There has been a lot of talk in recent years about the perception of age, from self perception, to media perception and to society’s perception. Are we only as old as we feel or are we only as old as we look?
In 2005 a lot of A list celebrities turned 40 – Sarah Jessica Parker, Linda Evangelista, Elizabeth Hurley, Brooke Shields, and Diane Lane, just to name a few. Suddenly, women over 40 were “cool”, “hip” and “trend setting”. But do most women over 40 look like these A list stars? No we don’t!
The New York Times article linked on this blog focuses on the “beautiful people” and how they are changing the way society looks at the 40+ generation. Everything from the popularity of shows like Desperate Housewives to the fashion industries focus on women over 40. But is this the reality of the average middle aged women? No.
As D. Parvaz wrote in the
What all this really means is that women are living longer, changing their priorities a little and doing this a little differently than they did 30 years ago. According to an article by Lloyd Garver of CBS news, the average age for anyone moving into a nursing home today is 81. In the 1950's it was 65. Instead of getting married at 20 and raising a family, women are furthering their education and starting a career. They are often waiting till their 30s to take the marriage plunge and often in their 40s before they start having or finish having children. So is 40 the new 20? You Betcha!!!!
You don’t have to look like an A list celebrity to feel and be perceived as younger than you are. Every time I sit and chat with my teenage son and his friends I feel their energy and enthusiasm and I feel twenty years younger. (I am not sure that I look it, but I definitely feel it) However, after a late night at the office trying to meet a morning deadline, I feel twenty years older (and I definitely look it) But that’s another story.
How old do you feel? What’s your secret to feeling and looking younger?
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