Wellness

[Lucky Charm]

On 3/30/2014 Love Roses said:

Thanks for your post. However, I am not depressed. I feel pressured by these times and how things have become. I've lived to middle age and I feel I've earned my stripes. Yet, it's push, push to chase after the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow with all the things going on to prod you to do this to yourself and that. None of it will stop what is naturally supposed to happen. For me it is a reminder of the Brevity of Life and how I daily give thanks for being alive, because really, it's all about living and not about fearing.

It's a shame you feel this pressure.

The best you can do is just treat your body like a temple. It's sounds meaningless, but if you really try it, it works.

It's what makes you wake up smiling, makes you hold your head high, yet walk softly.

You feel good inside and it shows on the outside. Not to say you don't have bad days or bad feelings for sure. But overall it's a confidence that's obvious to others.

[Puzzle Piece]

On 3/30/2014 Lucky Charm said:

On 3/30/2014 Love Roses said:

Thanks for your post. However, I am not depressed. I feel pressured by these times and how things have become. I've lived to middle age and I feel I've earned my stripes. Yet, it's push, push to chase after the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow with all the things going on to prod you to do this to yourself and that. None of it will stop what is naturally supposed to happen. For me it is a reminder of the Brevity of Life and how I daily give thanks for being alive, because really, it's all about living and not about fearing.

It's a shame you feel this pressure.

The best you can do is just treat your body like a temple. It's sounds meaningless, but if you really try it, it works.

It's what makes you wake up smiling, makes you hold your head high, yet walk softly.

You feel good inside and it shows on the outside. Not to say you don't have bad days or bad feelings for sure. But overall it's a confidence that's obvious to others.

Thanks LuckyCharm. Good points.

[gazelle77]

For me it is not to appear attractive to the world... I want to look in the mirror and feel good about ME. Just ME. I feel sorry for women who fear the aging face and body. After 60, I just want a healthy strong body and a positive happy outlook about my life. I do not expect to be society's picture of a 30 year old at 60. I just want to feel GOOD.

[Puzzle Piece]

On 3/31/2014 gazelle77 said:

For me it is not to appear attractive to the world... I want to look in the mirror and feel good about ME. Just ME. I feel sorry for women who fear the aging face and body. After 60, I just want a healthy strong body and a positive happy outlook about my life. I do not expect to be society's picture of a 30 year old at 60. I just want to feel GOOD.

You Go Girl! GAZELLe77 this is the one time I've read your posts where you weren't insulting or complaining about something. Keep it up, it's good for you!

[depglass]

It sounds like you are having a bay day, a bad week, or a bad year. I detect a hint of depression. Find something or someone that gives you joy. You need some in your life. Beyond that you might allow yourself to feel some pride in your efforts. Good luck!

[Puzzle Piece]

On 3/31/2014 depglass said:

It sounds like you are having a bay day, a bad week, or a bad year. I detect a hint of depression. Find something or someone that gives you joy. You need some in your life. Beyond that you might allow yourself to feel some pride in your efforts. Good luck!

Wrong. Not depressed, just tired. Tired of the nonsense going on. I have nice things going on in my life - an anniversary of 32 years coming up with a great guy! I do have work that gives me a certain contentment. Thanks for your post.

[Harpa]

I spotted this on Sunday, but really didn't know how to respond. In thinking about it, your bottom-line question seems to be for what/why do we pay attention to beauty/skin things.

I do it as a matter of health. I want healthy skin, body & mind. That's why I try to make a daily walk a part of what I do. Because that affects all of those. And not just a walk, but in cleansing my skin, body brushing, washing my hair, even manicures (which beauty routine I don't particularly like.) Nobody else is going to care for me like I do. You make an effort (in anything, really) and it definitely has an affect on you, as well as on others. If you can't take care of your self, then how in the world are you ever going to care for someone else?

It does seem to go deeper than just an outward appearance.

[Jersey Born]

Love Roses, I, like Harpa, wanted to mull over your statement before responding.

I think you may be bored, and in need of a new cause or interest to embrace fully. You were being stalked by an unhealthy individual, and now you might like to locate something else to revitalize you. When we are thinking about our appearance and attractiveness, in my humble opinion, it is because we are trying to validate ourselves somehow. At this point in my life, I take as much care of myself as possible (inside and out), but I don't have time to fret about it, much less think about it. Life has pointed me in a very narrow direction, and I must devote my time in a very focused manner. I have no time to ponder what I look like beyond basic makeup, cleanliness, and hair appointments. If others don't like how I look, I really don't care any longer. I guess I am getting older!

Perhaps by adding some new endeavor(s) (i.e. studying classical piano or violin, learning how to grow vegetables and fruits, taking up yoga, working for a particularly important charity that resonates with you, or by attempting anything else you have secretly longed to try) will take your thoughts elsewhere in a spectacularly meaningful, defining, and very distracting kind of way. There are so many possibilities.

ETA: I think our value as human beings lies in what we do for others and how we develop ourselves, and not in our outward appearance.

[serenity4ever]

You might enjoy Paulina...the famous model from the 80's and 90's take on aging...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paulina-porizkova/aging_b_771127.html

I like her statement that ""Nothing ages as poorly as a beautiful woman's ego.""

[LilacTree]

On 4/1/2014 serenity4ever said:

You might enjoy Paulina...the famous model from the 80's and 90's take on aging...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paulina-porizkova/aging_b_771127.html

I like her statement that "Nothing ages as poorly as a beautiful woman's ego."

That is so true. If one has never been beautiful, or even attractive, looks have never mattered and therefore aging doesn't either. I'm not saying the average person does not want to look his/her best, or stay healthy and vital, and have a loving family. But the "I must keep my beauty" thing, so rampant in our society is probably less of a goal.

Now that I am old and not well, realizing my days are numbered is on my mind more than whether or not I'm having a bad hair day. Thinking about selling all of my gold jewelry a few years ago to fix my teeth annoys me, since my teeth are rotting anyway. All of those pretty workclothes that I'll never use again taking up room in my closet, and on and on. Most of the time when I see something I really like on the Q, my thought is "what would I need that for?"

So I "get" what the OP is saying.