Aging, but not passe'

The baby boomers seem to get it right, and the women are different from their parents and grandparents. They have seen their elderly parents suffer and lose their independence and want to avoid the same fate. They understand that the model of aging that applied to their parents is not for them. They have no intention of 'slowing down' or 'taking it easy' and do not tolerate being called 'elderly'. They have every intention of remaining active, involved, vibrant and youthful throughout their entire lifespan. In addition to enhancing their own health and quality of life, baby boomers have the opportunity to help the next generation by leading thru example, by showing a new, active and strong view of growing older. They want to teach young people that weakness and frailty is not an inevitable part of getting old.

The word passe’ is French, and it means, 'past the prime; faded or aged.no longer acceptable, current, or usable'. That's how some of us must have felt before they made 50 the new 30. Study shows the tummy tuck is the most sought after plastic surgery procedure.and 84% of women feel that men have no idea how hard they work to look good. Recent reports say that the number of cosmetic surgeries is declining due to the recession. According to stats from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, in 2008 billions were spent on over 12 million cosmetic plastic surgery procedures. Women account for a staggering 91% of these procedures.

It was Joan Rivers who told The New York Times, "I've had so much plastic surgery,", "when I die they will donate my body to Tupperware." Ironically, she's become the industry's worst poster child. Why go to such extreme? Why look 20 when you're 50, when the real smart thing to do is to look great at 50 when you're 50.

The good news is, "beauty" is no longer synonymous with an unattainable ideal. It's about a lifestyle, a dedicated regimen that has increased its focus on long term care of the hair, face and body; preventive therapies; and aesthetic enhancement. Beauty has become a business that has grown to a $32.2 billion industry, according to Kline & Company's 2004 statistics.

Shall we take it from the French women? We are told, she will always go for a lotion or potion rather than exercise, because they firmly believe that an exfoliating and cellulite cream is the way to stay in shape, and that the way you look is linked to the way you feel and the way you behave? That the lack of care of yourself is a reflection of an unintelligent mind and lack of thought and possibly laziness?

In an interview with Helena Frith Powell, author of “Two Lipsticks and a Lover”, also published in the US as “All You Need to be Impossibly French.”, she explained that to the French, glamour is, not only to do with how you look. It’s also to do with how you act, and how you feel, and how well read you are and how interesting you are. Because a woman can be extremely attractive and glamorous even if she’s not pretty. It’s not really about prettiness at all. It’ has to do with a whole kind of style, a feeling of self-worth, and confidence, and all sorts of things that come with knowing how to live, more than anything else. For French women, the basic tenets of being chic from head to toe, from toe to coif, and no matter what situation you’re in, responding with elegance and style, is somehow very deeply ingrained into them at a very early age. But, why so much struggle and stressing about growing old? We know it's inevitable, but just how do we make the process more of an adventure, rather than something awfully dreadful?

Aging in Pain

According to television commercials, old age is so dangerous or painful or simply annoying, it may not be worth hanging around for. Mostly, elders appear in commercials for remedies to treat diseases and ailments that range from minor through deadly serious to disgusting. There are so many commercials and public service announcements broadcast so frequently that any young person watching can only assume old age is agony: We don't see old person in a car commercial. Not even detergent ads feature elders, as though we don’t wash clothes or dishes in our dotage. And no one old appears in glossy ads for clothing, expensive watches or fancy electronics – none of the glamour stuff. But, there are positive signs, things are changing. If at all, the health needs of the elderly are among the most complex issues in medicine today. That is a reality that cannot be ignored. But, before we even give up, or give in to the call of the grave, we owe it to ourselves to live well, defy aging, and celebrate our God given life. Let's embrace aging as a luxury denied to many..

Steps to remain young

Step 1. Associate yourself with active people. People who are inactive or chronic complainers about pain and work can be contagious. Don't spend a lot of time with these people unless you are providing care.

Step2 Take a college course on campus once a year. This will keep you engaged with the youth movement as well as keep you active.

Step3 Stay active. Go on an outing at least once per week. It could be hiking, a sports game, museum, theater or casual restaurant. If you like to read, don’t just sit at home and grab a book. Go out to a bookstore.

Step 4 Get at least eight hours of sleep and eight glasses of water daily. Don’t smoke. If you drink alcohol, do it in moderation.

Step 5 Have five servings of fruits and vegetables daily because you body needs vitamin C.

Step6 Get a good balance of fiber daily such as pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, broccoli or nuts.

Step7 Exercise regularly. Try to partner with a friend in your activities. This will help to motivate you so you won’t procrastinate.

Step 8 Laugh a lot.