From one day to the next, I go from belonging to the 50-60-year-old age group to being a 60-70-year-old. The other day I posted a status on SoMe about going to Denmark at 59 and coming home to Norway at 60. Messages poured in from mature ladies praising me for always mentioning my age with the utmost self-assurance. I hit a nerve with many, preferably women, but also men – who say that it is an age focus and hysteria that is rampant. You feel more overlooked and less listened to than before, as soon as it appears from the outside that the personal color palette has changed and that the law of gravity works, also on people. “Age is just a number” and “the alternative is so much worse”, are platitudes people blurt out when it’s a birthday for those of us who have passed the dinner height. We hear that Meryl Streep is doing well in Hollywood despite her age. Erna Solberg does the same in politics. She is valued for her wisdom and experience. But how do most people feel about age? We know perfectly well that we go from juicy grapes to prunes to the raisin stage on the outside, but how do we feel on the inside? Is it really something we can do something about – and if so, what and how? Most of us are concerned with aesthetics. We like to look at something pretty. Appearance, both the natural and what you can buy or retouch and filter yourself, matters. The beauty industry lives by paying influencers with “perfect”, far from normal, looks. The Barbie trend is alive and well over 60 years after the doll’s origin. We are bombarded with impressions and we imprint them time and time again – whether we like it or not – consciously and many times unconsciously. You don’t need to be a neuroscientist to understand that. I, who previously did not like orange, allowed myself to be influenced by the advertising “Orange Is the New Black”, where tanned beauties got an even finer glow in their skin with orange clothes. On Snapchat, it’s a short way to the button with soft filter – glory, such nice and blemish-free skin I got … in the photo. I had to post it. And get lots of likes and comments like “what’s in the water at Lesja since you don’t age”. Self-deception – I felt it deep down and thought: This is not good, Hanne. What kind of stunt are you participating in and contributing to? Since I have the desire to make the world a better place, I have to start with myself. My two life mottos are: “When you forget yourself, you are close to remembering the real thing” from my Danish class teacher in 1st grade, and “You should always live so that you can look in the mirror every morning without looking down ». The latter is of course about being able to look yourself in the eye and know that you have behaved properly towards others, that you are not embarrassed and ashamed of yourself. But I realize that in the future I also have to look a little further down. On the mouth, which has got small wrinkles around it from both gaping laughter and pointy-mouthed worry, on the neck with looser skin that I assume giraffe position to straighten. On the breasts, forearms, stomach, bottom, thighs – where the skin everywhere has become a number too big and has taken on the character of orange peel? Or fish scales? Or what do I know. My innate and partly learned stubbornness comes in handy. I decide to be happy, accept the packaging as it is. And rather live 100 per cent by the motto that beauty comes from within – because yes, it’s true. I will continue to cultivate aesthetics, make the best of my appearance when I have time and desire – with creams, paints, clothes and accessories. In short, make the best of the starting point, with the continued conviction that life’s glass is half full and not half empty. I am, still .. for now, 186 cm in stocking, 69 kilos, blue-eyed and nicely used with a certain patina. And I’m f … not expired. One thing is certain – I will never shut up, even if I live to be 100 years old and well past the rosy stage. I can’t find myself being ignored, not now and certainly not in 40 years! Also read:
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Good both before and after – Expression
