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Original poster

Getting old

11 replies

mrsbitaly · 02/07/2021 21:36

I am 36 and feel so old already. I've suddenly started to become aware of how old I'm starting to look. I am not usually a self indulgent person and I'm wondering if I'm having a midlife crisis.

I have a cellulite bum, my wrinkles around my eyes are so prominent when I smile. I used to have lovely eyes but they look sunken and you can hardly see my natural eyelashes now.

I have a mum tum from 2 children and I just feel so miserable about getting old.

Can someone tell me how to snap out of it, is it normal to feel so upset by it?

OP posts:
Toomanypickles · 02/07/2021 21:39

Can't really help, op, I'm 35 and certainly feel like I've all of a sudden started to look it after many years of people thinking I was 25....no one makes that mistake with me now!

I'm just here offering hand hold and Wine

Hensintheskirting · 02/07/2021 21:43

Snap out of it woman, you're 36, it's not even approaching being old.

How many people see your bum? Those people are lucky, they're lucky to see your bum.

I'm sure you have a lovely smile and that's what others see, a beautiful smile and not your apparently wrinkly eyes.

We don't notice these things on other people, we are always much harsher on ourselves and it's daft really.

Yellow85 · 02/07/2021 21:43

I could have written this. Also 35, 2 kids and starting to look old! I signed up to some prescription skincare which I think is making a huge difference. Also reduced the amount of make up I’m wearing in a daily basis too - which again helps. I felt it was just sitting in my creases 😂 I was also just saying to DH today that I think it’s time to consider my dress sense too - I mean I like some in trend stuff - but surely I’m too old for that now? 🤷🏻‍♀️

coralcavesenormouswaves · 02/07/2021 21:46

I think it's a really common age to start noticing ageing kick in, it happened to me about that age too. Especially if you've already had kids.

Age comes to everyone of course! And the alternative would suck. At first I kind of embraced it and was like ok well here I am, I look old now. But lately I have started taking more of a pride - as you get older you really do have to spend more on beauty, make up, clothes... personal trainer, hair appointments, eyebrows and lashes appointments... and I've just been saying to myself ok wherever I can afford it I am going to not scrimp because it is necessary and I've earned it!

There's a kind of freedom in it actually, getting older and not being even close to perfect any more!

Original poster
mrsbitaly · 02/07/2021 22:00

@Toomanypickles

Can't really help, op, I'm 35 and certainly feel like I've all of a sudden started to look it after many years of people thinking I was 25....no one makes that mistake with me now!

I'm just here offering hand hold and Wine

This is it I always looked much younger I was ID for everything even a knife sharpner once from wilko lol then Bam I got old so quickly!
OP posts:
Original poster
mrsbitaly · 02/07/2021 22:03

@coralcavesenormouswaves

I think it's a really common age to start noticing ageing kick in, it happened to me about that age too. Especially if you've already had kids.

Age comes to everyone of course! And the alternative would suck. At first I kind of embraced it and was like ok well here I am, I look old now. But lately I have started taking more of a pride - as you get older you really do have to spend more on beauty, make up, clothes... personal trainer, hair appointments, eyebrows and lashes appointments... and I've just been saying to myself ok wherever I can afford it I am going to not scrimp because it is necessary and I've earned it!

There's a kind of freedom in it actually, getting older and not being even close to perfect any more!

Thank you, I don't tend to spoil myself much really on all that stuff. I have makeup but I've never had my eyelashes done. Maybe your right I just need to start putting in the effort 🤔
OP posts:
Original poster
mrsbitaly · 02/07/2021 22:06

@Hensintheskirting

Snap out of it woman, you're 36, it's not even approaching being old.

How many people see your bum? Those people are lucky, they're lucky to see your bum.

I'm sure you have a lovely smile and that's what others see, a beautiful smile and not your apparently wrinkly eyes.

We don't notice these things on other people, we are always much harsher on ourselves and it's daft really.

Ha ha love this, thank you 😊
OP posts:
DareIask · 02/07/2021 22:07

I think you need to do enough to feel like you're making the effort and the most of yourself, but accept getting older.

I look in the mirror and see a greying, lumpy and wrinkly middle aged woman. But hey, I've lived a little WinkI'm also wiser, kinder and more tolerant as I age.

Aging is a privilege... the alternative would be awful.

MissLucyEyelesbarrow · 03/07/2021 09:17

I'm in my 50s so you're a mere child, compared to me 😉

The thing that has got me through ageing is getting fitter. And I was a classic 'always picked last for the team' at school- I am
not sporty AT ALL. But I have found a couple of forms of exercise that I love. I'm no Jillian Michaels, but I'm toned and clothes hang well. It makes such a difference. I may have wrinkles, but I don't think I generally look frumpy.

The other big anti- agers are a big smile and radiating confidence (faked - I'm quite shy). Don't become a grey mouse.

Liking80 · 03/07/2021 11:16

I am older than the OP but really feel I have aged in the last 12 to 18 months. I do have a theory why so many of us feel this we. The use of zoom & teams in both our working & social lives during the pandemic means that we have been looking at ourselves so much more, honing in on every flaw and wrinkle. I actually think it is not so much the ageing but over focus on our faces!

FindingMeno · 03/07/2021 11:21

Why is everyone so scared of wrinkles? They are a non issue!
Cellulite bums and mum tums can be hidden.
As eyes become more sunken/ hidden the make up techniques from teenage years don't work and need a rethink.
I would concentrate on glowing skin ( wrinkles and all), eyebrows, eyelashes and teeth.

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