Is 50 Really the New 30 or are we Kidding Ourselves?

This whole aging thing has me confused. I was at a family party last weekend, and we were looking at some “old” pictures. “Old,” meaning the photos were taken with a camera and not an iPhone! Can you imagine? The party was for my brother and his wife, who were celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary. The pictures chronicled their dating years through today. They were great fun to look at (especially the ones of my brother with hair)!

It got us talking about age and how we are aging much differently than our parents. When we look at pictures of our parents when they were 50 years old and compare them to images of ourselves in our fifties, our parents look much older than us. Why is that? I’m guessing it is because we live a better, healthier lifestyle. I know I never smoked cigarettes, yet Joyce and Dan (my parents) imbibed in a pack+ a day habit. That could not have been good for their overall health! We, on the other hand, have access to miracle face creams and fountain of youth make-up that was not available when our parents were younger. Undoubtedly, that has helped us keep our youthful glows! But, aside from the physical characteristics, I believe we think younger than our parents did at this age. Do you?

It seems to me that age is no longer a number. I know that I am in a “fiftyish” body yet, mentally, I think and feel like I am still 25-30ish. Can you relate? I am currently reinventing myself and learning a new trade as I did in my thirties! This makes me think I am younger than I really am. I finally understand the saying, “you are as young as you feel.” I do have vivid memories of my Mom when she was in her fifties, and here are some examples of where we differ:

• I don’t own, nor do I ever want to own, a house-coat or a rain bonnet.
• I have no intention of going weekly to a beauty salon to get my hair washed, set and teased.
• I refuse to wear crew-neck sweatshirts with appliques on them.
• My idea of traveling is not going to Southold, NY for a weekend.

Times have changed. Fashions for older women are more trendy now. I remember my daughter wearing the same sweater from American Eagle as her Aunt (who was 30+ years older than her) to a family party one year. Is there something wrong with that? Should we be banished to shopping at “age-appropriate” stores once we hit our fifties? If you can pull off the fashion trend, then why not wear it? I own leggings, leopard print shoes, and jackets. Do I dress too young? My mother’s generation may think so, but I don’t. I hope to be accessorizing smart even into my eighties – no frumpy clothes for me.

I decided to stop coloring my hair once it reappeared after my chemo treatments ended. It has grown back gray, and I’m letting it stay that way. I feel as if I have earned it! I also think that if I want to dye it bleach-blond, I should be able to do that too. The older I get, the freer I feel to express my individuality. I am sure a lot of that comes from me having battled cancer recently and knowing that life is fleeting. Still, I have friends that dress more fashion-conscious today than they did in their twenties. I’m guessing there is no right or wrong here.

My parents traveling adventures were minimal. They went to Florida for a month each year and one-time they ventured to England/Ireland. My husband and I have taken cruises, gone on ski trips, been to the Bahamas, Jamaica, and Florida multiple times. Experiences are all the rage these days as my nieces and nephews demonstrate while flitting all over the world.

For my older readers, do you have specific guidelines that you follow? Have you ever looked in the mirror and said, “I can’t wear this; it’s too young for me?” Do my Millenial readers sense there is a point in time where they will refuse to wear ripped jeans because they’ve grown too old? I once tried on a pair of jeans that were ripped and I didn’t like them. Truth be told, I think ripped jeans are foolish. Who pays for something with holes in it? Gosh, darn, I think I just showed my age! Sssh, I’m still going with 50 is the new 30. How about you?