The Art of Aging
What if we think of aging as an art?
…an effort called out of the soul that takes skill, guts and devotion to manifest…
with the power to create laughter, seriously tweak stereotypes, and inspire.
I told a late 50ish woman at a book store I was working on a project called The Art of Aging. She frowned and said, “Honey, you need to change out that title. No one wants to hear it called that,” she said.
“Called what?” I asked.
“You know, uh,” she rolled her eyes, “the aging thing. Call it something else.”
She went on to suggest alternative titles filled with ’glamorous’ age-avoidance words.
What about this aging thing?
What does it mean to mature as a woman in our culture?
Are you making it up as you go along?
I for one would like some help with this.
I do have a list-
What about you? What do you want to know?
I want to find wise, creative, funny, positive, kind, sassy, lyrical
full-of-spirit women,
women who are willing to share their thoughts, creative output, and images, and ask them:
What do you, your mother, daughters, your friends, relatives and neighbors want other women to know about aging?
Who were/are your role models? What did they say to inspire you?
Tessa 14, Janel 29
Please please ask yourself these questions (or make up your own) and let me know your answers.
O Happy Day…this is a community creation; stories and images will be posted. Maybe an ebook will be created!
The Rules: Short posts. No preaching, no politics. No pushy links to marketing stuff.
Not-a-rule: I asked my daughters to participate so we can learn together. I invite you to find someone who is not in your generation to collaborate with and contribute to the conversation.
Talk about beauty feeding.
March 31, 2010
Oh Sophie, you just ran into a silly woman who is ashamed of her experience, knowledge and life. I think many women are in tune with the known facts that today’s woman (and men too) live to be much older than 50, 60, or 70! With all the medical help and advice on how to keep healthy many will live to be 100 – easily. But the transition from being a young (20ish or 30ish) woman is difficult for a lot of us. I think it’s wonderful to have an outlet of sharing our experiences and sometimes our difficulties in making this transition from youth to accepting our selves as we gather years around ourselves. You’re on the right path and you deserves accolades for acknowledging, writing and communing with all of us experiencing the “Art of Aging”. Thank you and keep it up<3
Hi Michelle, I didn’t have a clue how to make that transition -I came up with ‘The Art of Aging’ project because I was pretty sure I wan’t alone. In a year I’ve learned a lot from Beauties like you-we’re all in this together, piecing it together bit by bit.
Thank you for your kind words.
2011 will be the year I stopped putting all kinds of artificial “menopausal red” colorings in my hair. It is now salt and pepper, and I let it grow long. I wear it with pride. I actually feel much younger with my natural color, as it suits best with my skin complexion, my eyes. It is.. ME. Finally. I started using henna when I was about 16. Now, (more than) 30 years later, I emancipated myself from that slavery and it feels great. The natural curls have come back too. Grey hair is not dull at all: it is full of light! Greetings from Brussels.
Sofi, I’ve followed you for quite a while and you are an inspiration. BTW, I’m almost 57 and have never colored my hair. It’s more salt than pepper ( I had very dark hair) and I wear it long. On some days I let it go naturally wavy and I look a little wild and crazy! I love it! lol!
Sophie, you have hit us aging beauties in all the right places. I love to be me – a woman who doesn’t care if I pin a feather in my hair or dance all over the house to Celtic music. I am a woman inspiried by your art – I am showing up Sophie! Thank you. Ollie B.
Here I am! Back again…love you Sophie!
Lilly
I’m so glad I found your site on the “Huffington Post” website. I’m 61, about to be divorced, and feeling like my life is over. I’m working to change that thought process because it has been paralyzing. I look forward to reading more posts and sharing my own journey.
Thank you Heather-I’m glad you found us! Share away, hang in there
xo, Sofi
Heather,
you can’t have found a better site than this one…Sophie has a way!!! I am one of the “firsties” who found this web site and I love it here…lots of us girls have gone thru awful divorces including myself. But there is hope and confidence building here!!!
We all take care of each other!
Lilly
Thank you Ms. Lilly for being here right from the start, encouraging and supporting me to reach out with LOVE! xoxo
Oh.dear,I promised myself many years ago I would just be the best I could me
Now I find myself at age 76 still striving to stay active,constantly
searching internet on beauty tips after 70
Also trying to keep my weight down ,my husband deplores overweight
women lol
My mother always said “beauty is only skin deep”
I must admit keeping that skin firm is a chore,all in all
having a good life staying positive
Thank you Shirley, you are ahead of the curve for most women your age in that you are actively seeking out information online. Let me know what you find on beauty tips after 70
xo, Sofi
Oh Sophie, Im so glad I was able to track you down after receiving a quick comment from you on one of my (your) “pins.” Your The Art of Aging board and the pictures of all those beautiful aging women are so inspiring. Anyone reading this you really must check it out.
I haven’t thought alot about aging up to this point…so I am very grateful to have found your site BEFORE I started “worrying” about it. Now I have a place that will help me embrace the years and take them on with power and grace.
As a single person with no children, the one thing I have figured out is I have only myself to rely on to bring me happiness. If I want to continue to be happy as I age, I must continue to stay connected to those I love, stay connected to my creativity, and stay passionate about those things that are important to me.
Thanks for birthing this wonderful idea and for sharing it with all of us!!
Hi Connie-Thank you for your kind words! I’m glad you took the initiative to find me~Pinterest is another exciting place to meet new people
Happy to read your ideas about moving forward gracefully with aging. I am hoping there will be more women like yourself, esp. in the younger generations!
xo, Sofi
i just found this space this morning. and what a find! i am 72, incredibly uninspired at what is happening as i age, and can find little that pleases me about the fact. i see a whole other way to look at aging as i confront my issues with your head-on positivity and that of the women whose comments i read. stumbling upon you is a blessing! thank you for being you and for being in a place where i can learn!
lynda
Thank YOU Lynda for being so open to change—you inspire me
xoxo, Sofi
Sophie and all, I am so happy to find this site and all of you! I worked in the field of aging services for many years after retiring from the military. Now as I find myself getting older, I am determined to age with laughter and grace and be as healthy as I can. One of the things I know for sure from working with older individuals, take care of your health and try and remain active. It’s so sad to see folks who are in good shape mentally, but who can’t get around well and thus are forced to remain inside or even in bed and dependent upon the care of others. Exercise, even if it’s only a short walk, to get those muscles active. And laugh a good long belly laugh every day. It’s good for the soul! So great to meet you all!
Thank you for your inspirational words Helen! It’s great to meet you too