she says
Timeless Grace by Behnaz Sanjana
In this world of synthetic beauty, it’s hard to ignore the fine lines creasing your face. I urge you to see the bigger picture and age elegantly.
T
een years and the exciting twenties is when flawless skin and a perfect figure are easily attainable. Thereafter comes the terrible thirties, but all isn’t lost as yet. And then, quicker than you can say ‘facelift’, arrives the frightful forties. ‘Middle-aged’ becomes your middle name. Yikes! “Bring on the botox, please! Summon liposuction and laser to restore my prime,” you scream inwardly. Hold your horses, ladies! Who are we trying to fool and what do we want to prove? A woman’s laugh lines tell her story. They tell of her rollercoaster ride, zooming over fantastic highs and plunging into daunting lows. Her stretch marks and scars are proof of her amazing strength during childbirth and
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sickness. Her wrinkles stand testament to the wisdom, compassion and experience acquired over the years. Middle-age is often when a woman has found herself; when she knows what really matters at the end of the day. So why spend astounding amounts of time and money to stop the natural ageing process? Youthful looks is the last thing self-worth is to be measured against. Sadly, that is not the truth today. If we use our resources and hours in more meaningful ways, we could touch the lives of others and make the world a slightly better place to live in. And perhaps, we could leave an indelible mark on humanity. Graceful ageing is all about ditching the vanity,
laughing freely, and loving others and yourself unconditionally. Don’t get me wrong, I am in no way endorsing the ‘let yourself go’ attitude. Don’t sell off your treadmill and dump the mascara just yet. Eat right. Exercise. Use sunscreen. Pamper yourself. Walk tall in designer heels (or opt for lacy lingerie, if you please). Get a chic hair cut; choose a trendy colour to hide the greys. Don’t fall prey to the ‘frozen forehead’ syndrome. Signs of age are a badge of honour to be worn with pride. Happiness brought about by a little nip here and a lot of tuck there is only fleeting. Don’t be afraid to eat a cake. Go ahead! You owe it to yourself. www.womanthismonth.com