A. You’re going to look great as you age! B. As someone further down the trail than you, I want to encourage you. It’s a privilege to be alive, whatever works is a plus, whatever doesn’t work is still a blessing and invitation to awaken, and each wrinkle is a kiss from the wind and sun.
A kind heart. Think about it, with someone you know whether they look good or not think of how much more beautiful they become when they have a kind heart. It enhances and adds softness to their eyes and smile. The reason we take care of our mind and body is so that we can remember good times. So that we can hike the trail, hop into that boat. Because it makes us feel better.
I loved this piece Stephanie, the vignettes you shared from other women really took it to the next level. The conversation around beauty and women and marketing is such a complicated one and you did such a good job of providing a full perspective. One thing that sticks out to me is the conversation you had with your daughter about aging. I don't have children yet, but I often think about how little comments we make about ourselves or offhand can really have an impact another person, especially if they are young! But it's also hard to be self confidant and optimistic 100% of the time, and to your point, our needs or desires can change over time too. You've given me so many things to think about, Great essay Stephanie!
It's very enlightening to think about this little human watching everything you say and do and makes me think about it so much more! I'm glad this made you think. That was my point and I'm glad you saw it that way. I don't have answers, just very many possibilities and angles to think about.
Love your hair, Stephanie! It's gorgeous. I've struggled with this too and I still doing at-home retouching of my grays. I fantasize about having white hair like my grandma, who wore it in stiff peaks like meringue, but my stylist told me that my hair would never turn white naturally, I'd have to bleach it! Total buzzkill. I think for me, I struggle with the patchiness of my grey - maybe it's because I was raised by someone with OCD, but I see the patches like a scuff mark on a shoe that needs polish. And of course societal pressure to meet a certain beauty standard certainly plays a hand. I know I'll get there some day though. I love all the perspectives you shared here and agree that getting older is a gift. Every day I'm so grateful to wake up. Thanks so much for shining a light on this important topic.
What made me want to not mess with it anymore and do the retouching was when I saw my mom and sister go through the stark line during lockdown. I have visions of myself someday traveling the world and being in remote places and no one will be able to dye my hair wherever that is so just let it go now and I won't be so surprised when I decide to let the little squiggly grays get to shine. Getting older is such a gift and I did not realize this when I was in my 20s, or my 30s. It's so crazy to think how much more complex of an issue it is knowing that my view on it will be passed down to these little ones living in my house :)
Deenie! I commented on your note and I'll say it again here. Every quote you gave was beautiful and true and I love the way you see beauty and aging and how you plan to pass on these thoughts and practices onto your daughter.
A. You’re going to look great as you age! B. As someone further down the trail than you, I want to encourage you. It’s a privilege to be alive, whatever works is a plus, whatever doesn’t work is still a blessing and invitation to awaken, and each wrinkle is a kiss from the wind and sun.
Laura, I love this a lot and I always want to hear wise words from people further down (or up?!) the trail from me. This is such a cool outlook.
What makes one beautiful?
A kind heart. Think about it, with someone you know whether they look good or not think of how much more beautiful they become when they have a kind heart. It enhances and adds softness to their eyes and smile. The reason we take care of our mind and body is so that we can remember good times. So that we can hike the trail, hop into that boat. Because it makes us feel better.
What a wonderful way to look at beauty and the WHY of taking care of our bodies. So we can enjoy our time with the people we love.
I loved this piece Stephanie, the vignettes you shared from other women really took it to the next level. The conversation around beauty and women and marketing is such a complicated one and you did such a good job of providing a full perspective. One thing that sticks out to me is the conversation you had with your daughter about aging. I don't have children yet, but I often think about how little comments we make about ourselves or offhand can really have an impact another person, especially if they are young! But it's also hard to be self confidant and optimistic 100% of the time, and to your point, our needs or desires can change over time too. You've given me so many things to think about, Great essay Stephanie!
It's very enlightening to think about this little human watching everything you say and do and makes me think about it so much more! I'm glad this made you think. That was my point and I'm glad you saw it that way. I don't have answers, just very many possibilities and angles to think about.
Love.
I'm glad you get to be the one to touch the white hairs every once in awhile :)
Love your hair, Stephanie! It's gorgeous. I've struggled with this too and I still doing at-home retouching of my grays. I fantasize about having white hair like my grandma, who wore it in stiff peaks like meringue, but my stylist told me that my hair would never turn white naturally, I'd have to bleach it! Total buzzkill. I think for me, I struggle with the patchiness of my grey - maybe it's because I was raised by someone with OCD, but I see the patches like a scuff mark on a shoe that needs polish. And of course societal pressure to meet a certain beauty standard certainly plays a hand. I know I'll get there some day though. I love all the perspectives you shared here and agree that getting older is a gift. Every day I'm so grateful to wake up. Thanks so much for shining a light on this important topic.
What made me want to not mess with it anymore and do the retouching was when I saw my mom and sister go through the stark line during lockdown. I have visions of myself someday traveling the world and being in remote places and no one will be able to dye my hair wherever that is so just let it go now and I won't be so surprised when I decide to let the little squiggly grays get to shine. Getting older is such a gift and I did not realize this when I was in my 20s, or my 30s. It's so crazy to think how much more complex of an issue it is knowing that my view on it will be passed down to these little ones living in my house :)
Thanks for sharing!
Deenie! I commented on your note and I'll say it again here. Every quote you gave was beautiful and true and I love the way you see beauty and aging and how you plan to pass on these thoughts and practices onto your daughter.
❤️❤️❤️ I also meant to say I think your hair color is kick ass!
👏👏👏 yes Stephanie 💪 your hair is gorgeous, so glad you’re leaving it as it is!!! ❤️ Loved this piece
Thank you! Tell my daughter that haha!!!