The 14yr old me never quite understood why women tried to be anything other than themselves. Rocking the bright orange hair, that went wrong from a packet box dye, at school. Fast forward to the mid-20s and I was still confused about why women used so much make-up and tried all they could to remain the younger versions of themselves. It just seem so backwards to me especially when men were the opposite. Moving into the early 30s fine lines started to appear. I have a sense of pride and joy about them.
Each era of our lives is a privilege to live through and through these eras, our stories are told as we age. Our skin shows our journeys through this life and I think it's beautiful. To age is a gift that not all get to have. It’s our initiation into the elderhood years. Our Queenager years (as Cathy calls it). The years that we get to pass down our knowledge to our children.
It is normal for us to question what our purpose is and how we will continue to fit into the world around us. This is true for everyone, but it seems to be especially so for women. Men can’t wait to grey and achieve “distinguished” status, but as soon as women start to show signs of ageing, they are under intense pressure to try and look younger.
Many people have been taught to fear getting older, but the truth is that the passing of time can bring joy and wisdom. Women should embrace ageing instead of dreading it. Here are a few reasons why.
#1: Experience Brings Wisdom
As we get older, we collect experiences. Some are good, some are bad, and some are just plain weird, but they all help to shape us into the people we’ve become. This can be a good thing in the sense that we can learn from past experiences and apply those lessons to similar situations in the future. It’s also true that we gain a greater perspective on life, relationships, and career as we age. Having that wide-angle view makes it easier to weigh our choices and determine what we want in our lives.
For women, this can be especially true in the professional arena. Many women may feel like their careers have plateaued, or that they have been underestimated, but the experience that they bring to the table is invaluable. Older women have a vast trove of knowledge that they can apply to any given situation, and their ability to read people and assess situations has been honed over time.
#2: Life is More Than Physical Beauty
Society has conditioned women to believe that physical beauty is the most important thing and that it is the quality that will determine their value and success in life. Through celebrities, job positions, TV, Magazines, and even in the dating world, we are conditioned to believe that beauty and looking younger are everything. It's not! However, think about the women who have truly inspired us. Were they just beautiful objects, or did they have depth, intelligence, kindness, or charisma? Are these not the qualities that make someone truly beautiful?
Of course, as much as we might like to believe this, it is not always easy for women to shake these damaging social norms. Physical beauty still holds immense value in the dating world and the workplace, but none of it should be the defining factor in a woman’s life.
#3: Self-Discovery is a Lifelong Process
Continuing to learn, grow, and improve oneself is a beautiful thing. It’s never too late to go back to school or start a new hobby. It can be incredibly fulfilling to explore the world around us and all of the different experiences it has to offer. Rather than mourning the loss of our youth, we can embrace the opportunities that come with getting older.
#4: Older Women are Powerful!
As women age, they become more powerful. This might sound like a strange statement, but hear me out. Women have been systematically oppressed for centuries, but as they age, they can often become freer from these constraints. They may no longer feel the need to be everything to everyone or conform to societal expectations. They can become more vocal, assertive, and confident. They may also be in a more secure position financially, which can provide them with greater agency in different areas of their lives.
#5: Letting Go is Liberating
As we age, we often find that we’ve accumulated a lot of emotional baggage. We may still feel resentful over something that happened to us or have a hard time forgiving a past grudge. However, as we get older, we come to realize that holding onto this baggage doesn’t serve us. Instead, letting go and forgiving can be incredibly freeing. It can lighten our hearts and help us to move on from negative experiences.
There are many reasons why women should embrace ageing. Experience brings wisdom, life is more than physical beauty, self-discovery is a lifelong process, older women are powerful, and letting go is liberating. Rather than viewing aging as a decline, women should start to view it as a time of growth and opportunity. We can start to appreciate the unique beauty, insight, and knowledge that comes with age, and work towards creating a society that prizes women for the incredible humans they are.