Growing old gracefully -- will you?

[Marseeya]

What does that mean anyway? Does it mean that you won't fight the ageing process with surgery and hair coloring? Or does it mean that you will fight it and you try to maintain your youthful appearance? I always thought it meant the former.

I go round and round with it myself. I'm 39 years old, and my hair is turning white (maybe 25%). There are times when I want to keep up with everyone else my age and continue to color it, but there are other times when I just want to be natural. I take good care of my skin, but I will probably never have any kind of cosmetic surgery.

What about you?

 

[Robinrs]

I think doing ANYTHING gracefully requires true faith and confidence in who you are.

I worked in an independent living center for seniors and saw the difference between those who embraced age as WISDOM and those who embraced society's faux pas that youth is the only thing to cling to. The second can be quite unattractive.

My Dad loved his age. He always said "it BEAT the alternative."

My attitude is to embrace it and remember and enjoy youth as a learning process. I have no anger nor do I feel I missed out on anything ... BOY did I do it ALL... so I can feel good about myself and where I have no choice but to go.

Excuse me, time to work out!!!

 

[eleanor]

Well, I am 71 and I dont feel old. I exercise and enjoy travelling and my friends and family. Trying to look younger than you are ,sometimes makes you look older.I go to WDW every year and that makes me feel young . Keep your mind active and watch your weight and you will always be" looking good"

 

[auntpolly]

I think growing old gracefully has more to do with the way you dress, talk,and behave.

I'm 50, and I have some friends that are not doing so well, in my opinion. They are getting these haircuts that are way too young for them, studying the way girls in their 20s are dressing and work their slang into their conversations.

I dye my hair. But my hairstyle is age appropriate. I like new fashions. But not the same ones that Pink likes. I'd get a face lift -- maybe I don't know. I think I look alright the way I am now, but if something started to bother me, I'd do it.

I look at one of my friends who loves to show our kids and their friends that she is up on their culture. Honestly, I'm sure they think she is pretty funny.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I have always done my own thing, so I expect that to continue into my old age. I will be 45 later this year and you must really hunt for the handful of grey hairs that I have. I have never dyed my hair and may never dye it, but only time will tell. I know I would never have plastic surgery for cosmetic reasons, but would do it for medical reason. My mom had work done on her face and after my DH said don't you ever do that. Got to love him.

 

[Tantor]

I'm 50 also (just turned) I am in better shape than I have been. The only thing I do is color my hair (been doing that for years) but beyond that just take good care of myself. No surgery for me.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Been coloring my hair since 16. My skin is not great, so I will get some cosmetic things done. I am going to the dentist today to look at fixing my teeth up and getting them whitened.

 

[magicmirror]

I'm not sure whether I would have cosmetic surgery or not. Probably not I would probably consider botox, except that I have heard negative side effects from it. I color my hair but if it had stayed blonde as it was when I was little, I wouldn't do that. To each their own, if it makes one feel better about her/himself, I say go for it.

 

[TinkerKim]

No cosmetic surgery for me, but I do hi-lite my hair. I do take good care of
my skin and use a good facial regimen and good make-up........bare escentuals, LOVE the stuff.

 

[Ava83]

I am actually the product of good genes. I am 33 not one gray (which is good as I have real dark hair, which I do not color)and no visable wrinkles..My mom has great skin at 58, very little gray (which she does color) My Dad (at 60) the same. good skin and just started going real gray with his hair. So if history is any indicator I really don't think I will have to get anything done ever (but this isn't a legal contract right?)

I actually just asked DH how old I looked and he said between 25-33ish. (he may have been up to something though.. )

 

[powellrj]

I would love to let my hair go grey which I did do a few years ago, but my kids are still pretty young and people always assumed I was their grandmother,so I went back to coloring my hair! Once they get older and I AM a grandmother, I may let my hair go natural.

 

[Marseeya]

I would love to let my hair go grey which I did do a few years ago, but my kids are still pretty young and people always assumed I was their grandmother,so I went back to coloring my hair! Once they get older and I AM a grandmother, I may let my hair go natural.

You know, I think so many women color their hair that maybe people assume that only "old" women are gray. (if that makes sense)

I started getting a white hair or two in my early 20s. I'm kind of torn on the hair coloring issue. I hate doing something just to keep up with my friends, but at the same time I don't want people thinking I'm SO much older than them just because I let my hair go natural.

 

[goofy4tink]

56 here....I do color my hair but would love to let it 'go' but dd at almost 13 is horrified that her mom would have grey hair, so I still color it. I wish I had the money/gumption to get a mini-face lift, but my good genes are still doing their job to a point. NO one believes I'm close to 57. I have stopped wearing my short shorts....longer shorts now. Skirts to the knee now. Comfy shoes are so much more important than cute shoes (love my Crocs). But, I still like my high cut bathing suit. Did just buy a skirted bottom for my tankini though. I think age is a state of mind. I refuse to 'grow up'...aging is mandatory, growing up is not!!! I think I'm still pretty young-minded, I hang with those young enough to be my kids. I don't think I look silly.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I am 42 (male). My hair is greying at the sides, so that now I kind of have the same look as Paulie on the Sopranos. I have always had the attitide that if my hair turned white or turned loose I would just take it as it comes. I still have no desire to color it. Plastic surgery? Never in a million years... and never would I make DW feel like she should even consider it either.

Related topic: I once heard an interview with Robert Redford. He said he would not have plastic surgery, etc because it just wasn't who he was or what he was about. to Bob.

 

[LuvDuke]

I am growing old "disgracefully" and enjoying every minute of it.

Other than coloring my hair, which I've been doing for the last 35 years, no cosmetic changes/surgery for me.

As far as clothes and make-up, I'm going for the exotic look.

 

[bananiem]

I won't do cosmetic surgery. I have been coloring my hair since I was 27 though. I was almost completely gray by 38 and didn't want to look 20 years older than my hubby. Plus, I had "old" parents growing up and took a lot of teasing from other kids about it. Didn't want my kids to go through that.

 

[CheshireVal]

I'll fight it as much as I can, but would probably draw the line at cosmetic surgery. While the idea is intriguing, my few experiences with anesthesia and surgery up to this point were horrible enough to make me kind of question why anyone would choose to do that to themselves voluntarily.

 

[SC Minnie]

37 here. I don't have a lot of grays but enough to shine through my dark hair so I keep it hightlighted. It make ME feel good. I don't think I would ever have elective cosmetic surgery on my face. Now lipo or something I wouldn't turn down if someone else would pay for it.

I have never understood why women color their hair something that is not a color found naturally on a head.

 

[ptrbryant]

I'm with the majority here...I'm 46 and have been coloring my hair for sometime to cover grey and maintain it's natural color. I would never, never get plastic surgery done...oh my gosh, have you seen Joan Rivers lately? Or Melanie Griffith? It looks scary and they must think they look good!

My beloved Nana died a couple of months away from her 100th birthday. She never looked frumpy, but also always dressed and acted in a way appropriate for an older woman. Everyone who met her would talk about her natural dignity. That's my role model.

Karla B.

 

[Southern4sure]

39 here..I highlight my hair basically for the texture the color gives. My hair is very fine and limp without the roots having any color I cannot do a thing with it. Nothing helps but highlighting. I take one day at a time and try and enjoy that day. I'm scared of needles so there is NO WAY I'm going for elective surgery of anykind.