35 Years Old

Today I am 35 years old, way to go mom for bringing me into the world, I appreciate you.

Seriously we should celebrate the moms more on birthdays they do a lot of the work, I just showed up, you know. One day older and feeling super blessed.

I have been reading the March edition of Elle Canada “Why Our Perception of Age Has Changed”, the articles are so interesting, enlightening and empowering. I already had a gratitude for life but this issue of the magazine has me feeling beyond proud for every change that is currently happening to my appearance and almost looking forward to the ones ahead like a badge of honour that waits for me.

Time provides wisdom and oh what a gift.

What is wrong with getting older?

What is so bad about looking older?

I have felt the pressure of our society to have perfectly plumped and smooth skin, I have considered fillers and botox. I have many friends who choose this beauty service for themselves and I think they look great and I appreciate that everyones approach to beauty and self care is different. I feel like fillers and botox are not the right service for me.

I love clothes and makeup so does that make me a hypocrite? It is a question I have also asked myself, am I trying to mask my age with makeup? I do not think so but some may perceive it that way.

Fear is actually an emotion I have felt around not choosing botox and fillers for myself. I have felt afraid that I will not be relevant in this digital space. I have wondered if my value will decrease as I get older?

I believe that in fear there can be an opportunity for courage.

I have started to notice my face is changing a little more this year, lines here and there and just changing, I don’t want this to freak me out, I want to embrace it. One of the reasons I don’t choose fillers or botox for myself is because I want my daughter to see me age with grace, I want her to look at me when I am 50 and see time on my face and know there is nothing to fear in that. Days and years are desired gifts and they should be celebrated.

Over the last six months I have also started to celebrate what really makes me unique. There are characteristics about myself that I used to fluff off as silly and now I am realizing those are unique to me and no matter how small they seem they are my super powers. I am going to look at my unique face the same way. Super! Unique! Different! Beautiful! Powerful!

Uniquely aged may be uncomfortable at first but embracing it will set us free!

I do like to feel like I am part of a community though, that within my generation there will be others who blaze this trail beside me, bearing their aging face with pride in all its changing glory. As I read through the articles about the decline of botox and the uprise of women showing up with their faces untouched by needles, I felt a huge sense of pride in my diligence to stick to my convictions on this topic.

If you have chosen the same path as me, know that you are not alone and we are not alone in embracing our changing faces and all that they have experienced in this gifted life.

I am excited to explore this topic further, how we view age, how we celebrate all different bodies but does the same go for an ageing face? I would love to know your thoughts on this topic?

xoxo

Audrey