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Original poster

Beautiful signs of aging

220 replies

KoreyBay18 · 17/10/2021 22:37

Crows feet!

I love them. I think they make any face instantly more beautiful.

What are your favourite most beautiful signs of aging?

OP posts:
AnnieSnap · 21/10/2021 22:50

@woodhill Paula B isn’t really for me based on a brief look. Too much emphasis on dieting and calorie counting. I don’t need it, but if I started it again, I’d become dysfunctional pretty quickly 😮

5128gap · 22/10/2021 10:38

@UsedUpUsername

There’s nothing beautiful about ageing except still being alive
I find it strange that you can see no beauty in other people unless they are young. Its a shame given people spend the majority of their lives not being young.
UsedUpUsername · 22/10/2021 12:01

I find it strange that you can see no beauty in other people unless they are young. Its a shame given people spend the majority of their lives not being young

I don’t know, it seems it’s always the young that extol the virtues of ageing ‘gracefully’, probably as a cope. Nothing graceful about it.

Chakraleaf · 22/10/2021 12:11

It is a privilege to get older.

5128gap · 22/10/2021 12:20

@UsedUpUsername

I find it strange that you can see no beauty in other people unless they are young. Its a shame given people spend the majority of their lives not being young

I don’t know, it seems it’s always the young that extol the virtues of ageing ‘gracefully’, probably as a cope. Nothing graceful about it.

A lot of people on the thread are not young and are talking about the things they like about themselves now they are older. I'm in my 50s, and genuinely prefer my looks now to my younger appearance. I was never anything more than average when young but now get told I'm beautiful quite often, so aging has definitely been good for me. I'm not sure about aging 'gracefully' mind, as I always associate that with a lot of made up rules about what older women should and shouldn't wear and do, and about being demure and understated, which isn't for everyone.
Billandben444 · 22/10/2021 12:28

I'm late 60s and am very comfortable with who I am and how I look - that came with age as I used to worry about what other people thought. I love it when older women have this inner confidence and stand tall with silver hair and wrinkles and the inner peace shines out.

Lobelia123 · 22/10/2021 12:29

Crinkley eyes when you smile....its just incredibly soulful and beautiful!

AnnieSnap · 22/10/2021 13:21

@UsedUpUsername

I find it strange that you can see no beauty in other people unless they are young. Its a shame given people spend the majority of their lives not being young

I don’t know, it seems it’s always the young that extol the virtues of ageing ‘gracefully’, probably as a cope. Nothing graceful about it.

I don’t know about that. I am 62 and enjoying being 62. I don’t like the idea that I can’t have much more than a couple of decades of active life left, but I actually love my body (with its many ‘flaws’) and I didn’t when I was younger, thinner, with less confidence.
UsedUpUsername · 22/10/2021 13:42

don’t know about that. I am 62 and enjoying being 62. I don’t like the idea that I can’t have much more than a couple of decades of active life left, but I actually love my body (with its many ‘flaws’) and I didn’t when I was younger, thinner, with less confidence

I guess it just glosses over the loss of functionality. That’s what I find a little annoying about all this.

Signs of ageing are an indication that something has gone wrong. It’s very rarely a neutral change.

Floisme · 22/10/2021 13:51

Hmm. This thread is a welcome antidote to a lot of S&B opinion but I think it's presenting a largely idealised picture of ageing and I do see UsedUpUsername's point. As Bette Davis (and lots of people before her) said, 'Getting old ain't for sissies.' I've witnessed it and now I'm kind of in the foothills myself and I won't lie - it's tough sometimes.

I don't agree with UsedUp about signs of ageing being an indication of something going wrong. I think ageing is a life stage, nothing more and nothing less. I don't particularly care about being told my wobbly jawline is beautiful but I do get pissed off about 'old' being used as a synonym for 'unstylish'.

woodhill · 22/10/2021 14:02

@AnnieSnap

I don't do the calorie stuff just the exercise routine most days. It's good as it isn't lying on the floor. I feel toned up

ExConstance · 22/10/2021 14:02

My father had lots of crows feet, as a child I thought they looked like rays of sunshine out from his eyes. I've always thought they look very fetching and cheerful. As for me, i like having clear, good skin. I was spotty in my youth and my skin was greasy later too. Now I have lovely plump moist skin, with a few wrinkles but I feel this is a great improvement.

highstreetdiestreet · 22/10/2021 14:05

@UsedUpUsername

don’t know about that. I am 62 and enjoying being 62. I don’t like the idea that I can’t have much more than a couple of decades of active life left, but I actually love my body (with its many ‘flaws’) and I didn’t when I was younger, thinner, with less confidence

I guess it just glosses over the loss of functionality. That’s what I find a little annoying about all this.

