Showing posts with label aging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aging. Show all posts

Time of My Life

     Time is a valuable commodity.   If you want it to pass quickly, it ticks by slowly.  If you want time to stop so you can savor a moment, you are out of luck.  Once it is gone there is no getting it back.   Sometimes I wonder why anyone would want to rush time.  A person tends to the younger you are.  I can’t wait to get to 16, so I can drive!!  I can’t wait to get to 21,  so I can drink and go to the bar!!  I constantly encourage my kids to savor their youth because it passes so quickly.  

     Once you get past 21, the exuberance begins to fade and the years start to speed up.  After a while, it is just another year that has passed.  Another year older, another year wiser and no worse for wear.  Another year to mellow, another year to up the level of pi$$ and vinegar in the old attitude.

        Who doesn’t wish they could have more time?  More time with that loved one that has passed away?  More time to finish a special project? More time in the day?  What a shock to the system to see loved ones laying lifeless in a casket who only moments before were laughing, loving, living, and breathing along side us!    I remember thinking that time would surely stop without my parents in my life.  To my shock, it didn’t.  My heart broke, but I survived because I had no choice.  Time marched on without them in it.  


      I wish I could freeze time so my kids could be little forever.  Unfortunately that isn’t possible either.   Only yesterday they were sweet babies in my arms and now they are off at school more days than they are not filling their minds with the knowledge they will need to get through life. 


         Every time my husband comes home it seems the time goes so quickly.  There is never enough time to be together or do everything that needs done.  I hate to see him go and  can’t wait until his return.  My life revolves around when he will come home and when school is in session.   Get the kids on the bus!!  Get the kids off the bus!!  Get the dogs out before they create Lake Michigan on the kitchen floor or deposit goody goody gum drops under the television!

         It seems only yesterday I married the love of my life.  Somehow time has passed.  We both look a little older and a little wiser.  We both have faced life’s sorrows and bitter disappointments and our faces have lost the shining optimism we once  felt  when we embarked on our life together.  We have lived in two homes, had two kids, lost family members to death’s unyielding grip, struggled, celebrated, and triumphed.  We are still standing here today, together regardless of life’s adversity.

           If anything, I have learned over the years to make the best of the time I have.  I live each day as if it were my last because it very well could be.   I remember those I have lost with melancholy and wish often they were still here.  I long for how it used to be.  Time waits for no one.  It has never waited for me.  The Bible says all of our days are numbered and each of our lives have purpose.  So I will continue on doing the best I can with what I have.  I will find happiness where I can.  I will treasure the happy times laced with giggles, smiles, and tenderness.  I will  persevere and survive the bad because I don‘t have a choice.  

      When the time comes for my life to end, I will know I have done everything possible to have made the most of the life given me.  I will have persevered and triumphed.   Really that is all anyone can hope for.  I will leave this earth knowing I truly have had the time of my life.  Until next time when I give you another glimpse into the life of a trucker’s wife.

More Beauty and Style Secrets from Stylish 60 Somethings



With this winter weather I thought it would be a good time to post beauty and style secrets from two more stylish 60 somethings. If you have been following Advanced Style for a while now, you have probably come across Debra Rapoport and Tziporah Salamon. Here are their responses to the questions along with some video inspiration as well.
1. How old are you? What are your concerns with your appearance as you get older. What is your attitude towards aging?
I AM 60 YEARS OLD. MY CONCERNS ABOUT MY APPEARANCE ARE THE SAME AS THEY ALWAYS WERE: TO LOOK MY BEST, TO LOOK HEALTHY AND RADIANT, TO REMAIN FIT AND LEAN AND TONED AND IN SHAPE, TO FEEL MY BEST. A WOMAN IS LIKE FINE WINE - ONLY GETS BETTER WITH TIME.
2.How do you take care of your skin, keep it looking healthy. Are you worried about wrinkles and aging skin?
I'VE ALWAYS USED GOOD PRODUCTS THAT I BELIEVE IN. MAINLY ORGANIC AND ALL-NATURAL. OF COURSE, I SEE THE WRINKLES AND MY SKIN AGING AND CHANGING. AND I GET A TWINGE OF REGRET OR ALARM- FOR A MINUTE. THEN I GO ON ABOUT MY BUSINESS AND FORGET ABOUT IT.
3. How do you keep your hair looking healthy. Do you color your hair? What is your thoughts on gray hair?
I THINK IT ALL STARTS WITH DIET AND TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF. I EAT A SIMPLE DIET OF ORGANIC VEGETABLES, GRAINS, BEANS, TOFU, SEAWEED, FRUIT AND FISH. I BIKE. I RUN. I DANCE.
I MOVE. I STAY ACTIVE AND INTERESTED AND PURSUE WHAT I LOVE. NO, I DON'T COLOR MY HAIR. I'VE BEEN LUCKY THAT IT'S ONLY NOW STARTING TO TURN GREY. AND I THINK I WILL PROBABLY NOT COLOR IT - I LIKE THE WAY GREY HAIR LOOKS ON SOME WOMEN AND I HOPE I AM ONE OF THOSE WOMEN. I AM A PERFECTIONIST ABOUT THE CUT AND I GO TO THIS INCREDIBLE HAIRDRESSER , CHUCK CITRIN, WHO KNOWS EXACTLY HOW TO CUT IT AND DOES A GREAT JOB EVERY TIME.
4.How has your style changed as you have gotten older. Do you feel more free to experiment with style. How do you get out of a style rut?
I'VE ALWAYS HAD A STRONG SENSE OF STYLE. I'VE ALWAYS KNOWN WHAT LOOKS BEST ON ME AND I'VE ALWAYS BEAT TO MY OWN DRUM. IT'S BEEN THE ONE CONSTANT THROUGHOUT MY LIFE.
HAVING GROWN UP TO INCREDIBLY GIFTED PARENTS WHO MADE ALL MY CLOTHES, I WAS THE BEST DRESSED GIRL IN TOWN FROM DAY ONE. I STILL PLAY DRESS UP EVERYDAY. I STILL GET A THRILL OUT OF PUTTING TOGETHER OUTFITS. I STILL REJOICE WHEN I FIND SOMETHING I LOVE THAT SETS MY HEART ON FIRE.
5.Any advice you would give to others who are concerned with aging…
EMBRACE IT! CELEBRATE LIFE AND THE YEARS THAT YOU GET TO LIVE IT.
I LOOK AT GEORGIA O'KEEFE AS MY STYLE INSPIRATION. SHE WAS STUNNING AS A YOUNG WOMAN. AND SHE WAS GORGEOUS AS AN OLD WOMAN - WRINKLES AND ALL. WHAT REFINEMENT!
WHAT BEAUTY! WHAT ELEGANCE!

