This video from FoxNews.com called Futuristic Facelift (please watch!!) discusses a new way to eliminate wrinkles and signs of aging by using your own stem cells so that there are no nasty reactions that some people get from artificial fillers such as Botox.
It appears that over the past decade, society has become very anxious about signs of aging. Rather than embracing age, denying its signs and fighting for artificial youth is almost becoming a norm in American society. I postulate that hiding age could cause a vicious cycle of anxiety concerning older age and cause more harm than good for one's psychological well-being. The desire to look younger is natural, but when does it go too far? When is it neurotic?
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Whatever happened to the mindset of earning your wrinkles and gray hairs?
I think that we have moved away from the biblical perspective that age is a wonderful part of life. Proverbs 16:31 says, "gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life." Proverbs 20:29 says, "the glory of young men is their strength, but the splendor of old men is their gray hair." In either of these cases, gray hair (and perhaps a little saggy skin and some wrinkles) is described as a crown and splendor. In neither case is age hinted at as beings something to fear or avoid. Our superficial society has elevated the status of youth and relegated seniority to bingo halls and assisted living homes. I advocate a return to the biblical perspective which sees the wisdom and glory in the aging process. If only we took more time to sit beside our elders and listen to what they have learned over the course of their lives. If only we valued what was inside of a person rather than their appearance. Perhaps we would be less apt to disguise ourselves as the Joker with excessive botox and hair coloring.
ReplyDeleteIf you are old then you are old, period! You might try to cover up but the truth remains that you are old which is a torment to your emotions every time you remember your age. Quit deceiving yourself by masking ageing and accept reality to help you experience emotional stability.
ReplyDeleteI think that the worry of aging and the signs of it, are indicators of a worry deeper than just the effects of aging. One of the most beautiful qualities I have seen in older people, is how gracefully they have accepted it.
ReplyDeleteI think aging gracefully is something to be proud of! Women that constantly complain about getting old or the wrinkles on their faces annoy me because I see every mark of age as a new story to tell. Honestly women that start altering the faces and bodies in an effort to looking younger eventually look older than they really are and have to keep up the procedures in order to not look like their skin is about to flop off their faces at any moment. What a waste of time, money and worse God given natural beauty. If God wanted us to be young forever He would have designed us that way.
ReplyDeleteGet over it, embrace it and live your life. Age is nothing but a number and you're only as old as you feel!
Anna, I like your phrase, "one of the most beautiful qualities...is how gracefully they have accepted it." And your right, it probably is an indicator of a deeper worry or problem. Robyn, its so true that women make themselves look older because they look so fake! lol. I was so disappointed when I saw Meg Ryan in a movie, as naturally beautiful as she is, and she had Botox! She suddenly looked like an older women. Blah! Sean, I agree with this idea that we have relegated old age to bingo halls and assisted living halls. We have made it look undesirable. Furthermore, other cultures elevate those in older age because of their experience and wisdom and convey the idea that old age is something earned.
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