What does aging gracefully mean to you?

[lifesavacation]

As an almost 50 year old, I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately. My body is changing and I’m starting to feel….different (not sure what the word is) about my outward appearance.

Curious what aging gracefully means. Are you accepting the outward changes in your appearance? Are you spending extra time getting ready every day and more aware of how things look on your body?

I’ve never been self conscious of my appearance, but I’m noticing a shift in my thinking lately.

 

[Kimkimba]

I’m 57.

Nothing graceful about it. I’ve always been a hair and makeup person and that hasn’t changed. I do my best to combat the wrinkles and haven’t had anything done.

Body wise I decided I needed to be able to move as I got older. I took up running and lost 70 pounds. Flexibility, balance, and maintaining muscle is so important as we age. I dread being not able to get around fast, so I’m trying to keep myself in shape. We are also vegetarians. We have sex several times a week which I think is so important to keep the passion in our marriage.

I feel better now than in my 40s. I still feel attractive. I also have kids keeping me young - my youngest is 15.

The best is yet to come!

 

[easyas123]

I'm trying to figure it out as well.
I turned 50 a few months ago. I don't spend any more time than normal "getting ready" but I do still color my hair. Why? I like it better than the white hair I'd have if I didn't, not because society/other people think it's what I should do - it's my one nod to vanity!
For me it's about trying to thread the needle between being comfortable yet put together, presentable yet not like a women who is trying to hard to look 25 years younger.
I do think Gracefully is a good way to slide into the next phase of life, and a lot of that is mental. I'm still working on it. I don't want to be a grandmother (I have one married son & one engaged son and I'm well aware that it's not my choice) because that is like the last nail on the coffin of being older in my mind...and I'm much more aware of the passing of time and how fast the last 30 years went. It makes me wonder if I will be paying attention during the next 30 years and if I will look back at 80 and think the same thing about the next 30 years.

 

[easyas123]

Body wise I decided I needed to be able to move as I got older. I took up running and lost 70 pounds. Flexibility, balance, and maintaining muscle is so important as we age. I dread being not able to get around fast, so I’m trying to keep myself in shape.

I think this is also a good idea. Gotta keep moving, keep active.

 

[BrianL]

I think it means when you just accept that you are older and don't go to great lengths to hide that. That doesn't mean not using makeup or skin care products to reduce the signs of aging, but more like getting plastic surgery and such. I think it more has to do with how you act, not what you look like.

 

[RedAngie]

No botox or facelifts.

 

[DLgal]

To me, it means allowing nature to take its course and not intervening surgically or with things like fillers or botox. We are supposed to have wrinkles and saggy skin as we age. It's fine. It makes people look like they should as they get older. There is nothing more creepy than an old person who looks artificially young.

I feel like minor things such as hair color, makeup, etc is fine to keep playing with. I don't think coloring your greys is aging "ungracefully." Those are personal look decisions and I say do what makes you happy there.

I DO think that it also means you should dress your age.

 

[disney212]

Mid 50s here. Don't dye my hair but almost no gray. My dad is turning 78 and no gray, must be genetic. I am a hair and makeup girl but always have been. I'm happy with my face and am lucky to have good hair that doesn't require much. I have always tried to present myself in a nice manner. Nothing has really changed except my high heels are now platform as I am unable to do spike heels after foot surgery. I think its being happy with yourself. i have a couple chronic diseases and I think having so many surgeries and being in a coma has taught me to not dwell on what I can't change but to focus on living my best life and focus on what I can do to make it the best it can be. i eat well and exercise, keep up on my doctor appointments, travel, have a awesome husband, great job and am planning for our upcoming retirement in a few years. Life is good.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I think it means keeping a positive attitude instead of whining about every little ache and pain. Tylenol is our friend.

Aging gracefully means putting on your big girl panties and not telling the world if/when you need adult diapers.

 

[anniemae]

I think it's more about a state of mind and finally being comfortable in your own skin. That can mean different things to different people. Some will dye their hair, others won't, some will wear make up some won't. I think it's about accepting you are getting older and living life anyway. Being grateful you are alive instead of being bitter you are older.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I started a shift in my thinking when I decided to stop coloring my hair and let the natural silver and white grow in. Also, after I had a hysterectomy in 2016, I noticed that I gradually stopped looking young for my age and more like where I am now in life, 55. I determined this year to stop 'letting myself go.' To me, this means losing the weight I put on slowly as my metabolism changed after the surgery, eating better foods, and moving more. I also began accepting and feeling better about who I am as a person. Aging gracefully is all about both acceptance and rebellion.

 

[jdb in AZ]

I thought of this thread as I fed our old hound. He's movin real slow now, but still manages to wag his tail.

 

[Micca]

What does aging gracefully mean to you?​

It means I'm getting 50% of this exactly right!

 

[slo]

For me….growing old gracefully is accepting your age, accepting your limitations, being wise from what you learned in the past and being realistic with what’s in your future and to not whine and pout because your whatever age you are.

When you approach your age with a smile, regardless of your outward appearance, you are growing old gracefully.

I am 51 and I’m loving life - I have no desire to go back in time to a younger me

 

[TippyThomas]

Having a Botox and elective plastic surgery free life.

 

[Kitty 34]

With my lung disease and originally a not so long "life to live" prognosis (2013)......I'm just happy I'm still aging.


It hasn't been real graceful tho.

 

[nw6675]

Y'all have posted some really good answers and reminders. OP, thanks for posting. Points to ponder

 

[loves to dive]

I've sort of gone through phases. When I turned 50 I was in the best shape of my life. I worked out, turns out might have been too much but I could rock a bikini. I was jogging 3 miles a day, doing yoga, lifting light weights. First I blew out one knee and then blew out the other so at about 53, no more jogging. I have osteopenia and the Doc. said certain yoga moves were going to make it worse and possibly do some damage, it was o.k. to do stretches but nothing that twisted or bent my spine. I was still working out but different so I did put on a little weight. Not a lot, now I carry probably 15 pounds more than I like but I'm well under the BMI for a woman my age and height. When the trying times hit, I stopped dying my hair. I was in my early to mid 60s by this time and had not seen my natural hair color (other than roots every now and again) since I was 20 years old. I knew I was about 75% gray, turns out it probably 80 or 85%. I have the deep wrinkles around my mouth that some people get and my throat definitely shows my age. At 66 (just turned that last week) I probably look around 60. I can't remember the last time I wore make up, I had actually stopped wearing most of it even before I quit working, I just feel more comfortable without it. I don't stress over any of it any more, so I had to go from a size 6 which I was most of my life to a size 8, the world didn't end. I actually love my gray hair and a couple of my neighbors have let theirs go gray because I did it. I do use lotion in the morning and at night on my face and arms and legs but nothing expensive, just good old fashioned vaseline intensive care. I try to work out at least twice a week and shoot for 4 times but sometimes the knees, or hips, or spine just tell me no.

 

[luvnwdwgal]

I’ll be 61 in July. I’m not someone who feels the need to color my hair. I’m still basically a brunette but there’s some grey in it too but I don’t care.

 

[Lilsia]

I'll be 50 this year and every year I care less and less about what others think. I am clean and groomed, don't wear dirty clothes, and I don't stink. If someone is offended by how I look without makeup and perfect hair, that is on them. It is sad to think about how much time some waste on vanity just to impress a bunch of strangers. That is what I think.