This is WAY too real. I constantly oscillate between feeling grateful for all that a decade or so has done for me (more financial stability, USUALLY more self assurance) and freaking out when people call me MA'AM (can we just STOP).
I feel this because I thought I didn’t care, and a part of that is because people consistently guess that I’m 5-10 years younger than I actually am. So I was surprisingly SO devastated when someone was able to guess my age correctly. Like something changed in me. And I feel bad and overly vain and guilty for caring? I dunno, I’m also in and out with it but recently my biggest complaint is more about how the body keeps score- I’m not even talking mentally, but that time I twisted my knee means my knee will forever be messed up. My sprained ankle will come back if I look at a curb wrong. Etc. muscle strains that normally will go away within a day or two now lingers for weeks. Basically: sigh. Such is life.
As someone who is *almost certainly* older than you (I’m 43 - still technically a millennial but the very oldest version), I kind of… love aging? Don’t get me wrong, at first it’s hard to stomach. The first time I saw my crepey neck in a photo I wanted to disappear into the center of the Earth. But eventually you just kind of settle in and realize you’re becoming yourself. Just as growing up was you becoming you, aging is also you becoming you. We’re conditioned to view it as something to be avoided - BELIVE ME, the attachment to the “you look so young” compliment is universal - but I think we have it wrong. We don’t stop developing after we hit adulthood. It’s not “all down hill” from there. It’s all the journey. It’s all the good part. You should get Botox if it will make you happier, but I’m more greatly concerned (in myself) with my mental space being focused on looking younger and keeping me from being who and where I actually am. Sorry this is so long!
Thank you so much for sharing! I am 38 and the "crepey neck" struggle is already REAL! This is very insightful and helpful so thank you and thank you for reading :)
Also wow I've been wanting to visit Hollywood Forever Cemetery forever and I must prioritize. I've literally just been writing this week about how much I love to sulk through a cemetery. So beautiful and quiet!
Gah yes, it's a *truly* stunning place! Full of magical "only in LA" type wonders! Highly recommend, especially if you ever get the chance to go to a Cinespia movie screening there also!
This is WAY too real. I constantly oscillate between feeling grateful for all that a decade or so has done for me (more financial stability, USUALLY more self assurance) and freaking out when people call me MA'AM (can we just STOP).
i'm so glad you can relate! and yes, the "ma'am" of it all gets me and sends me into a bit of a spiral EVERY time... totally get that.
I feel this because I thought I didn’t care, and a part of that is because people consistently guess that I’m 5-10 years younger than I actually am. So I was surprisingly SO devastated when someone was able to guess my age correctly. Like something changed in me. And I feel bad and overly vain and guilty for caring? I dunno, I’m also in and out with it but recently my biggest complaint is more about how the body keeps score- I’m not even talking mentally, but that time I twisted my knee means my knee will forever be messed up. My sprained ankle will come back if I look at a curb wrong. Etc. muscle strains that normally will go away within a day or two now lingers for weeks. Basically: sigh. Such is life.
I relate BIG time to all of this! It stings every time someone nods when I say my age...instead of GASPING and expressing SURPRISE!!
As someone who is *almost certainly* older than you (I’m 43 - still technically a millennial but the very oldest version), I kind of… love aging? Don’t get me wrong, at first it’s hard to stomach. The first time I saw my crepey neck in a photo I wanted to disappear into the center of the Earth. But eventually you just kind of settle in and realize you’re becoming yourself. Just as growing up was you becoming you, aging is also you becoming you. We’re conditioned to view it as something to be avoided - BELIVE ME, the attachment to the “you look so young” compliment is universal - but I think we have it wrong. We don’t stop developing after we hit adulthood. It’s not “all down hill” from there. It’s all the journey. It’s all the good part. You should get Botox if it will make you happier, but I’m more greatly concerned (in myself) with my mental space being focused on looking younger and keeping me from being who and where I actually am. Sorry this is so long!
Thank you so much for sharing! I am 38 and the "crepey neck" struggle is already REAL! This is very insightful and helpful so thank you and thank you for reading :)
🤍🤍🤍 also let’s just say the person (dude) who coined the term “turkey neck” needs to be rocketed into the sun 😃
AGREE!
Also wow I've been wanting to visit Hollywood Forever Cemetery forever and I must prioritize. I've literally just been writing this week about how much I love to sulk through a cemetery. So beautiful and quiet!
Gah yes, it's a *truly* stunning place! Full of magical "only in LA" type wonders! Highly recommend, especially if you ever get the chance to go to a Cinespia movie screening there also!