Aging Gracefully
I love how becoming conscious of aging skin has introduced so many to the vast benefits of holistic care. And yet, at the same time, I think it’s important to encourage a shift in our perception of aging, and what it means to age gracefully. Since I’m asked about this question of aging so often, I’m sharing a few of my thoughts, below, on how to age gracefully, with the hopes that it furthers our conversation and broadens our definition of what beauty means.
See aging as a gift. Aging is a refinement, a deeper way of knowing yourself, and when we honor the wisdom that comes through experience, it reveals a confidence that we all recognize as elegant and graceful. We can be grateful for that instead of fighting against nature’s cycle.
Embrace you. Instead of chasing youth, or trying to alter the outside, when we simply are authentically ourselves, strength comes from inside. When we buy into ideas of so-called perfection, we can’t feel fulfilled. And honestly, deep down we all know that this lie doesn’t work. When we love ourselves 100%, it radiates from within us and becomes a gift we give to others.
Feel at home. There’s a simple meditation where we can each remember a time of feeling utterly “at home.” You don’t have to overthink it, but sitting quietly with eyes closed for a couple moments you can let yourself soak up that feeling, whether you connect with the feeling of sitting in your grandmother’s kitchen or on the park beach. Bathing your cells in that delicious sense of “home,” savoring the joy, is just like aging gracefully. It’s the feeling of coming home.
Find a mentor. Pick out a mentor—or several! An older women who exudes that unmistakable confidence, and who can lead the way as we follow. It doesn’t need to be someone we know well, or even at all. But connecting with this vision of aging beautifully, with dignity and strength, can become a conscious touchstone.
Go deep. Aging happens on the surface, but when we recognize that a true connection with others happens on the energy level, the signs of aging on the face and body become irrelevant. And when we are comfortable with who we are, we have the capacity to share our gifts more fully with others.
Meet beauty. Looking into the eyes of an elderly person, while holding hands and connecting by heart, is a profoundly beautiful experience. Some of my dearest clients are women who are in their late 80’s, and each time I am with them, I am reminded of their exquisite beauty and grace. To me, they are ageless.
