I do my best to avoid “pushing against” anything. I know it’s a giant waste of time. I also know that regardless of how much we say we aren’t, by the mere pushing we ARE giving it our attention. Near as I can tell, you get what you focus on. Every time. No exceptions. So…I do my best to avoid pushing against.
That being said, there are some things that just trip my trigger so fast that I’m compelled to expel the fury of words that want to come screaming out of my mouth. Or, in this case, my fingertips. Am I pushing against? Maybe. Or maybe I’m simply aware that the reason it trips my trigger is because I have something of value to offer…and maybe even help a few people get past some old thinking. Either way, I’m going to pose this little dialog and let you decide.
I came across an article today that was beautifully written by a woman who owns a website called “Feisty Side Of Fifty”. She is a marvelous, humorous, brilliant woman who does a terrific job helping women move past their fears (of aging) and into the glorious adventure of this new start in life. I adore this woman for her spirited deliveries and her incredible humor. In any case, she wrote this article about a little ‘aha’ moment she had while perusing a Talbot’s magazine. She noticed that the models in the pictures were actually smiling. She also made note of the fact that while very (very!) young models may look perfectly fine with those sour, pouty faces on the cover of high fashion magazines, it just wouldn’t suit for women over a ‘certain age’ to do the same. In short, she was basically saying “It’s okay to smile!”
Right below the article were several comments. One woman, who appears to be a fashion ‘consultant’ made a statement that tripped that trigger I was just telling you about. She said, “I stressed in both my books that in order to remain modern, and youthful-it is essential to peruse magazines-Last minute research (and prayer) before a hair appointment would be unnecessary if style was more casually integrated in your life.
I think a certain comfort level with oneself is a wonderful thing to attain as we age-but we should still challenge ourselves to remain current and up-to-date.
My books are all about bridging what you see on “these young women” (and men) and yourself-appropriately and agelessly. I hope more and more women begin to realize that curiosity and aesthetic exposure is the key to being youthful-”
Now, I don’t know about you, but it seems to me there’s a HUGE glitch in all this. While this woman may be a “fashion consultant”, I wonder who she’s consulting and why? Or rather, why would a woman who knows who she is and loves that “who”, why would she need a CONSULTANT to tell her how to dress? I’m guessing she wouldn’t. Which leads me to my point (yes, I do have one):
From what I can tell, most women – somewhere around 50ish – come to this beautiful place of acceptance. They find comfort in living in their skins. They enjoy who they are and don’t give a RIP about what anybody says or thinks about them. They have, in sweetest terms, COME INTO THEIR OWN. A marvelous, splendid, delicious place to live. Finally, after years and years of trying to be what everyone else wants us to be, we get to this place…and we take our stand. It is, in my on experience, one of THE BEST places to live.
Arriving in this glorious place where we don’t give a flyin’ hoot about what anybody has to say about who we are is about as fun and liberating as anything I can think of. We are, at long last, Brazen Bodacious Beings. If we feel like wearing flowy, flowery MooMoos or big baggy shorts or cowboy hats and lizard boots or funky looking cat-glasses or slinky tulle with sequins….we do it with flair and confidence. Because, my dears, CONFIDENCE is the essence of beautiful. It is in the knowing of our selves that we emote that beauty that we tried so hard to copy before we got here. It is in the knowing of our truest selves that we show the world just how awesome it is to be a woman…not a girl, not a lass, not a 90 pound skeletal excuse for a woman.
It is in our own gorgeous skin that beauty abounds.