Sometimes when I look at photos of myself I want to hide or edit out the aging evidence. But the truth is, this is me. I'm getting wrinkles at my eyes and laugh lines. My hair is spotted with gray between coloring. This is life and I think it's time I stop wanting to hide it.
I don't want to be an example to my girls that aging is something to dread or hide. It should be a privilege to embrace. Sure we all want to look our best, and I'll be the first to admit I love it when someone mistakes me for being a sister of my daughters rather than their mother. But if I dread aging, how does that help anything? It only diminishes the beauty that comes with living a full life.
Susannah Conway has a Pinterest board full of beautiful, aging women called Ageing Awesomely. I love the honor it gives women of time lived, lessons learned, and wisdom gained.
Inspired by her board, I decided not to edit out the wrinkles in my photos, but to wear them proudly and embrace the middle-aged woman that I am.
It's time to hug these perfect imperfections and wear them as medals of my one, beautiful life.
Sure do love you, friend. I am so grateful for your life and have always admired how fully you embrace the story God is writing through you. :)
ReplyDeleteAww, thank you, Janine. :) <3
DeleteYour smile is as a lighthouse now to me thankyou
DeleteWell Cathy, truth be told, you embody youthfulness and exuberance. I don't see wrinkles, I see enthusiasm and warmth. I don't see gray hairs (ever! I think you're making it up), I see someone with a style all her own who is adorable and lovely. I'm glad that you're feeling confident enough to display what you consider imperfections, but they are some of the things that make you such a good friend and why we love you so much.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, wow. Such beautiful words, I don't know what to say but thank you.
DeleteP.S. I'll show you the gray next coffee. ;)
Catherine, you look absolutely beautiful! Those lines look more laughter lines than signs of ageing - you look so young! I'm 38 and actually stopped dyeing my hair a few years ago because I decided it was time to accept me for who I really am. I love my greying hair (I often wish I had more!) and I'm slowly starting to accept the wrinkles that seem to have appeared out of nowhere lol! I'm popping over to Pinterest now to check out Susannah's board. A lovely, lovely post, Catherine. I'm going to share it everywhere!
ReplyDeleteSuzy Turner, Fiction Dreams
Suzy, thank you for your precious words. You have a wiser view on aging than I did at 38! I think you'll love Susannah's board; there are some beautiful gray-headed ladies on it. :)
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