You don’t look your age & other myths

This business of “you don’t look your age” … What does it mean exactly? And mind you, I’m guilty of saying it too!

I intend it as a compliment of course, and I know that when people tell me I don’t look fifty they are saying I look younger. But, is that a good thing? Looking younger when you’re older, I mean.

“You wear fifty well”

The compliment I enjoy the best at my age is: “you wear fifty well.” It seems more fitting to how I’m trying to portray mature women: as very capable, sassy, creative, hopeful and joyful human beings.

When I was fifteen, teaching English to adults at a language school, they often thought I was eighteen or twenty.

Of course back then I loved that. I wanted to be “grown up.” But the comments weren’t entirely about my looks … I was mature for my age. Life made me so.

Read Related: 7 Lifetime Beauty Habits to Look Fabulous at 50

On the other hand, now when someone tells me I don’t look fifty, I also know it’s not about looks. It has a lot more to do with my attitude.

There’s something about overcoming an eating disorder, depression, panic attacks, a terrible self-image, extreme shyness, dysfunctional relationships, divorce, unemployment and poverty that either tears you down or builds you up.

I guess I -perhaps inadvertently- choose the latter.

What is fifty supposed to look like?

So going back to my first thought, what is fifty supposed to look like? What is forty supposed to look like? Thirty? Twenty? Well, I think it’s really up to you!

I suppose what makes your fifties rather special (as in, ahem, deciding to devote an entire blog to this particular decade) is that -especially for women- it’s a time of many changes.

The onset of menopause looms or is behind you. That alone -as we know from our monthly mood swings brought on by our periods, or the emotional rollercoaster that is pregnancy and postpartum- is enough to throw anyone off kilter.

Our skin, our hair, our energy levels, even our sexual drive …  all change. I’m not saying they change for the worse, mind you … But still, it’s a change.

And what you’re facing is, hopefully (as in, I hope we still have another 40 to 50 years left) the second half of your life. And, if your health holds up, you are finally headed towards old age, no kidding.

But some things relating to midlife are changing over time

Not all of us are empty nesters at this stage. Some of us have babies, toddlers, tweens or teens at fifty.

Many of us won’t meet our grandkids until we’re well into our seventies, because we became first-time mothers at a later age.

Others chose not to have kids, and if that was their choice, more power to them!

Even though we get the AARP membership card in the mail as soon as we turn 50, some of us cannot even begin to think about retiring. We don’t have our financial act completely together.

There isn’t much we can do about our age, but we can face it with a kick-ass, take-no-prisoners attitude. At 50 I still have goals, dreams and a vision.

I don’t see that changing much at 60, 70 and beyond … I look at my elders, both alive and gone, and they were dreamers until their last breath.

When people tell me I wear my age well, I choose to think they mean I don’t look or come across as bitter and defeated, which is a waste of time and energy.

Bitterness and defeat suck out your life force and erase any trace of inner or outer beauty.

So, no matter what you’ve gone through in life, or where you stand now, dare to wear your age well -no matter whether you’re 25 or 70, with pride, joy and especially gratitude!

That alone will give you the strength to carry on, with a smile …