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Getting
Older
Remember the saying, "The wisdom of the ages"? That's
not used much anymore. What can easily be heard in its
place are advertisements selling youth. Wrinkle creams
and moisturizers are multimillion-dollar industries.
Foundation is sold to cover our well-earned smile lines
that manufacturers so rudely call wrinkles. Blush gives
us that glowing look of youth. Have you ever noticed
that the models who tell us that particular miracle
products turned back time on their skin can't be older
than twenty?
Society seems to forget that with aging comes wisdom
-- wisdom that is only gained from years of experiencing
what life has to offer. I admire the Native Americans
for the way they cherish their elders instead of putting
them in nursing homes and hiding them away.
As a woman, I think my "fine lines" give my face character.
The scars on my body from childhood and adult life are
my medals from battle. They remind me that I came through
life and was victorious. I don't want to be twenty again.
I enjoy every minute of my life now. Youth would mean
that I would not be about to celebrate ten years of
marriage. I would not have two beautiful sons. I would
not have an adult best-friend relationship with my own
mother.
As a vegan, I am repulsed by the treatment of our older
people. I am repulsed by the animal products used in
so many of the cosmetics and potions that are supposed
to turn back our clocks.
I envision a society that is loving and supportive
of it's most important members. I hope for a society
that will cherish the people that don't necessarily
look like Audrey Hepburn or John Wayne, but have life's
knowledge and experience to share -- the funny and the
sad. Our elders share with us a history that we can
only read about in books, but if we would simply listen,
we could get it now in living color.
Beth M.
Washington
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Copyright © 1998-2011 by Jo Stepaniak
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