Attitudes Towards Aging

Today’s blog is the first of in a series of three. The first addresses the attitude of our culture towards aging.

Young, beautiful actress Vanessa Hudgens is on the front cover of the May, 2009 issue of the . Magazine Self. This lovely 20 something year-old is dressed in a form fitting bikini. Also, on the cover of this magazine is the following articles: Reveal Your Best Body; Happier Hotter Sex; Find More Energy; Yes, You Can Have Diet Success; Readers Choose the Top Buys for Skin, Hair, And Makeup; Be a Natural Beauty-48 Tips to Help You Grow; and Stretch Your Way Slim and Strong. This magazine is the metaphor for our current culture and attitude toward aging. This culture of ours caters to youth and beauty.

The May 1, 2009 issue of The Week has an article about Susan Boyle. You may or may not even remember Susan Boyle? The article is titled Susan Boyle: the Homely Nightingale. Susan is a 50-year-old virgin , unemployed, with frizzy hair, midriffs and a figure, like a spinster teacher from the

1940s, said Amy Wilentz in the Los Angeles Times. Sarah Lyall in the New York Times Stated: “Boyle has become an instant heroine to millions of women who cheer her triumph over look-ism  and ageism.” Yes, Susan Boyle, was from a small Scottish town, who sang: “I Dreamed a Dream” on a British talent show. Her performance was terrific and she has been viewed over 100 million times on YouTube. On top of that she had a number one hit on the

music charts. Maybe there is hope that we can break through this youth and beauty addiction. Wouldn’t it be great to see other people become famous even if they’re not young, slim, and pretty? Hopefully, we can break through the youth and beauty addiction.

However, turn on the TV and what products do we find? Many commercials, during the daylight hours, portray older individuals getting that special prescription from that man in the white coat for all these new disorders, ailments, diseases, and other problems connected with aging.Unfortunately, that’s the view portrayed by the media. We are expected to become ill and sick. However, all we have to do is to ingest a pill in order to put a smile on our face. Is pill taking what we have to look forward to when aging? That’s not how I want to age.

I believe there is another way to view the process of aging. It is based on the belief that we have the power, the will, and the determination to make changes in our life. In other words, if we begin to think differently about aging, we will more control over what happens to us .

Time Magazine has  a number of interesting commentaries and articles in reference  to aging.They reported that about 70% of how we age is under our control while about 30% is genetically  based.  Read Part 2 tomorrow.