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Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Cosmetic Surgery at My Age?

My friend Julie and I were talking about growing old gracefully content with how we look.

Cosmetic surgery at my age? No, I'm past it.

I remember being in my 40's and noticing all the physical "flaws" I've fought /gave up on / fought / ignored / fought ... and cringed over. I've admitted to having a "boob lift" in my early 40's and anticipated the tummy tuck, eye lift, face touch up etc., to come.

I never did it. Truth be told, I couldn't afford it otherwise I'd have done it.

Now in my 50's, I'm accepting my flaws. The boobs are okay, but 10 years after a lift, gravity wins again. The crows feet and laugh lines? I earned them. Sure the c-section left me needing a tummy tuck. I remember that emergency c-section. If it hadn't turned out for the best, the scars and paunch wouldn't matter, I'd be carrying around a bigger emotional scar.

Yes, I sigh a little when I see the bikini clad women out on the boats. I keep reminding myself I was there once too. And they will be in their 50's showing their life lines soon enough.

I'm healthy (fingers crossed) and happy in my own skin. This is me, as it. I think what's inside is more important that what's on the outside. It's not to say I won't stick to a diet, or keep fretting about flibbles that jibble, but I know acceptance of my looks is healthier then carrying an inferior image anchor around.

: Okay Nancy, keep reading this over and over until you actually believe it :

8 comments:

Karin said...

Amen. I fantasize about tucks and lifts from time to time when my mirror image shocks me. But I'd rather look my age than like a caricature of myself (a la Joan Rivers). Of course, that's only my attitude today. I'll probably do an about-face (pun intended) tomorrow.....

Michael said...

Don't forget, you have nice teeth. Nobody pays attention to fribbles that jibble, but everyone notices when you have brown fuzz growing on those not-so-pearly whites. And then we talk about it. Behind your back. Cuz we're totally mean like that.

lis said...

Well said, I've had the same thot's seeing young and perky, and recall how at that time in life I was still worried about feeling ugly and fat.. Looking at the old pic's now see really was skinny and not soo bad lookin...
Funny how the cycle of this life seems more evident at the 1/2 century mark, eww that sounds awful, lets say at age of true maturity, no, who wants to live up to that definition (mature), well anyway with time!!;)
Yes nice teeth a must...

Sherry said...

Hell girl, I think you look damn good at this young age!!! Seriously! I was noticing all the young women on the beach while away and then saw women my age and some younger in tiny bathing suits and everything hangin' out and I realized, we are a lot more forgiving of ourselves than we might have been in our 30s and 40s. I'm just coming to the point where I look at myself and say "not bad". My body has been through hell and back with the barbed wire along the route, but I'm here, I'm healthy and I'm happy. It is what it is, I am what I am (I sound like Popeye! Beginning to look like him too!). This is 52 and it's great!!! Wonderful post!

Twisted Cinderella said...

Great Post. I admit that when I am not pregnant, I am soooo not content with my body. I want to fix my boobs, my stomach, and my teeth.

delmer said...

I keep saying I'm going to have my love handles sucked out. I've yet to get around to it.

Ree said...

I sometimes think that I'd rather have the lines than the zits. ;-) Because then the jiggles and paunch would make sense. snirk.

San said...

The real secret to looking young & thin? Hang around with people who look older and fatter than you. LOL! Seriously, the older (and fatter) I get, the more I appreciate this body and where it's taken me.
(Is "fatter" a word? It looks funny spelled out.)