Adversity & Resilience: Growing Older

Old Age. Why Dread It?

Is there any compensation for growing old? Many women ask this as they gaze disconsolately at themselves in the mirror. Yet is it so dreadful to grow old? An old tree, an old castle, an old cathedral, inspire us with awe and admiration; why should man alone lose as the years gather about hiss head? It all depends on the manner in which we grow old: it all depends upon what we are, not upon whether our cheeks are lined, and our limbs unable to compete in energy with those of the younger generation. There is then an art in growing old gracefully -that art mastered we shall--be safe and happy. As long as the wrinkles of the face do not extend to the heart all will be well, and one of the best ways to keep young is to keep friends with youth. To do this successfully three things should he remembered-not to be selfish, not to be suspicious, and not to compare present fashions with bygone ones in a way detrimental to the present. Nothing estranges youth from old age as completely as this habit, and the moment we have estranged youth we become lonely; then when we are lonely we feel old, and when we feel old we look old, and then we look old we are old! Colderidge divided old women into three classes-"That dear old soul," "That old woman," "That old witch." -Let us at least strive not to come under the last two categories! Environment can keep people young, and a person surrounded by love retains an allure of youth as attractive and as charming as it is commendable. There is a great deal of vital air in loving words, and to tell some one that they are looking young will in no small way help them to keep looking young!

 

FASCINATION. 
Children long to grow old! Old people long to grow; young! Who in sooth is satisfied? To children, age seems so long in coming; to age, youth is but a dream. It is now that matters. Just as fame and greatness sometimes come only at the end of life, some women are better looking from the ages of 40 to 6o than they were from 20 to 40. Attraction and fascination never grow old, neither does the indefinable "something" by which men are drawn to women. Notwithstanding and not ignoring the enormous power of the gift of beauty, the gift of fascination is a far more satisfactory possession. Its face never gets shrivelled, its eyes never lose lustre, its figure never takes on the blemishes of old age. It is more subtle, more powerful, and less public than beauty, and it does not need fine [?]ament to adorn it. [1]