It’s official. I’m an older woman. You know it’s one of those life stages that kind of sneaks up on you. But I guess I have a few things that qualify me as an older woman. I have lots of smile lines on my face and around my eyes. I visit my hairdresser regularly for a touch of ‘summer beige’ to cover the grey. I have young adult children who don’t live at home anymore. I’ve been married for 35 years. I’m a Grammie to a delightful little girl named Alice.
But the big thing that makes it really official – is that I turn 60 this week! When I look in the mirror and see those wrinkles I’m not really excited to see them. But I agree with Mark Twain that my wrinkles “merely indicate where the smiles have been.” If I have wrinkles because I have smiled too much in the last 60 years, then they are there for the best reasons ever.
I am reminded of something else. I read about a little girl who was supposed to draw herself at 75. She studied her Grandma closely. Then began her drawing. She drew lots of wrinkles on her face and rough bumpy hands. She drew a yellow dress and a bright pink necklace. She was almost finished and then she quickly drew sparkles in her eyes. The Grandma didn’t feel too good about the picture until her Granddaughter said, “the wrinkles are from the smiles God brought into your life and the worries God carried you through. The rough bumpy hands were from cleaning up messes, washing off boo-boos, and praying.” And then the little girl said to her Grandma, “I hope I have happy face crinkles around my eyes, and sparkles in my eyes, just like you when I’m really old.”
I loved that description of wrinkles and I can say that my happy face crinkles from smiling too much are coming along quite nicely! How about you? Do you have any happy face crinkles?
There are lots of Facebook advertisements for amazing products that will help us look young. “ There’s such pressure in our culture for women to stay perpetually young. And that’s never going to change if we don’t embrace, enjoy, and take pride in each and every age that we pass through.” Terri Windling, I want to be a woman who embraces, enjoys, and takes pride in each stage of life. A woman that ages gracefully, with just a little touch of ‘summer beige’ to cover the gray. How about you? Are you with me on this?
For those younger women reading this, I am happy to tell you that 60 doesn’t feel old! I am embracing this new stage of life with energy and vitality. I’m getting new walking shoes as one of my birthday presents! That might not sound like a fun gift to you but I am excited. Good shoes make walking easier.
The little steps to health that I talk about here on this blog are the actual things I do every day. They are what help me feel healthy and energetic at 60.
I eat from a smaller plate, drink water as my main beverage, and move my body in a fun way every day.
Keeping that ‘stinkin thinkin’ at bay with healthy self-talk is also really important. It’s important because my attitude about food and my body affect my actions.
The other step to health involves my spirituality.
I believe God created an empty spot in our lives that can only be filled by a relationship with Him. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I have hope and peace for each new day. I know He is on His throne and He is in control. I can trust Him because He has proved Himself to be trustworthy through my 60 years! Jesus wants to be part of your life too, my friend.
So I am embracing being 60 years old and I will even take that senior discount when it is offered to me!
Today’s little step to health: Embrace your age! Live life with energy and vitality! Life is a precious gift!
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Little Steps to Health
Featured Image by silviarita from Pixabay
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