AGING GRACEFULLY
In today’s times of remaining forever young, there appears to be a war on aging, evident from the plethora of products and procedures available in the market. Why a frenzy to remain young forever? Is there a crime in looking your age? Why does only youth equate to capability, intelligence, and beauty for society? Our body changes, why not embrace it and learn to be fit and healthy instead of wasting time and money on expensive potions?
When we were small children, growing older was like an achievement, so when did this change into not looking your age? I never quite understand the antipathy towards growing old. Negative stereotypes are present more than ever and social media adds fuel to the fire. Women are judged more harshly as society devalues them as they age. Why is aging a misogynistic concept? Why do women feel proud not to look their age or do not like to reveal their age? Why have we put them into a frame? Our culture and its directive are too loud in favour of not looking your age while indirectly giving the message that aging is not desirable.
Overcoming negative stereotypes about aging is important in our society which venerates youth. Healthy and radiant should be your aim instead of obsessing about not looking your age. The feeling of awe and a sense of wonder keep us young at heart which is more important than using all the potions to look young.
Aging well is remaining a curious child at heart and constantly learning to keep the brain young. Social interactions not only reinforce the feeling of belongingness but also deepen our bond with our loved ones which is all the more important as we age in years in life. Enriching our environment with colours, plants bring us joy and enriches our life. Gardening can take you a notch higher toward your well-being in life. Staying connected with our loved ones through the internet is using it to our advantage which promotes cognitive functions and interpersonal relationships. It is up to us to cling to our past and youth or adapt to the new world youth are creating by remaining active and curious about life.
Aging is a natural inevitable process so why not age gracefully and joyfully instead of treating it as an aberrant crisis? Accepting the physical changes which come with age with an optimistic perspective and adapting accordingly. Make the aging process look so good that everyone awaits and does not indulge in denial mode. Why not own the lines on the face like a badge of honour, be proud of the roads you have traveled and embrace the process of aging and be content with the wisdom which you have attained?
Pictures from Pinterest
Thought Provoking
ReplyDeleteThank you
DeletePowerful 🌟. Truth about societal conditioning and unrealistic standards of beauty.Lovely write up Mrs Handa 👏
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Tanushi
DeleteSonia, I think people are listening to voices like yours!! Times are changing. We see more of those graceful aging now a days!
ReplyDeleteYes, Col BGV I agree times are changing but much needs to be done.
DeleteComing from a woman with "wisdom highlights" doesn't surprise me. In fact, I am glad you brought this up. You are a woman in constant desire to learn more and yet, you are youthful at conversations all the time. Graceful aging is definitely a consequence of keeping oneself purposefully engaged, and not bother about milestone anxieties. We all lived our lives in the ways best possible. Let us pat our back sometimes too. Sharing this across with some friends right away!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Suman for all the appreciation, it motivates me to stay on my path.
ReplyDeleteInteresting and very relevant article, especially for people of my age.Reading such articles from time to time , makes us aware that we have to accept our age with grace and work towards achieving a healthy mind and body. Loved reading it, Mrs Handa.
DeleteThank you so much Mrs Pandey for your insights. i always look forward to your views.
DeleteCompletely in agreement with you, Mam! Well said about 'being content with the wisdom gained'... May be, being content is the wisdom to be gained! 👏👏👏👏👏
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I agree being content is the wisdom to be gained. Well said.
DeleteThe fact that youth signifies energy and vitality has a lot to do with our constant battle with our bodies. Unfortunately it is the looks which catch the fancy of most common people, but as the saying goes, "age is in the mind and just a number", we need to be young at heart because ageing is inevitable but e can remain forever young at heart. Beautifully articulated. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much. I agree remaining young at heart is the key to live happily.
ReplyDeleteCorporates have translated Ageing or rather fear of ageing into need to stay young, rather compulsory need to look, stay, even if not feel young. Magazines like Vogue, pardon my limited knowledge of names of such magazines, want to sell old as youth on their cover page, thus creating demand and thus ever increasing need of supply. Ageing or rather not to age is big business, its there to stay.
ReplyDeleteBut the larger picture is being missed by over indulgent homo sapiens.... Jo aaya hai so jayega, raja , runk, fakir,,,,,jo khila hai so murjayega... thats the law of nature.... so why bother at all..... need is to enjoy every stage of life and enjoy diversity.
So rightly said by you, those who love gardens will love ageing because they see and relish the magic of nature, bloom and perish every day, every season, every year, year on year..... so lets all enjoy ageing without the need to look young but rather feel young even though going bald, going grey, weakening eye sight, loosing body muscle or developing wrinkles, for my age is my age and not yours to mess around with your chemical stuffs.
Totally agree that one should enjoy the process of aging and feel young at heart instead of muddling around with the cremes and potions to arrest aging.
DeleteSuch an interesting article. We really need to enjoy every stage of life. For me, aging gracefully means recognising the changes and adapting yourself accordingly. As someone rightly said "Don't regret growing older. It's a privilege denied to many."
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Seema. Well said, aging gracefully is accepting and adapting accordingly to lead a fulfilling life.
ReplyDeleteWell- articulated write-up, Sonia. Totally agree with you that societal attitude towards ageing and the aged must change . Ageing gracefully means adapting oneself to the changes while staying strong within. The beauty and charm of the youthful days is well compensated with grace and sagacity in the older years.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Bhaiya. Well said, beauty and charm giving way to grace and sagacity
Delete