I got asked to attend a summer dance last week by a friend and her husband. No escort but she told me that it would be a fun party and that it was a 70s themed evening. I was okay and comfortable about going alone.
However, on the afternoon of the party as I was trying to figure out what to wear, I freaked. Why did I say I would go and what was I thinking? I mean it wasn’t just the idea of a party solo. I found myself looking in the mirror and seeing how old I was and that the party would include a lovely group of 30 and 40 year olds in short dresses and short sleeves and I thought how am I going to look that good.
I called a good pal and lamented about going and he said “Don’t try to be 35. You are not and it doesn’t matter. Go as who you are now and you will have a great time”. And that was it. I went with whatever dress I had selected. And it was fun and it was great to be at an evening with all ages.
It is true that the world of fashion markets to young and beauty magazines feature young and the result is that we are made to feel not worth the effort to market to or to feature as beautiful and interesting. But you know what? Let’s appreciate this day and every day and forget about trying to look like Gisele. (Well, maybe imagine it our dreams!)