I just wrote this article about Ageing Gracefully, for The Fine Line Magazine.
Hope you enjoy, and look forward to reading your thoughts
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I particularly prefer “living gracefully” rather than “ageinggracefully”. We can´t separate ageing from living. Ageinggracefully is living gracefully, just being in the moment and enjoying it. No matter the age, we are always living, and ageing.
I turned 50, I am not young anymore; but I am feeling better emotionally and physically than ever before. I have a calm lifestyle with my partner, I am feeling good with how I look, and I am doing what I love for a living. In a few words, I am enjoying what I am, and what I have.
A couple of years ago, in my late 40s, tired of spending fortunes and hours at saloons, I stopped colouring my hair to hide my withes. This had an immediate practical effect: I finally got rid of the compulsory every-2-weeks visits to the saloon, and I could spend that money on more rewarding things. But the most important fact was that I was really loving my new silver look. I felt (and feel) happy with my image. And also, with ageing. Growing my white hair was a way to say, “Here I am, at my age, and ageing is great”.
I am very often stopped on the streets by people exclaiming: “I love you hair!”. I think this has to do with “She is in peace with ageing” as much as with “the aesthetic”.
I can feel a kind of inspiration from women, like if they were saying “I would love to embrace my greys, stop caring of hiding my age, and being free”. And from men, I feel something like “Wow! how sexy does a natural, confident woman look, even she is not young”.
Embracing my greys made me aware of the benefits that come with age: Wisdom, experience that leads to empathise with others, and a sort of peaceful pride of the life I have created. A conscious awareness that all that I have made, was my own choice.
Of course, I have to adapt my lifestyle to my 50-year-oldbody: I used to run around 30 miles per week, which I can’t do anymore due to an injury. Looking for something to replace my jogs, I discovered Yoga. I now practice almost every day and I feel stronger than ever. At lates 40s my sight weakened and now I have to remember to bring my glasses everywhere, but I so much love using cool glasses! I also enjoy much more going to bed early with a book than a night out. The thing is: all the adaptations I had to do, brought me enjoyment. Ageing gracefully is being aware that we have to adapt, and enjoying our new lifestyle. Hopefully there will be more adaptations to do at 60’s, 70´s, 80´s and why not at 90´s!
Unlike in our days, in ancient times, the older were considered the wiser, and the most respected individuals in society. Luckily, those who “rule trends” (Brands?) are starting to value older people again, realising that we spend, have fun, play, create, fall in love, discover, change and continue learning. The world is realising that our behaviour has more to do with attitude, rather than with age.
But the truth is inside us. We need to embrace the moment and the possibilities (and permissions) we have now, instead of longing for the “speed” we lost. We have to be creative and find joy in the adaptations we have to do in every stage of our lives.
Living is ageing, so ageing is a gift.