aging gracefully

I'm not used to feeling this old. Maybe it was the falling down the stairs, but my arms just haven't felt right - raking up leaves this afternoon was really rather tricky. And then my son commented on how my hair is greying - which it is, so absolutely fine for him to comment - except it's one of those sensitive areas isn't it - something that other parents might object to their kids talking about. I'm really hoping I can hold on to my principles and age just as nature intended without buying into the hype that we are supposed to buy products to hide our aging. I've never bought moisturiser, let alone anti-wrinkle cream. It's another one of those issues that can divide us women one from another, like make-up, so I'm not wishing to perpetuate that divisiveness here. I don't think women who buy stuff are wrong - tho I do get angry at the profit-seeking culture that repeatedly tells us that we are not OK just the way we are, that we have to buy buy buy endless pots and potions and colourants and who knows what, rather than let the world see - shock horror - that as we get older we look different than we did before.

Right now that's fine. But I wonder when my contracts next run out and I'm job searching again, will I have the confidence to be the me that I am rather than the "look the part" as to what is expected of a woman my age - which is to cover the grey, to paint my face and generally keep up appearances. I'll use deodorant and brush my teeth - I'm not against some product purchasing. Does that make me a hypocrite? Who defines just how "basic" basic hygiene is?? I suspect I'd have hated life in the Middle Ages.

Here in what I'm hoping is my own middle ages, I'm going to take my achy body to bed, and hopefully will be less grumpy after a rest :)

PS, this is what partly inspired tonight's train of thought:
http://www.upworthy.com/see-why-we-have-an-absolutely-ridiculous-standard-of-beauty-in-just-37-seconds