Anti Anti Aging
No, no, this is not a typo typo.
Welcome readers, old and new! I appreciate every single one of you.
There are many phrases and rhetorical proclamations that oftentimes confuse me.
Like “I could care less.” As in, “My friend deceived me; I no longer care about our friendship. In fact, I could care less.” It sounds as if this means you could, indeed, care more deeply than you already do, which kind of negates the point of the statement.
Whereas, “I couldn’t care less” about the friendship sounds about right; like the feelings you have of not caring are as deep as they come.
Confused?
Me too.
And there’s another phrase that is everywhere, and when you think about it, it can be confusing. I mean, it’s sentiment is clear - but what confuses me is why anyone would be against aging.
I mean, really? You don’t want to age? Is it really possible to eliminate aging; reduce its effects, deny that it’s happening and spit at it?
Well, yes, I suppose there is.
(Die young.)
How about his instead: Work your arse off to remain vital, strong, sharp, healthy, and young-at-heart. But to deny that we are aging and be “against” or “opposite” it (the true meaning of the word “anti”) puts the word “aging” in a dire category.
If we are privileged enough to join in, why not do it with purpose and grace?
Which is why I squirm against the symbiosis of those two words, which, taken separately, are quite harmless, but joined together provoke all sorts of impassioned and negative feelings and emotions.
Am I good enough? Do I still count in this world? Is my time here done? Am I relegated to the ranks of the invisible? Am I still relevant? Is the way I feel inside negated by how others see me?
I’m no leader of this thought; some years back, Allure magazine stopped using the term “anti-aging” in its articles. (Thank you, Allure…but we still have a long way to go.)
And yet. the desire to fight our age sneakily and sometimes unexpectedly resurfaces each time we hear the word “ma’am” or (even worse and more demeaning) “young lady” and realize they’re talking to us. Or when we catch a glimpse of a once-familiar face changed by gravity and time (aka life). Or when our knees or back or shoulder catches, or maybe cracks and then aches and reminds us of its vulnerability to everyday motion that once seemed totally harmless.
Many years ago, when I was just 50, and feeling at the top of my game in all respects, I came face to face with what aging must look like to some in the to the outside world. (You know, the young women who think it’ll never happen to them, no never.)
I was at a hotel, enjoying a morning jog on the treadmill, feeling acomplished and strong. Then it happened: As I was cooling down from my run, the woman on the treadmill next to mine caught my eye and smiled. “My friend and I were just saying how great you look…” Who doesn’t love a compliment? I smiled, feeling satisfied and (dumbly) grateful. She continued,”…for a woman your age!”
WTF just happened? Was it possible to feel two diametrically opposed emotions, simultaneously? I was pissed, bemused, and finally once I got a hold of my emotions, amused.
So, let’s see..how to navigate the fact that sure, aging can be rough, something we wake up to one day as if all the years have been - duh - building up to this moment but somehow we got swept away by the force of youth (guilty as charged0 and didn’t stop to think that one day, one day way too soon, before we are really ready and willing - we’d be here.
We may be able to age better/stronger/with more confidence with lotions, potions, cosmetic procedures. Sometimes aging well is the luck of the draw, or a crap shoot. Some things might work, some might not. Some are accessible and achievable while others are impossible and out of reach.
But there are some things I know for sure.
You will age better/stronger/healthier/happier with more confidence and resilience by tending to your health, both physically and mentally.
“People with more positive attitudes about growing old tend to live longer and healthier lives than those with negative thoughts about aging, according to recent research.”
That’s why I plan on digging into the myriad ways we can age better and stronger, together.
I’ll be exploring exercise, nutrition, stress reduction, sleep, cognitive health, the important medical tests, and more topics going forward. (If I’ve left anything out, do feel free to leave a comment.)
Until next time, stay healthy, wellthy and wise!
XxSheryl
🎶 Don't you know that it's worth every treasure on earth
To be young at heart
For as rich as you are it's much better by far
To be young at heart