People seek an answer to common signs of aging.
Society today is overexposed to the young and beautiful, and the rich and famous. We see men and women old enough to be our grandparents but look younger than we do, with beautifully sculpted bodies and wrinkle-free faces. It’s on television, in movies, on the covers of magazines and even in the novels we read. With all of this exposure, it is no wonder that so many men and women suffer from image and identity problems.
No longer are we concerned with protecting and preserving our bodies and aging gracefully, but have have become preoccupied with preventing the aging process altogether. This is a very unhealthy mentality that society has adopted, as we are attempting to defy Father Time and Mother Nature both.
Many people fail to realize that our bodies are designed to age, to show the years of experience we have accrued. There are reasons as to why we conjure images of plump, smiling women with white hair and their faces plagued with wrinkles of wisdom when we think of the stereotypical grandmother. This is what is meant to be.
Aging gracefully is something that anyone can do. All it takes is some preventative measure, self confidence and healthy self image. A man or woman who shows their comfort and confidence in their appearance, age and wisdom has aged gracefully. However, for those who still find themselves concerned with the appearance of wrinkles and age spots, there are many steps that you can take in order to ensure these inevitable factors appear with grace, not marring your appearance but enhancing it.
Drug and alcohol abuse is among the leading factors behind the cause of premature aging. It also makes the skin age harsher than it would naturally, with wrinkles appearing faster and deeper by inhibiting collagen production. Also among these leading factors is tanning, both natural and in booths. Ultraviolet rays are extremely harmful to the skin. By wearing sunblock of S.P.F. 15 or higher every time you go outdoors, no matter what the weather or season, you can protect your skin from U.V. rays, as well as offer a barrier between your precious epidermis and any chemicals and pollutants in the air.
If society were more preoccupied with aging gracefully than preventing the process, we would find ourselves generally happier with ourselves. When all is considered, it is perfectly acceptable for a forty-year-old mother of three to have crow’s feet or laugh lines. When we look at women such as Diane Lane, Diane Keaton, Glenn Close, or Madonna, we see beautiful, smart, and confident women. They are the image of what we wish to be at their respective ages, but all have aged with confidence and grace – an example we would do well to follow.
