Why Don’t We Have Aging Well Products Instead of Anti-Aging Products?

There is a fountain of youth: It’s your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.

Sophia Loren

Sadly we live in a culture that equates aging with leprosy. There are an infinite number of products on the market that call themselves “anti-aging”, advertised by 15 year old models. We’ve declared war on wrinkles, laugh lines, crow’s feet and grey hair because clearly they’re the ruination of woman-kind. And as women we buy into this beauty myth lock, stock and barrel. Isn’t it time we stopped treating aging like a disease?

According to U.S.-based market research firm Transparency Market Research the anti-aging market is poised for a healthy compounded annual growth rate of 7.8% between 2013 and 2019 and is projected to be worth USD 191.7 billion by 2019. Do you realize how insane this is? Hasn’t anyone figured out that you can have plastic surgery to get rid of all the lines on your face and you can dye your hair, but your body is still aging? No matter what you do, you’re getting older every day and there’s not a cream, lotion, potion or hair dye that’s going to stop the process.

When are we going to stop worrying about the outward appearances of aging and concentrate on living well? Life can be fun and meaningful at any age. My mother at the age of 85 is drop-dead gorgeous without any plastic surgery and with her grey hair! I assure you that she doesn’t blow the budget on anti-aging products. She plays duplicate bridge twice a week and regularly finishes in the top 3. Last week she complained bitterly about being tied for first. An avid reader, she rips through 3 – 5 books a week and is a fixture at her local library. In fact she and my sister-in-law Saundra have their own book club. She cooks wonderful meals every day and due to popular acclaim I’m going to be compiling her recipes into a book called “Unforgettably Shirley”. Shirley is my hero!

Stop looking at 15 year olds advertising wrinkle creams and stop lamenting about aging. Smile at yourself in the mirror and and be happy you made another day.

It’s the rudest word in the dictionary “retire”. And “old” is another one. I don’t want any of those old words. I like “enthusiastic”.

Judi Dench

Make someone smile today.

Geri