herlucidlife

At work on break, watching a YouTube video. The young lady kept saying “to prevent aging” as she applied different products to her skin. It got me thinking how aging is seen as negative in our society. Lines and creasing are seen as undesirable. 

Laugh lines, creasing in the forehead, soft skin on the neck are all signs of a life well lived. Yet we seem to be running from the goodness of being able to live a long life. Simply taking care of oneself should really be enough. Nothing can prevent aging but death. 

Aging is not prevented simply prolonged. Looking at my face in the mirror one day, I saw a little tiny crease on my laugh line. I almost didn’t notice it. Pressing my finger against the barely noticeable line, all I could do was smile and think, “wow I’m aging.” I’m thankful to be alive, experiencing all that I can. Doing what I can to take care of myself fully. Some nails aren’t always hit but the effort still counts.

At the age of thirty-one, no gray hair, barely any lines on my smooth skin. Sometimes I still feel like a fifteen year old that simply pays rent. I never really feel like an adult, even when adult things happen. Simply a person doing people things. I never consider how aging may feel or look until I experience the slight change in my body. I never look at an elderly person and think “wow what wrinkles?” 

I think about what kind of life they may have seen and lived to be able to call those wrinkles home. It’s easy to say these things with no lines on my face and neck. Finger feeling strained for my day job of typing on a keyboard. Stopping periodically to let the pain subside. Aging is beautiful and can be done gracefully, accepting all aspects. 

As I’ve aged, I’ve adapted and learned to love the way my body and mind feels. No matter the age we are the oldest we’ve ever been. We can only look backward at our younger self but we can not look forward to our older self. That part is a surprise, an exciting experience that will be presented one day at a time. 

I look forward to enjoying every moment of peace.