“Which of my friends looks the oldest?”
When you read this statement, what do you think? Do you think the speaker is under 25? Over 50? Male or female? What is your initial gut reaction?
When you read this statement, are you thinking the person wants to look older? Or are you thinking they want to look younger?
Who do you think is more likely to have made this statement: my 19 year old daughter, the one who wakes up on the wrong side of 50 every day, or my husband ?
I know this is a tough one, because doesn’t it seem like we all, in our own unique way, are constantly wondering about our appearance? When you’re older you want to look younger. When you’re 19, for some unknown reason, you want to look older…
So the answer to the question is: My 19 year old daughter…
My 19 year old daughter, and her friends, are obsessed with looking older.
She asked me to say, in order, who looks the oldest and who looks the youngest.
To me, they are all beautiful: skin glowing, everything in the right place, full of life and vitality. Why does it matter how “old” they look. None of them can actually pass for 21+, which is what they are aiming for. To me, they look like the college students that they are.
So my question is: are we all eternally trying to look like we are in our mid 20’s?
Is somewhere in the 20’s the beauty ideal?
How much angst do people feel when they are 29? How many people feel like the minute they cross that plane from twenties to thirties that their life is essentially over?
I admit- 25 was a good look for me. I just started making actual money. I was on a good career path. I did look physically good… All the puzzle pieces did fit into place…
Do I wish I looked that age now?
Ok- I admit that I liked that at 25 my body didn’t creak… I would like some of the flexibility that I had back then (and I freely admit that it’s my fault that I am as stiff and inflexible as I am- news flash- want to be young forever? Stretch. Stretch some more. Exercise to keep limber- that’s the real fountain of youth)
But do I want to look 25 again?
I mean, every product on my bathroom shelf thinks age is an enemy.
Rewind
Regenerist
Absolutely ageless
Firming
Revitalift
Restore
Renew
Radiant
Anti wrinkle
Smoothing
These are the words of wisdom that face me every morning when I open up my medicine chest…
Do I want to turn back time? Or do I just want to keep up with what I have?
Do we all want to be some magical age where we are at peak attractiveness without having to keep a plethora of elixirs in the bathroom?
Do we want to walk down the street and have people think we are attractive?
Do we want people to think we are a certain age, no matter what age we are?
After thinking about all this, I can only surmise that we spend far too much time focusing on age, and aging. Yet I know I will continue to use products that want me to be ageless…
So the real question is: Why do we care so much about aging and our appearance?
When do we make the switch from wanting to look older, to doing everything we can to look younger?