When did you accept your ageing?

[Idliketothankyouforajobwelldone]

I did mean to use your instead of you're!
I know if is better than the inevitable for sure, however I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to look one's best.
If you've aged, do you ever miss the way you looked when you were younger? Or do you prefer it now? Did you stop caring about your appearance as much or did you embrace it?
I think it's definitely harder for some than others, and ageism is rife.
It's something that I'm trying to accept myself and not resorting to endless procedures to retain my face! I know looks aren't everything but it's human nature to want to look good.
I did have a bit of a turning point yesterday though, I met an elderly woman in a care home who genuinely still had a very beautiful face. Fantastic bone structure, skin still pretty firm despite being over 80, lovely eyes and cheekbones, she could have easily been a model when younger.

Whatever your age, if you smile then you look good whereas some people always just frown.

I think I look better now at 50 than I ever did. That might be because my eye sight isn't as good.
I have always taken care of my skin, exercised and eaten well.

I have never been in denial. Tbh there was never a point when I didn't accept ageing. I'm 50 and not remotely bothered by it. Look after yourself and dress in clothes you like. That's it.

Your story about the elderly woman sounds like a positive story, but it isn't really. You're judging her based on beauty ideals while complaining that society does this.

Interesting point.

My eyesight is also a lot worse now. I’m very short sighted -9.50 both eyes with retinal issues and astigmatism. It’s made me less worried about every little detail on my face as I just can’t see it as well as I could! And that’s quite freeing.

Yes @Afterfire I can only see my wrinkles and chin hairs when I put my glasses on to look in the mirror!

I think you mean the looking older rather than being older? Ie not the existential crisis of mortality.

33 post children. (48 now). Realised that those who love me will always see me as beautiful & I don't care about strangers. Bodies change and age is not all bad - who wants to be the same forever.

Plus looks-wise realising it's all relative. Ie looking back at photos of the past you always think you looked so much better then. If I have a negative moment I just imagine myself at 80 looking at me now thinking - didn't i look young then.

I feel like I've notice

Aaagh oops. I feel like I've noticeably aged over the past couple of years, early 50s now. I've never been thin but generally fairly slim and attractive but menopause and HRT has added more weight especially to belly and boobs so having to get used to a new figure. Love the DGAF attitude of some PPs and I'm aiming for that and getting there, it's liberating not to be stared at and harassed so much. I don't mind my wrinkles, they're signs of a life lived and maps of a story. So I'd say that I'm in an acceptance phase now.

The one thing that frustrates me is not being able to be fit due to disability, I'd love to go running and gym etc but I can't and I know my body is worse for it but there's nothing I can do about that and that's an acceptance thing too.

It’s true poor eye sight really helps with the ageing process. I am 50 and really struggle with ageing, partly I think because I work with so many people who are at least 20 years and more younger than me. I work in the City and wonder where all the women my age are? I keep very fit and slim. I don’t wear much make up as I think make up makes me look older. I do have botox and fillers which I love and which makes me look younger or at least more fresh faced, though I know it won’t be long until posters tell me everyone with Botox and fillers look shit.

Never gave a flying feck how I looked and still don't ( 51) Don't do anything except dye my hair occasionally - it is very very dark so the greys stand out ridiculously and pluck the odd chin hair.
I am so annoyed that I was so insecure when I was younger that I didn't realise how dang gorgeous I was and super smart and well just fab I guess.
I assumed every young woman had men after her constantly. Like constantly - from about the age of 14 I have never been without a man for more than a week or 2. They just appear. After a massive drama ( long story about the end of my first marriage) my regular suburban neighbourhood turned out to have a lot of single men. Sometimes one was ringing me, one was knocking on the front door and one was walking in the back gate!. I've also been proposed to at least 5 times. I thought this was normal.
It took a random neighbour telling me when I was late 30's and bumped into him at the pub ( he would have been about 20) saying "OMG it's the beautiful ( my name) - my dad is in love with you" Soon after that my boyfriends mum took me aside and said " why are you with him you could do so much better!" Lol.
It slowly dawned on me. Too late now.
I guess I've always had the confidence to at least say "take me as I am or piss off". No fakery .
Still a bit sad for younger me.

