Comments on: Eternal Youthfulness: Is it a myth? Do we even want it?

By: Pat Roden

Pat Roden — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 02:32:01 +0000

What I think we really fear losing about our youth is the sense of excitement towards our unlived years; our thirst to do what we’ve only imagined.

Elaine, this is such an eloquently stated line; and you nailed the sentiment of so many in midlife. Time to address those dreams deferred…

Pat Roden RN PhD
http://homebychoiceblog.com/

By: Elaine H

Elaine H — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:36:51 +0000

It seems to be the most incredible shame that women who aren’t fretting about their grey hair and laugh lines are so under-represented in the media that we appear to be invisible. Kris–you’re a model on how to age with your youthfulness intact–bravo to you!

Elaine H.

Life blooms after forty!
Read me at http://bloomingatlife.blogspot.com

By: MissKris

MissKris — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:54:50 +0000

I made up my mind a couple of decades ago, when my hair turned silver in my 30s, that I was going to age gracefully and leave it at that. No hair dye. No face lifts. Sheeesh…I haven’t worn make up since I was a teenager — my husband likes the ‘natural’ look and I married him at 20. Maybe it was my practical upbringing. Maybe it was being raised with 3 brothers and being a tomboy when I was a kid. But, like Popeye…”I yam what I yam.” As to attitude, which is where true youth can live forever, I think I’ll be eternally young ’til the day I die. At 55 I can still dance around the living room and build pillow/blanket forts with my two little grandsons and love every second of it. And at the park the other day, with all these 20-something moms sitting on the sidelines, I was running thru the spray fountains with my grandboys and several other little ones who thought I was the coolest Grandma ever!

By: Laura

Laura — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:52:35 +0000

How can we live fully if we discount the adventure of growing older and old? Isn’t that part of the package? It would be like wearing high heels without the pain; the two are inexorably linked. Bug spray makes it so I can sit outside even when the bugs are there; I would much rather do that than sit inside with the screens closed not feeling the freshness of a summertime dusk. Yes, been there done that, but each time it feels fresh and wonderful even when it’s hot and muggy. Maybe now I don’t mind the routine, I rejoice in it because I know that the adventure to the farflung is an aberration and what is to be enjoyed is the rhythm of life. How I keep altering my routine is what makes me engaged and interested in what’s ahead.

By: Elaine H

Elaine H — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:09:32 +0000

You’re so right Nordette.I recently a bunch of essays–I think it was MORE magazine–where different women wrote on whether or not they wanted to live to be 100. The resounding response was, only if I get to stop the clock at 40. Declining health, declining finances, losing our friends and loved ones–what’s so desirable about living forever? We can–and I try to–live fully, authentically, and passionately,and I think that’s the secret of “eternal youth” we all want.

By: nordette aka verite

nordette aka verite — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:34:39 +0000

What I think we really fear losing about our youth is the sense of excitement towards our unlived years; our thirst to do what we’ve only imagined. Life after forty smacks a lot of the same ole, same ole.

I’ve noticed this as well. Movie plots are all repeats, new novels are rarely novel or unique, and I’ve heard those jokes before. It takes work to keep the passion flowing and a zest for life, to dig yourself out of a rut. But you also have the advantage of wisdom and being more discriminating about what seems new to you before you try it.

Would I drink? Writing on vampires recently puts a whole new twist on my thought process about that. And, while not a vampire show, a line from the Highlander theme by Queen keeps running through my mind, “Who wants to live forever? Who wants to liver forever?” Hmm. Eternal youth with eternal energy and fantastic health maybe great, but I wonder if the price would be to never learn the right lessons. Enjoyed the post.

Follow me on Twitter @nordette_verite