Debra Rapoport
Here are Debra Rapoport's responses. Debra is a healer and reflexologist, feel free to email with any health and style concerns at Debrathenutritionista@gmail.com .


1.I am 65 plus...and you can't help wondering why your skin is no longer youthful. So I do the best I can and allow myself to accept what I can't change. I do not want to make any additions or changes to my face/skin.Economically, it is not my priority.


I inherited pretty good skin from my mother.
I have never spent time in the sun but skin changes as the collagen decreases.
Since I have never been a beach person I don't worry about how I look in a bathing suit. I look good in clothes and I love to be dressed My attitude towards aging is to go gracefully and have as much fun as you can. It can't be avoided.
2.I feel very youthful as I am health and have to aches or pains.
I care for my skin with very few commercial product. I cleans and moisturize mainly with olive oil, coconut oil or jojoba oil. I I use product I go for Weleda or Dr. Hauschka. Also Pratima which are very pure Ayurvedic products sold on line or from a location on Green St. NYC .
I have worn make up since I am very young and I think it does protect the skin but I do clean my skin at night. I have never been a sun worshipper so have been protected from dangerous rays since very young. My mother knew back then in the late 40's.
I don't like the wrinkles but dislike the sagging skin more. I have just accepted it. YOGA helps too; doing inversions and stretching and strengthening the facial muscles.
As the say "better to smile than to frown" .
3.I do color my hair for years. I like grey hair if it is healthy. I have considered growing mine out because I think I am almost ALL white...so I add the pink for fun. Perhaps soon I will go white.
I keep hair short...have almost always had short hair. The hair gets finer and softer with age so short is better, for me.
I use simple shampoos, much product, different brands, always trying something new but also apply coconut oil or olive oil for shine and to feed the hair.
4.I have always dressed up. I find the seasons have more influence than age. In winter it is harder to wear certain things because you are usually hidden under coats. So I allow the coat/hats/scarves be the statement.
I may dress a bit more "grown up" now because I want to dress to suit myself but I don't want to look foolish. I often will wear youthful things such as short skits but done properly for my age and body type. It is very important to address your body type and know what looks good on you. Really look at yourself and don't judge yourself harshly, but give a good look.
5.To help get out of a rut try thrifting. I like to THRIFT because I will try things on that I may not see or bother with in a store. But thrifting at the right price, I can take a chance, try to make something work, alter it or pass it on.
Try colors you ordinarily wouldn't wear. Even if you just do it as an accessory; not an entire garment. Try accessories you would not normally wear...like a hat, a belt. I know as we get older belts are often a problem.
I think being active and involved allows us to feel better about ourselves. Doing regular exercise keeps us aware of our body and thus feel better. Eating well and simply is very important as we advance in order to maintain our health. This allows us to physically feel well, have mental acuity and balanced energy.
Getting some form of regular body work is excellent for keeping well, balanced and fit.
Find what is fun and go for it. Dressing up everyday gives us a focus for each day. It can be simple but feel good and enjoy the process.