On Looking Younger

I recently saw a television ad where two women were discussing the benefits of being older. One of the women says she doesn’t like it when someone says she looks younger than she is. The message seems to be that wrinkles are badges of honor that should be worn proudly.

When someone says I look younger than I am, I feel good. Looking younger is not a bad thing. I know how old I am and I have the life experience to prove it. I don’t need my outward appearance to indicate my age. I try to keep my body healthy and in good shape. It doesn’t require surgery or lots of expensive products or procedures to keep skin looking good. Wearing sunscreen, exercising, eating right, taking vitamins and staying clean and moisturized all contribute to healthier, younger looking skin. Isn’t taking good care of ourselves something to celebrate?

We can’t completely control how we age because genetics play a role. But we can help nature along by taking care of our bodies. We can make ourselves look older by abusing our bodies, but that doesn’t make us wiser.

None of us is perfect. I’ll admit I’ve been known to tan or even burn my skin sometimes. These are not my proudest moments. One afternoon of overexposure to the sun can undo a lot of the good things I’ve been trying to do for my skin. All I can do is make sure I take good care of my skin from then on.

I think people can gain the wisdom that comes with age and appear more youthful at the same time. Taking care of one’s body and gaining wisdom are accomplishments people should feel good about. Premature aging is not.