Have you noticed?
There is a younger version of middle age. Truthfully, there is a younger version of aging – period.
Millions of people, mid-life and well beyond, often look remarkably younger today than the same aged people twenty years ago.
The contrast between then and now aging faced me squarely in the color pages of an old book titled, A Child is Born. This isn’t a Christmassy tale about Christ’s birth, but a full-on view for pregnant women about pregnancy and delivery.
I pulled the book off my shelf to show my then-pregnant daughter what we read twenty-eight years ago, before apps dominated the information stream. Throughout the pages, the pregnant women were ideally in their early 20’s and looked like 40-year old’s today.
Injections, veneers, weight loss drugs and cosmetic surgeries have dramatically changed the physical human landscape, but these interventions only tell part of the aging story.
Beyond the external, there is an attitude shift about aging.
My grandparents and parents welcomed grandchildren much younger than I did. Yet, their clothes didn’t reflect the fashion trends of the time. They didn’t dress similar to their mid-life adult children and certainly didn’t wear clothes anything resembling their grandchildren’s.
We aren’t as preoccupied today with what would have been considered attire propriety back in the late 1980’s.
Part of the aging-youthful attitude extends into how we move. Emphasis upon fitness has grown exponentially.
In years past, grandparents frequented the local YMCA but now they hang from ropes in Pilates class!
Whether in books, on social media or in everyday life, near-flawless imagery attracts, charms, entices. Fake sells much more effectively than reality.
The thing is, fake is no longer unrealistic. We can have straight, white teeth, a lean body, smoother skin and fuller hair – and depending upon your finances, can sometimes have all of these physical updates and more within days or weeks.
Social media has exacerbated the demand for image enhancement. What previously only belonged to the wealthy and celebrities is readily available for everyone via your dermatologist and local cosmetic surgery team.
A perfect example is a woman I know who recently had cosmetic work and I was stunned. Not because she looked bad. On the contrary, she appeared radiant. My surprise was because she seemed the most unlikely candidate for cosmetic enhancements.
Imagine someone you know who could care less about modern clothes, highlighted hair or wearing makeup. Add to these being an overall subdued person. This is someone who invested thousands for a major tune-up.
The point is, even those you’d least expect are having a little something or a lot of something done.
Caring for ourselves is responsible and worthwhile. Healthy equals helpful to others… a blessing to our children and grandchildren.
Looking younger than previous generations at the same age isn’t a bad thing. But it doesn’t change the truth we all share: we’re still aging.
Answering my own opening question: yes, I’ve noticed. But despite my looking younger than my parents and grandparents at this same age, the earthly life clock continues to tick, tick, tick…
While I’m on board with staying youthful in appearance, health and attitude, no procedure, fruit or vegetable can add depth or more meaning to my life. As I grow older, my more important focus remains on continuous growth into the person God created me to be.
Thank you for sharing your time with me today and have a wonderful week ahead!
Featured image: random internet search – Source
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