Do not regret growing older.  It is a privilege denied to many.
~Author Unknown

With all the fame and all the fortune associated with being a celebrity, I feel sorry for them; I cannot imagine living under the unforgiving and relentless microscope of public scrutiny.  Many have gone to extreme measures to look young, imagining them to be their magical Fountain of Youth.  Plastic surgery can turn back the clock, but some take it too far–thoughts of Kenny Rogers, Wayne Newton, Mary Tyler Moore, Joan Rivers and even Michael Jackson make me shudder! There are even sites devoted to celebrity plastic surgery disasters!

Our culture is youth- and beauty-oriented, and it’s impossible to avoid the bombardment of grocery store aisle magazine covers and mall images, isn’t it?  So what can you do?

I can’t begin to solve that kind of world hunger issue for you, but here are two thoughts that might help:

  • Change your perspective
  • Take care of your body

I lost my mom when she was much too young, 38.  When I turned 39 I realized I lived longer than her, and at 40 I was thankful to still be here for my own children.  Rather than dread that age milestone, I understood how fortunate I was to celebrate it!  My life experience–loss of my mother as a child–has shaped my perspective on aging, I think for the better.  Though I don’t long for gray hair or wrinkles, I’m thankful I’ve lived long enough to earn them.

“Nature gives you the face you have at twenty; it is up to you to merit the face you have at fifty.” ~ Coco Chanel

Oooo, that’s good! Yes, we’re subject to genetics, but we can take care of what we have!  Given one body to steward for a lifetime, we’ve got two choices:  neglect it or tend it.  Eating well and staying fit are foundational, but I realized only recently that it’s just as important to take care of my skin.  The alternative isn’t pretty, and though I can’t indefinitely stave off wrinkles and other signs of aging, with even a little bit of intention, I can slow down the process.

Keep reading Connect and share the link with your friends and family.  Here, you’ll find a team of writers devoted to bringing you information to help you take care of your body and the inspiration to follow through.  What a great way to begin a new year!