Putting up a new fence around any property is a lot of hard work. It includes measuring, digging, cutting, sanding, hammering, leveling and painting all while sweating profusely. After many hours, days, weeks and sometimes months, the fence is finally completed and looks fresh.
It rains.
The sun beats down on hot summer days.
Winds blow.
Birds sit atop the fence posts.
It snows.
The elements of weather, nature and time begin to show on the fence.
At first, the fence is able to remain standing straight, but eventually it droops and slightly leans. It is during this time that the paint begins to chip, peel and pop off.
A passerby looking at the fence will have thoughts that range from pity, disgust or have the wish for a new and better fence.
The same life cycle happens to people.
We all become weathered, droop, lean and the form that used to cause others to admiringly compliment suddenly only draws quick glances. There are, after all, more beautiful people to admire.
I’m glad that everyone doesn’t have that opinion, but the world today is so motivated for new and better that they are often missing the wealth of wisdom held by the older generation.
There were people who lived through the tough times of the Great Depression, the oppression of women, segregation by race, and numerous wars. Even now, I remember vinyl records, eight track tapes, black and white television, the first man walking on the moon, skateboards with wooden wheels and even life before computers.
Age is quickly becoming something that is no longer valued. The mentality is to throw it away and get a new one. With the mind set of the throw away generation, people are also becoming more and more selfish. The mantra of “Do less and get more” is rampant.
Where will it end?
What will become of the aging generation?
How can we change this prevalent attitude?
where the smiles have been.”
~Mark Twain~
I can completely relate to this comment, as I am feeling the same way myself, but don't know how to just ignore it, living in this world that we live in, and just accept getting older with dignity.
My age and face, it doesn't depict how I feel. 10 years ago does much more so, but I can't get it back. Oddly enough I wasn't happy with it back then, so in another ten years I know I'll say this was pretty good to. How sad.
How to not make it matter anymore, accept who you are, learn that wisdom comes with age, and your mind is what's eternally beautiful. Know that even the most beautiful of faces will wither with time. We are not alone. It's comforting but the realization needs to matter more. No one can make time stand still…except maybe Heather Locklear. I sware she made a pact with the devil.
My mother was very into her youth and looks, when I was a child. She put scotch tape on her forehead, made me rub wrinkle cream on her neck at night, I even started using creams around 10, and because of all she brainwashed me with, I became afraid of aging, and I was only a young kid! What kid thinks about such things?
It's a fine line, because you want to feel good about yourself, and look how you feel, but you also don't want to affect your own daughters in this increasingly more superficial world. I hide any and all of my obsessions. Having twins I now have far les time to think about them anyway, which is good.
I just wish more people thought of us aging women as fine wines, instead of old fenes. Great post!
xoxo Shelly
http://www/twinpossible.com/blog
One of the things that affects the aging thing is your health. When things start to go wrong physically, it is now hard to exercise or do some of the things you used to do. It can be easy to get depressed over this if you let it get to you.
I guess I don't care about losing my looks so much as I don't want to lose my mind. I don't want to become totally dependent on anyone. I don't want to give up my freedom or be taken from my home as my grandmother was. Those things are what cause me to keep working and never give up.
Excellent post as usual!