Mid-Week Musings

Photo courtesy of the New York Daily News

Aging Women

Someone, somewhere floated the idea that aging women will do anything to remain young. It was probably a man working in the fashion or cosmetic trade and his message resounded with such clarity that it became an obsession for those wishing to remain forever young. Not all women, however, accepted the idea, and having read Faust or Dorian Gray, understood that aging was a natural process, and those who treat it as a disease will be disappointed, if not damned. These gals know all things have their season, and they wear their wrinkles and gray hair with pride, considering them to be the battle scars of a well-lived life. Unfortunately, we live in a society that plays on insecurities and magnifies imperfections, and for those not happy with themselves, it is easy to equate being old with being unacceptable. They are unable to see the strength, character and beauty in the faces and bodies of those molded by a lifetime of experience. I came across some thoughts about aging women today. They were written by Kumar Vishwas, an Indian poet and politician and I wanted to share them with you tonight.

"Have we lost touch of the beauty of an aging woman? She is powerful beyond measure; she has an essence about her that screams strength, wisdom and knowledge. She is a role model, she has many stories to tell. She shines where she stands. She is outrageous, she is wild, but most importantly she is free of the demands that society puts on her. She is confident; she believes in herself, she lives her life by her own set of rules. She finally becomes comfortable and settles into her life, she gets this time to experience things that she felt that she never could before because now the rules have changed. Her life is written on the lines on her face, the grey in her hair, and the age on her hands, and the shape of her body changes but it doesn't mean that it cannot be loved. Why do we not look up to these women? We can learn from them and be inspired by them, and understand that age only strengthens beauty. It’s time to praise these women for what they have been through; they have survived life, for they are the brightest shining lights leaving their mark, with grace, charm and elegance. So here’s to the older woman, may she continue to shine". With Joyous Abundance - Vishwas