if it promised endless youth.  As an aging woman in a youth obsessed world I can relate.  

 More than a few gray hairs are shining through, the glow of my skin has turned from satin to an eggshell finish and my body takes a little longer to recover from anything out of the norm. I snap a selfie head to the filters and suddenly all of that disappears. I get a little high viewing myself in those filters, glowing skin, sparkling eyes and teeth looking back at me. I switch back to original, my high fades with my filtered youth.  

The Western world chases youth and tries to retire the aging population quickly. In other cultures such as Greek, Korean, and Native American getting older is not only respected but celebrated. Psychologist Erik Erickson believes that the Western fear of aging keeps us from living full lives. 

The secret to the fountain of youth is not found in a filter, a miracle anti-aging product or achieved undergoing a knife. The secret is a healthy attitude towards aging. 

I am not suggesting that we put on our leisure suits, throw out our skin products, hair dye and makeup (that sounds tempting though). But as we age we must change the way we care for ourselves and view ourselves as a whole. 

The first thing we (I) need to do is acknowledge we are aging and make a certain peace with it. I share these tips not with authority but more of a reminder to myself. 

                                                         Appearance 

What is your season?  Are you a cool, warm or neutral? I remember as a child when my mother hired a woman to teach her which colors and tones looked best. A magnificent ring adorned with all shades of the color spectrum was presented. Mom watched herself in a mirror and I watched in amazement as her skin changed hues with each swatch. Knowing your season shade helps to determine what color clothing, make up and hair color will keep you looking your best. Check out this site to help you find your hues.

Look into changing your makeup application. I have always been a less is more when it comes to makeup. This has been mainly due to laziness but now it serves me well. I find that if I fill in my thinning eyebrows, add a little blush, and a touch of color to my lips my face perks up. 

You may have began to notice changes with your hair too, Texture, density, and moisture level can become drastically different due to hormonal shifts, stress, medication, and age. Let's take the time to circle back to those gray hairs I mentioned earlier. Women seem to have had a hair revolution of sorts. It had really begun in 2018 with the "granny hair" trend. Thanks to the Pandemic (a silver lining if you will) a larger population of women have really embraced their natural hair color. I love   Guys What worked for you before might not be working now. Find a good hairstylist that can help you navigate those changes. If you are local click here.

                                                                Health

It feels like 40 is the gateway age for unexplained bodily ailments. By now you should be pretty attuned to what your aches and pains are telling you, listen. Start making appointments for all the routine checks. Of course we should continue with all the things outlined in every "how to stay healthy" article, eat right, exercise, you know the list. This is a tough one for me as I am not naturally motivated to work out. I resisted the Apple Watch for a long time but after wearing it I realize it really does make me want to move more. I share my stats with husband and sister which in turn makes me more accountable.  

I don't plan on shooting wheat grass anytime soon but I know my eating habits need to change. My body lets me know very quickly if I have made to many unhealthy eating choices. 

Mental

Keep in mind that your entire being is going through a shift. Just as a child transforms during puberty, mid-life is an entire transformation as well. Trying to fight against it could cause depression and frustration. Instead try embracing this life change by making minor adjustments to your routines and giving yourself grace. 

Remember as we try to become happy with aging, aging just might be the secret to happiness. Oh and save those filters for the laughs!