How can I age gracefully?

George Burns aged with Grace. In more ways than one. Think about it. Look in the mirror. Have a conversation with yourself. Then get on with the rest of your life. I am 73 and looking forward to the next 50. If I don't make it at least I will go gracefully. (I am a long time Thirdage who has just returned to make this comment.)

Hi Garcia2. Something triggered these "mid-life" thoughts.We could talk about it and find the culprit. You love your job and have a great family, but what happened? My advice is to love yourself. Think good thoughts when you look in the mirror. Pick out the things that you do like about your face and body, not the insignificant lines. Be grateful for all that you have. That will definitely change your energy and bring you joy.Change your mindset and perspective about aging to youthing. I believe in doing four easy things every day that will help today and the upcoming years to feel vibrant and youthful, and that's body exercise, nutritional mind body tonic, brain exercise and skin care. Make it easy. Surround yourself with friends that know beauty comes from within and good health.I’ll be 64 this week and I love it!

The first thing we can do towards aging w/grace is to realize that every age has its charms & to try to emulate the charms of a much younger woman is folly & doomed to failure besides! It is not our fault that the media et al. are all trying to convince us that the beauty of an 18or 20 yr old is appropriate & what's more can be re-claimed thru plastic surgery & other invasive procedures! Have you really looked at some of those women? Grotesque w/their collagen lips and drawn faces....The quality that was admired in that grey-haired prof was something else. For one thing, she more than likely had an active intellectual life & there was an attractive MIND showing. Women depend far too much sheerly on the flesh, when inner radiance can come from wit & charm that is not fleshly. That said - be as healthy & as interesting as you can manage. Dress with chic to bring up your good points. Great legs? short(er) skirts - great decolletage , show it off - Highlight your eyes, your face, your hair - you get the idea...But perhaps wear hose to cover up imperfections - Become a fascinating woman, quite able to lively independently if need be. Live an interesting life. Listen to others. Be a good conversationalist. Have a sense of humor.
Of course, take advantage of all the marvellous options we have such as anti-aging lotions & creams, vitamins & supplements, modern dentistry, and modern hair care. So much can be done on a budget. And if you are curious how I do it - check out my frugal blog at www.myfrugallife.com/blog_pamphyila.html - I am not Cher - but I didn't start off as her, either!

I just turned 50, and im obsessing also. Like yesterday i looked great and today my body looks way older then my face!!!! With clothes on i look great , but i hate looking at myself in the nude,it makes me sick!!!i also dont have the funds for surgery or a personal trainer!!!
50 is not fabulous and im tired of the famous rich who can afford all the perks to look great telling us it is!!!!What are us poor normal people suppose to do?? Especially when the whole world is geared to skinny perfect women??How are we to age gracefully with all the pressure!Help!!!!!!!!!!!!

I honestly think it 's just a fact of life to be not particularly happy with our bodies at this age. Let's face facts, we're now our mothers. I'm older than you - 57, I'm not unhappy with my life - maybe not really happy either, but all of a sudden I seem to be searching and I love my job, but I would really like to find what I want to do when I retire in a few years. Used to think a new guy would make the difference cause my husband certainly didn't, but now I look around and the guys are in worse shape than I am and I prefer my own husband.
Our daughter and granddaughter have moved back in with us and I'm back to raising a 4-year-old, I thought we would be in a new house, but instead we're in the one we've been in for 26 years and I've decided it's time to finish all the projects, all the stuff I haven't done.
I resent seeing my mother in my mirror (at 84 she's gorgeous, but not at 57 and in my mirror) and I know I'm lucky because I could have a lot more wrinkles than I do, but I still don't like the ones I have. I don't like the fact that I have . I have joined the gym, given up red meat and most of the pork and I feel healthier, but I too obsess about the wrinkles I have, a stomach, my ugly knees, my legs have spots and celulite and my arms have wings. I don't want my 20-year-old body back, I'd just like to have my 40 or 50-year-old body back. I agree with Molly57 - I am searching for what I want to do in that next part of my life, but I want to look better in that part of my life too. Eeee gads, is this all there is?

Drink lots of water
Be relaxed as much as you can
Try to laugh every day
And of course plastic surgery - well, it worked for me :-)
http://www.cosmetic-md.com

Are you sure, Garcia2, that you are absolutely happy with your job and your family? When I first read your post, I confess to being a bit jealous--I'm long divorced and job searching at the moment. Then I got to thinking...back when I was happily married, had an active social life, the kids were young and uncomplicated...I almost never worried much about my looks. I took care of myself, and generally looked pretty good, but I never worried about it. Now I also obsess, but not just about looks but about whether I've made a foolish choice (left a job that was killing me, moved to a place I adored...now pounding the pavement looking for a job) and the age is there maybe whispering that it's all over after all...yikes! It's not enough, sandyfm, to just say to "be happy" with yourself. I want to find out why I need this search for the real "me", so badly. Does that make sense?

When we start seeing wrinkles, sagging places and greying hair, we come to realize that we are getting older. Our looks start to fade and we usually end up with big hips and fat bellies that make us look even older.

To age gracefully you have to be happy with the way you look and feel about yourself. If you like the grey in your hair - don't change it. Find hair styles that accentuate your color. If you don't like the way your body has changed shape and you don't feel comfortable with it you can start an exercise program that fits your lifestyle. You don't have to workout until you are too tired or stressed over it and your don't have to look like a model or movie star. Just find a happy medium that you are comfortable with. A website I went to recently (www.compukiss.com) has several articles on aging. It gives lots of tips on how to be yourself and age gracefully.

Hi Garcia2, Crickett53 here. I turned 53 in June. I do what you do--look in the mirror & find new lines & wrinkles--then obsess. I'm trying to get to "that place" where I can look in the mirror & see a strong woman who is 53 & look past the lines & wrinkles. Unfortunately, as we age, every single one of us is going to get lines & wrinkles. Some of us will get less than others depending on genes, whether we drink, smoke, how much sun without sunscreen we get, etc. I am not yet at that place where I'm so thrilled at what's happening especially since menopause hit about 2yrs. 9mos. ago. I guess we do the best we can. If you smoke, try to quit cuz that for sure is a skin ager. If you drink, do it moderately. Try to exercise regularily. If you go in the sun & dang--we'd have to be vampires if we never ventured outside just to avoid a possible wrinkle(not to mention depressed cuz of not being outside ever)--just make sure you use a good sunscreen. I color my hair; don't look good in gray; don't want to--that would age me more. Personal preference there I guess. I try to use the best skin products for my skin since I can't afford cosmetic surgery nor do I know if I'd want it.
I think part of it is our confidence level. I've never been a real confident person even though there is a big part of me that knows I'm capable of a lot. We just have to realize that ageing happens to every single one of us unless we die young & look good in our casket?? If the Lord be willing, I guess I'd rather live older than die young despite the ageing process--which is definitely a process, physically & mentally, emotionally. It'd be nice to get others thoughts on how they "deal" with this. I'm on a journey, but not there yet. Crickett53