Sorry - to answer the OP's question - I've always just accepted who I am. So now I'm 51. 10 years ago I was 41 - at the time it crossed my mind - hey I;m getting older . That was about it. I think as I barely do any of the "feminine" things like make-up ( I think I may own a lipstick) and getting my hair done at the hairdresser and going to the beauticians ( what do women actually do there? is it just hair removal and facials?) so getting older is not a huge change for me. I guess in a long winded way I am trying to say that I am not focused on appearance.
Health is another issue and my god my right knee is fecked. Now that is something that does suck about aging

I’m 42 and never cared about ageing. I wear a bit of make up, but I’ve never done skin care. I’ve had a grey hair streak for a few years now and I love it. I actually think I look better now than in my 20s.

I don’t give two shits what “society” thinks about beauty.

Ragwort both you and your Mum sound amazing!
Somebody in their 90s going back to a city they where evacuated too sounds it should be a film or a great interview on BBC !

It haven't yet and I'm early 40s. I looked fairly young until my late 30s, then had some life changing events occur that brought a shit load of (ongoing) stress and lack of time for myself and I look horrendous now - have lost all my muscle tone, wrinkles almost overnight, hollow eyes, rubbish hair and nails. Much of this is my own fault because my years of healthy eating has given way to excessive carbs, sugar and caffeine. I hate looking at myself.

I could probably pull it back a little of I invested the time/energy into it but I don't feel like I have either any more.

I do the skincare and the makeup and dye my hair (myself) but wouldn't do botox, fillers, lip injections because I've seen amongst several friends who've had them, how unflattering they are (in terms of usually making them look older, which is the opposite of what they're trying to achieve, ironically)

@FatFucker what a delightful friend you are.

Lol at the comment poor eyesight helps with ageing - I wear reading glasses but hilariously can’t see the hair on my legs without them . am in my 50’s , run twice a week , do Pilates and Ballet when I can , have Botox , get my roots and brows done etc - still look good

@Afterfire absolutely understand your comments BUT you're happy as you are. My friend so desperately isn't!

@DougalsBlueJumper I absolutely get the hypocrisy of my post. But was really two separate thoughts.

My friend whom I've known for over 50 years is fat and frumpy and has lost her spark. She's starred HRT so maybe that will make her feel better.

But the difference from the rest of my post is that she is so so so unhappy looking like that, and because of that has lost her sparkle and confidence and it's aged her.

If she was her "normal" self she would be confident and vibrant no matter what size or choice of clothes!

afterlife is a size 20 and wears smocks because of her health but she's happy, and that's a huge difference.

My sister and mum were vibrant and didn't look or act their age until one was diagnosed with terminal cancer and one with dementia. To be honest I'm just glad to be here still !!

It's Social media today that makes most women query how they look and should look . It's a shame that it affects some people like that .

I was very plain looking at school and didn't experiment with make up until I started work and that was because I worked in media/ advertising. Everyone looked glamorous and it was a done thing .
People used to say how attractive how was and still am but I find it embarrassing and awkward and shy away from all that . To me attractiveness comes from inside a person . I have always worn moisturizers high factors from my 20s , my family are Sicilian so we would spend all summer there
.
My skin has withheld the test of time , I have been told I don't look my 53 years , I know I take after my mum as she too doesn't look 86!

I do think we worry too much and that's why a lot of people are scared to grow old or want to go further and be more drastic .

The sad thing is it is the magazines, media and other platforms that make women NOT men makes us judge ourselves .,

Why worry, it’s all about how you feel physically and your actual health. A year bed bound and then lots of investigations after nearly dying when I was 49 means I’m grateful for every day.

I’m mixed race plus I always hated being in the sun and am a hat wearer, non smoker and never a big drinker so my skin is in very decent condition.

Most importantly, though by no means perfect my Mother was an excellent role model in that we were in her words better than men and what they thought well who cares. She was an exceptionally beautiful woman with a confidence that was astounding. She was very physical and had been a professional dancer when young and performed in a circus in a high wire act. She literally danced to her own tune. She encouraged us all to be very physical. She was an excellent shot and a good horse rider, she could still do the splits aged 70. She died in her nineties having outlived all her four husbands which she found amusing.

@TorviShieldMaiden I feel just like you.