Signs of ageing are an indication that something has gone wrong. It’s very rarely a neutral change.

You keep banging this drum as if it isn't a part of life.

Better to accept it.

UsedUpUsername · 22/10/2021 14:11

You keep banging this drum as if it isn't a part of life

Well yeah, it’s a part of life. Just like death. Don’t necessarily feel like celebrating them, but you do you

BikeRunSki · 22/10/2021 14:26

This is a bit of an aside from the Moab them of the thread. I’ve worn glasses since I was 12. Now I’m in my 50s a lot more of my peers do, and I love the way everyone has their own habits and mannerisms of taking their specs off to think/rub their eyes/ stare into the distance etc.

BikeRunSki · 22/10/2021 14:29

“Moab them” = “main theme”

AnnieSnap · 22/10/2021 15:24

@UsedUpUsername

don’t know about that. I am 62 and enjoying being 62. I don’t like the idea that I can’t have much more than a couple of decades of active life left, but I actually love my body (with its many ‘flaws’) and I didn’t when I was younger, thinner, with less confidence

I guess it just glosses over the loss of functionality. That’s what I find a little annoying about all this.

Signs of ageing are an indication that something has gone wrong. It’s very rarely a neutral change.

Signs of aging on the skin isn’t a sign that something has gone wrong! It’s like the differences in skin between babyhood, child and young adult. Signs of wear and tear on the joints etc are signs of just that. You could call it something going wrong, but focusing on it negatively will only make you feel bad about it. The alternative is to just accept it as it is and get on and enjoy life within any limitation you have. Remember, plenty of young people have limitations because “something has gone wrong” with their bodies. They can dwell on that, or enjoy life within their limitation.
AnnieSnap · 22/10/2021 15:26

[quote woodhill]@AnnieSnap

I don't do the calorie stuff just the exercise routine most days. It's good as it isn't lying on the floor. I feel toned up[/quote]
We need what works for each of us don’t we. I enjoy my gym (weights and swimming) and walking the dogs 🙂

AnnieSnap · 22/10/2021 15:27

@UsedUpUsername

You keep banging this drum as if it isn't a part of life

Well yeah, it’s a part of life. Just like death. Don’t necessarily feel like celebrating them, but you do you

You sound as if you might be depressed.
highstreetdiestreet · 22/10/2021 15:49

@UsedUpUsername

You keep banging this drum as if it isn't a part of life

Well yeah, it’s a part of life. Just like death. Don’t necessarily feel like celebrating them, but you do you

Gosh you sound so miserable
5128gap · 22/10/2021 15:50

@UsedUpUsername

You keep banging this drum as if it isn't a part of life

Well yeah, it’s a part of life. Just like death. Don’t necessarily feel like celebrating them, but you do you

You're not around to celebrate your death, but you have a lot of years to celebrate, or at least look for the positives, in aging. I get the point about loss or reduction in functionality, and that is a serious challenge of course. But this thread is about aesthetics, and I agree with the poster who said getting older is not easy, so its nice to have a thread that challenges the idea its unattractive too.
highstreetdiestreet · 22/10/2021 18:03

@UsedUpUsername although I am sorry for calling you miserable if you are actually depressed Cake

AuldAlliance · 22/10/2021 18:12

Getting older is obviously not all a bundle of laughs. Nor do we all become more at ease or contented with our appearance as we grow older.

I don't think anyone suggested otherwise.

But it's a damn sight better than dying young. And most people didn't suggest it was a good thing overall - they just highlighted some positives to counter the prevailing narrative that looking older means looking less attractive and is therefore something women should dread or try to delay.

CommanderBurnham · 22/10/2021 21:21

I'm going to defend this thread. Our generation are responsible for so much positive change and awareness. Just look at how we are approaching menopause for example.

I see so many confident older woman, who are genuinely beautiful. It's all come from within. It should be just as cool to look old as it is to look young.

PickAChew · 22/10/2021 23:46

@UsedUpUsername

don’t know about that. I am 62 and enjoying being 62. I don’t like the idea that I can’t have much more than a couple of decades of active life left, but I actually love my body (with its many ‘flaws’) and I didn’t when I was younger, thinner, with less confidence

I guess it just glosses over the loss of functionality. That’s what I find a little annoying about all this.

Signs of ageing are an indication that something has gone wrong. It’s very rarely a neutral change.

It's a sign that things haven't gone so badly wrong that you're dead.
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