A Middle Aged Women Looks At the Headlines

A Middle Aged Women Looks At the Headlines

Sometimes I just want to scream.

Three days before I turn fifty

I wake to find a headline about

actresses entitled "50-ish and Hot".

Please spare me the details of the

unnaturally erect breasts,

smooth foreheads, puffy lips,

missing crow's feet, hair extensions,

personal trainers and cooks.

Show me a women of age who

wears her wrinkles with pride,

the map of the trials she has

endured and the pain carried in silence.

Show me loose skin to tell the

tale of diets that have come and gone,

wide hips that carried children

and that have become wider to

hold grandchildren who leave jelly

stains on cheeks wet from tears of joy.

Show me gray hair, each strand

a badge of courage that stands out

to welcome another day spent

waging peace, creating a safe world,

a world fit to pass on, that carries the

mark of a life lived well by a woman

who was judged not by how "hot" she

was at fifty, but by how warm her heart

was at seventy.

Comments: 32

Chris Burnett Mar 30, 2006, 8:21am EST

Beautiful, beautiful, beauty! Wonderful at any age, especially when it is natural. Chris Burnett

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Christopher C. Mar 30, 2006, 8:27am EST

Linda, Great read, good flow of life, well written. You are woman. I salute you. Thanks for being. Thanks for sharing. A friend.

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Linda Douglas Mar 30, 2006, 8:33am EST

Thank you all. And, Wilhelmina!! that was wonderful!!!

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Done...cancelled...gather is not for ME Cancelled Mar 30, 2006, 8:40am EST

You've hit upon the essence of TRUE beauty.

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Faith H. Mar 30, 2006, 9:07am EST

We are all beautiful, at any age. This is great, Linda, I enjoyed it.

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Carol Voigts Mar 30, 2006, 9:21am EST

Yes, this is what is affirming for women and should be for any age. What we should strive for, (though I've already passed that mark an am nearer 70 than 50.

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Suzanne Wheatley Mar 30, 2006, 12:52pm EST

Here Here! Beautifully said!

Love, Suzanne

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Jana B. Mar 30, 2006, 1:28pm EST

Exactly!

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Chris L. Mar 30, 2006, 2:19pm EST

Hi, This is my first post as I just became a member. I am an "experienced" woman who thinks 50 is young! I think all these pictures and beauties are presented usually to get "us" to buy something... it's our capitalistic society. Being passionate about something and then taking Action will keep us young of heart and spirit. Which is what makes a person attractive. I personally abhor the idea of plastic surgery for vanity because I would be cutting myself - as if I'm not even acceptable to me. P.S. How do I post an image of myself to this forum? Thank you. Chris

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jessie voigts Mar 30, 2006, 2:39pm EST

love it - i wish that our culture valued wrinkles more, and skinniness less. excellent!

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Richard Frisbie Mar 30, 2006, 3:01pm EST

Linda - your inner beauty shines through. I enjoyed reading that. Feel better now?

Chris - go to the tool bar on top, click on:

my content
images

You can browse your images and then click :

upload.

and one box to check is make this my icon (or some such thing)

Good luck

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Jana B. Mar 30, 2006, 4:54pm EST

Chris,
Welcome to Gather! To post a picture of yourself, find the green tags at the top of the page and place the mouse over "Publish." Then click on "Images." Then click on the "Browse" link to search your hard drive for the file that you want to upload. Once you've uploaded the image, you can go to your "Images" page again. If you want the image to show up with each of your posts, click on "set as my icon" (just above the image).

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loretta s. Mar 30, 2006, 8:47pm EST

Thank you, Linda, for putting into beautiful words that which is really important! You are so, so right.

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Alice C. Mar 30, 2006, 10:05pm EST

My wide hips, jelly stained cheeks and gray hair thank you from the bottom of my well worn heart for your gracious words....Wonderfully written...Smiles to you

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marilyn l. Mar 30, 2006, 10:12pm EST

Beautifully written! Now I will think differently about my wrinkles. I will wear them with pride. As my beautician told me, "You earned them."
marilyn

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Clare Stella Mar 30, 2006, 10:57pm EST

This was great! Thanks for a piece well done.

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Valerie L. Mar 31, 2006, 1:39am EST

Amen, sister! Amen.

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Kathryn E. Apr 1, 2006, 12:40am EST

I echo all the great comments that came before me. Considering I hit 50 not long ago, I really resonate with this...True beauty is inner beauty of the soul.

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Sandy (Site Psychic™) Knauer Apr 1, 2006, 4:43am EST

What about the super white teeth - that aren't false? LOL

Nice sentiment, here, Linda. I'm going to play devil's advocate for a second and say I won't advocate disliking anyone who IS hot at fifty.. just hope she also has the warm heart that goes with it.

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Denise Powers Kissel Apr 1, 2006, 8:06pm EST

I really, really needed to read this today...

This was really, really powerful....

Denise in Akron

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Karen Latford Apr 2, 2006, 8:50am EDT

So true! Something for all women to live by!

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0000-doublel-0000 Apr 3, 2006, 10:40pm EDT

Well said, Linda! I haven't hit 50 yet but when I do it will be with grace, and whatever else comes with it!

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Maggie R. Apr 4, 2006, 9:04am EDT

amen to that.

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sheryl r. Apr 8, 2006, 7:15pm EDT

i am sliding past fifty this year and i have to tell you there is nothing wrong with it, a little more grey hairs appear,but that comes with all the new stress levels life creates. I am hoping my heart is still as warm in twenty years as it is now.Thank you for reminding me it is just a number.

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