On aging gracefully

I decided to post the outfit photos first. That way, if you do not want to read my ramblings, you don't have to!



Jacket: Chico's
Top: Chico's
Jeggings: JMS Walmart
Think Sandals
On the right, my $2.48 Stone Mountain Thrifted Purse

 


Picture 1 bracelets 2 made by me (closeup on right) 2 Yurman
Middle: Chico's necklace
Right: the 2 bracelets made by me

 Now for the rambling: Patti @ Not Dead Yet Style wrote a post, What Does It Mean To Embrace Our Age?, which made me ponder my own feelings on this subject.

Model Jane Birkin, muse to Yves St Laurent and inspiration for the famed Hermes Birkin, said "... you suddenly wake up to the fact that your outside doesn't correspond at all with the inside anymore."  I am so there, sister!

I think there is a moment for all of us when we suddenly realize that we are no longer the visible, young, pretty woman that evokes stares from the opposite sex. My moment came when I went into a store and the clerk asked if I qualified for the senior discount. Horrors! Me, a senior? When did that happen? For so many years I had people think that I was younger than I was and now someone thought I was a senior citizen? For a long time, no one has told me that I don't look my age. So, I am guessing that I look my age. Not that there is anything wrong with that!

For me, more than age my body is my nemesis. I was lucky when I was young to have a great figure. Now remember, this was the 60's and 70's before sexual harassment was  frowned upon. Back then, when I would walk through the factory at work, I would have men hanging out the aircraft whistling and hollering at me. At the time, it embarrassed me to no end as I was too visible.  

Now being older and invisible to most everyone, my body is foreign to me. First, developing asthma resulted in my tiny 24.5 inch waist changing into a round, apple shape and then breast cancer taking my breasts, changed my body to one that looked more like a pumpkin with legs rather than the hourglass it once was. I am exercising and watching what I eat but the weight seems to be permanently attached to me. I hope I am aging gracefully. I can't afford plastic surgery, so I yam what I yam (to quote Popeye.)

For a while, I dressed my body as blandly as possible to disappear. then I made the decision to dress the body I have (shout out to Stacey and Clinton.)  I was lucky enough to be working at the time I made this decision, so I had the money to buy new clothes. Now, I am spending more time in thrift stores and I have to say it is like a treasure hunt. When you find something good, you feel like you have found treasure!  I will say that when you are a plus size it is harder to find treasures. If you are a size 8 or 10, you will find lots of great things.

On aging gracefully, a WebMD article, "Experts say the keys to successful aging include accepting changes and finding meaningful activities." I think that blogging is a meaningful activity for me. I am sharing a bit of me with everyone who might read my blog and I hope that I provide some inspiration for others who may be feeling like there is no one else out there who shares their body and age issues.

What meaningful activities do you have that assist in your graceful aging?