5 Tips To Age With Grace

Cindy L. asked a question about her mother and aging gracefully. Here is her question:

“My mom recently turned 80, and is now constantly saying that she is getting tons of wrinkles and that she looks her age or older, and not aging gracefully. I tell her that she hasn’t changed – that she still looks good! What else should I tell her so she feels better about how she looks now? Thanks!”

Answer from Mary Marymount

Worrying about age seems to be commonplace in our society. We spend billions upon billions of dollars on plastic surgery, creams and solvents here in the United States with the promise and hope of looking younger. Rather than looking at getting older as a positive or a “badge of honor and experience,” we look at the aging process as a negative.

Here are some positive things about aging to point out to your elder loved one or anyone else that needs encouragement about getting older:

• Age equals life experience. Have you heard the saying, “experience is the best teacher?” This is very true. There is no better teacher than experiencing life – the ups, the downs and the in-between times! If experience shows on your face through wrinkles – be proud of them!
• Age equals wisdom. The dictionary’s definition of wisdom is: “The quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as action, discernment or insight.” How wonderful to have wisdom! And, in order to have wisdom one must have age.
• Wrinkles are tiny badges! Yes, they are! If you have those lines around your mouth and eyes when you smile – well, those are called laugh lines, and you got them from laughing! Be proud of them because laughter is the best medicine that helps you stay young!
• Beauty is skin deep! This is absolutely true! Beauty is not just on the outside, but it is also a reflection of who you are inside. If you shine inside yourself, are happy and loving, it will show on the outside! And, it’s contagious – others will smile with you!
• Age is an attitude! There is a wise quote that says, “It’s not about age, it’s about attitude!” This is so true! If you have a positive attitude and feel happy, no one even thinks about how old you are! You will stay young as long as you have the attitude that you are young!

If you are feeling depressed about getting older, or if you have an elder loved one that feels down because of their age, look them in the eye and tell them that they are truly handsome/beautiful! Even though they may have wrinkles or their bodies are frail, they are beautiful, full of wisdom with tiny badges of life experience on their faces. Look beyond the wrinkles and frail body!