For any woman getting older is something we’ve been taught to dread even the old adage of age is just a number, which seems like a contradiction in an age when a woman daring to stop dying her hair and let her natural grey hues take over seemingly creates the need for endless comments on social media. As early as our 40's age often feels like more than just a number, It becomes a loud, echoing tick from life’s clock, the second hand nudging us towards some perceived expiry date. It can feel like a constant race against time, with every wrinkle, every grey hair acting as a reminder of our mortality.
But why does age incite such apprehension, is it merely down to living in a society that worships the god of youth, a culture that tells us that our best days are over once we hit a certain age?
Many women are realising that aging is an empowering, enlivening journey, an adventure filled with growth and wisdom.
Getting older is a lot like a book, each passing year is a new chapter filled with twists, turns, lessons, and experiences. Through the laughter, the tears, the love, the loses, and we’ve lived. These stories, these memories make up the narrative of our life. They make us who we are so why do we let society make us feel so ashamed of who we’ve become once we get a few grey hairs?
Redefining Aging
Over recent years I’ve heard the sentiment that aging is a privilege that is denied to many, I know this only to well after spending a number of years working with children and young people diagnosed with cancer, many were fortunate to see grey hairs, wrinkles and sagging skin. So yes it is a privilege to get old but that doesn’t make it any less difficult for those of us that see our youth passing us by
However, aging is not about losing youth; it's about gaining wisdom. It's a collection of experiences, memories, and learnings. It's the satisfaction of surviving life's storms and basking in the rainbow afterward. It's about taking pride in your journey and savouring the victory of each battle fought and won and every lesson learned. That’s the art of aging. It's not about reaching a destination; it's about enjoying the journey, appreciating each moment that defines who you are are who you are yet to become.
The first step to embracing aging is changing our perception. So, look in the mirror, stop focusing on the wrinkles and grey hair. Instead, see the wisdom in your eyes, the strength in your smile.
Why Embrace The Aging Process?
Aging doesn't mean becoming frail or losing your spark. Quite the contrary. With each passing year, we gain something valuable. We become more self-aware, more accepting, more at peace with ourselves. This mental wellness that comes with age isn't about attaining some elusive state of happiness. It's about understanding yourself, finding balance, making peace with your past, and looking forward to the future.
How many of us felt self conscious in our youth, comparing ourselves to other women, never feeling thin enough, pretty enough, funny enough or even just enough and yet when we often look back at pictures of ourselves and marvel at how slim we looked, how young and attractive we were yet having no idea at the time and now as we look back our our aging faces and bodies we again struggle to see our true selves.
Embracing aging is acknowledging the beauty, strength, and wisdom that reside within you. It's about realising that aging isn't something to be feared or fought against; it's a natural, beautiful process that brings with it the gift of wisdom, self-love, and contentment.
Life is an endless cycle of change. Just as seasons change, so do we. And each season brings with it a unique beauty. So, why not enjoy each season of our lives? Why not enjoy the spring of our youth, the summer of our adulthood, the autumn of our middle age, and the winter of our golden years? Each season has its charm, its gifts, and its lessons
Becoming Confident As We Age
There is a certain charm and radiance that people exude when a confident person enters a room that has nothing to do with youth or appearance, is an aura, an energy that exudes from a person.
Building confidence as you age isn't about refusing to grow old or clinging to youth. It's about embracing your age, loving your body, your wrinkles, your greying hair. It's about owning your journey, your experiences, your wisdom. Aging gracefully is not about looking young; it's about feeling youthful, feeling vibrant, and alive.
With each passing year, you gain more insight into your identity, your desires, and understand more about your worth, what you’re prepared to put up with and also what you are not. This understanding feeds into your confidence, making you more assertive, more content, and more in control, it’s setting boundaries where in the past you might have struggled, it’s about saying no instead of the reluctant yes. It’s about knowing what you want and what you don’t want from life, friends and relationships.
With Aging Comes Self-Discovery
Aging is more than just a process of physical changes; it's about growing as an individual, as a person. It's about expanding your understanding, deepening your wisdom, and broadening your perspectives. It's about delving deeper into your identity and uncovering the layers that make you who you are. With each passing year, you gain more insight into yourself and the world around you. You discover strengths you never knew you had, passions you never knew existed.
As we age, we learn to let go of what doesn't serve us and embrace what nourishes our soul. We learn to value our happiness, our peace over societal expectations. We become more comfortable in our skin, more attuned to our needs and desires. This self-discovery is one of the most empowering aspects of aging. It’s also about letting go of things in our past that hurt us, that have held us back. It’s about looking back to the past without regret, of forgiving ourselves for mistakes we’ve made along the way. It's a time of reflection, acceptance and moving on.
It’s a time of getting to know ourselves, perhaps for the first time and of fully accepting ourselves.
Finding Strength in Vulnerability
In the face of such heartache, it’s tempting to put on a brave front and conceal your pain from the world. However, vulnerability should not be mistaken for weakness; rather, it is an act of courage. By allowing yourself to be vulnerable and sharing your struggles with those you trust, you open the door to genuine connections and support. Surrounding yourself with compassionate individuals who understand and validate your feelings can make a world of difference in your healing journey.
Conclusion
Aging is's a doorway to self-discovery, self-love, and personal growth. It's not a sign of expiration; it's a symbol of evolution, of transformation. It’s a sign of stepping into all the things you have yet to discover and the person you are yet to become. If you don't feel you have reached your dreams yet or have fulfilled your purpose it means it is still there for you to take. There is still much life to be lived once your hair turns grey and your skin becomes wrinkled.
I will leave the last word to Maya Angelou who once said, "The idea is to die young as late as possible."