AGEING: REALITY WITHOUT A FILTER.

       What is the ugly truth of getting old?

When the mirror lies: The Emotional Weight Of Getting Older.

One truth of getting older is becoming clearer and clearer to me. I wish this wasn’t the case, but I can’t deny it.

The way society treats ageing, you can not win, no matter which path you take.

Society despises people who “age poorly” but also despise people who take measures to look youthful, whether it’s skincare or plastic surgery. If you do that you’re fake, vain, plastic, etc.

It’s not like we have a third option. We will all age, even with the best genetics, diets, skincare, plastic surgeons, etc. It’s inescapable unless you die. And yet we collectively make visible ageing such a taboo.

I recently watched the movie “The Substance” with Demi Moore. It’s not for the faint of heart, but I would recommend it for the message it sends about how we perceive ageing. There is a reason why this movie resonated so much: it is a product of our time.

Whatever we do, we will be chastised. You let your grey or white hair show? You look unkempt. You keep dyeing your hair? Pathetic, you can’t accept you’re not 25 anymore.

You dress “younger” than expected for your age? Don’t be ridiculous. You dress how it’s expected from you? How boring, don’t complain if you become invisible.

We can not win society’s approval, but we can win the war in our minds. Whatever we do, WE must be the one content with our looks. Doesn’t matter if that involves doing nothing or spending thousands on treatments. We must be the ones who feel happy when we look in the mirror.

       Time ages the body, but it exposes the soul.