Apparently seventy is the new forty.  At least it is in Hollywood, and it’s amazing what can be achieved with bottles, syringes, surgery and MONEY!

 
So when did all this vanity kick in and what’s wrong with ageing naturally? I always thought the nice thing about getting older was that you were expected to have wrinkles, and people just grew into their face.  Aren’t those lines supposed to be character forming?

Unquestionably we are drawn to attractive individuals.  It’s our basic instinct, even babies do it, but it’s what’s inside that really counts. 

These days there’s so much pressure to look young, and everyone is striving to achieve the youthful appearance of the airbrushed and digitally enhanced celebrities, who fill our magazines, that common sense seems to disappear as quickly as our cash.

Taking pride in your appearance is commendable and it is a fact of life older people are treated differently, so it’s not surprising we want to hang on to our youth for as long as possible.  As you age often you can feel invisible, as if your opinions and presence don’t count. 

It’s such a pity our eyes don’t appreciate the value and variety of people of all ages, instead of just judging their size and wrinkles. Such insecurities result in all sorts of expensive surgical procedures which carry an element of risk, and which seldom last for long.

Older people, myself included, don’t feel what they see in the mirror.  My reflection says I’m the age I am now, but inside I’m twenty years younger.  It doesn’t bother me, and I feel under no pressure to have botox, a tummy tuck or cosmetic surgery, even if it would make me look like the thirty something model who is supposedly using the latest in a long line of anti-ageing creams.  I like my laughter lines and if others don’t, then tough.

Maybe if people don’t like their appearance they should invest in one of those mirrors you find at funfairs, which distort your appearance.  It would be cheaper and less dangerous than surgery.

I’ve always found the best way to look more attractive is to laugh.  There’s something about a smile which makes you feel good, and also it makes other people wonder what you’ve been up to which can’t be bad!Maybe it’s time for us to reassess our attitudes and lifestyle. 

Genetic inheritance is obviously significant, and money can enhance your looks, but it’s no good looking ten years younger on the outside if your insides aren’t ageing quite as well.It’s important to create and maintain a high level of activity both in physical and mental exercise.

According to a recent poll, most of us fear losing our mind more than having a major physical illness.The prospect of becoming dependent on the help and care of others is daunting; no matter how good you might look, and I for one value my brain more than my looks. However, to end on a lighter note, I received this joke once, which seems appropriate.