We are Wiser
“With wrinkles comes more wisdom and that’s got to be good!”
As we go deeper into considering what this next phase of life is about - for some of us transitioning into our sixties and others who have already arrived and are continually navigating this phase - how can we really revitalize and get EXCITED about today and all the days ahead?
Writing this makes the assumption that we have decades in front of us, all of sound mind and body. I certainly hope so. Although the history of aging and the human experience shows us that some among us will be afflicted with various health challenges - perhaps at the very least, an ailment or two relating to our aging bodies - let’s not go there! Let's make the assumption here that we are relatively healthy right now and will continue to be so. What are we going to do?
Anti-aging is a phrase we hear constantly in our current culture - largely directed at women by the beauty industry as it relates to magic formulas that will combat the superficial, visual impacts of aging: the message has been taken in subliminally for years. It communicates - falsely - the importance of turning back the visual hands of time and by doing so on the outside… It's the terminology I primarily take issue with. By definition anti means opposed to or against. This shows resistance. Instead, let’s use words like embrace, ageless, vibrant, enthusiastic, experienced, wise… I strongly believe that semantics DO matter and the words we take in from the messaging “out there” eventually seep in and change how we see ourselves: not only physically but, more importantly, in how we value ourselves and what we believe we can offer the world.
We’re born when we’re born: it’s neither good nor bad, it is simply a fact. If we’re lucky, we will get to experience every moment of every age for decades to come. Somehow though, whether it’s years of cultural messaging or something that comes over us as certain roles are retired - raising a family, tying up a career, taking care of aging parents - we may succumb to the idea that we don’t have anything valuable to offer and contribute. To that I say au contraire! Having lived many more years of life, the joyous parts and the challenging parts and still being here to tell the tale, one recognizes that - truly - life experience is immensely valuable. We come into ourselves and are able to start weeding out the things that don’t really matter and focus on the stuff that does! With wrinkles comes more wisdom and that has got to be good.
While there have been subtle shifts in the way society views older people, with more mature women featured in marketing campaigns of all types (marketers are getting wiser understanding the incredible buying power that this segment of the population holds - more on that later!) it’s not fast enough for me! It’s wonderful to see the shift and may be empowering for the women coming up. Because of our age we have had years and years of the anti-aging message that has brought us to this place. It’s going to take a minute to undo some of the damage it’s done to how we value ourselves but it’s very possible! Her Next Act is a vibrant community of women built around the idea that we continue to add great value to the world even though we may have more years behind us than ahead and perhaps look a little different! There’s so much more… Let’s show others how this can be done! Are you in?
Please join me in our private fb community to continue the conversation and take steps towards creating your Next Act! I’d love to connect!
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