Dear Second-Half-of-Life Women,
I saw a photo of myself today, in the kind of lighting that showed the new wrinkles, creases and gravitational pull that is part this chapter of life. And . . . I saw within myself, finally, the kind of beauty I have seen in other women who are also crossing the bridge from the young years to the wisdom years. It’s a beauty that seems to be a forbidden secret, because it so dramatically defies most of what we’ve been taught about what beauty is in our culture.
In this photo, I saw myself getting older. And I finally felt beautiful. It was a shock and a surprise, as I’m nearing my 5th decade. I’ve been all sorts of women over these decades, and I was certain a few years ago I’d already lived out the lives of the favorite women I’d get to be. I literally grieved over this belief.
I feel so silly now.
I want to tell you how beautiful YOU are. Sure, you can “pffffffft” at me—but I know what it’s taken to look as beautiful as you look today. You have a beauty that’s been earned through decades of living, enduring, building, creating, reinventing, and reinventing again. You have a beauty that cannot be bought or duplicated. You won it in battle. It can never be taken from you.
The only thing that makes it more beautiful is when you stand tall and own it—when you smile a knowing smile, or frown a knowing frown. When you decide that ALL OF IT, ALL OF WHO YOU ARE, AND HOW YOU ARE is worthy of being allowed a place of honor.
I used to be young. I know what it’s like to long for the body, and the health, and the energy that comes so effortlessly. But sister—that young and beautiful body brought you to THE BEST KIND OF BEAUTY . . . the kind that can never be taken away by gravity, sickness, or years. The kind of beauty that keeps getting more radiant as the years go by.
Some of these spans of years we go through age us dramatically. We can be convinced we did something wrong to bring it on ourselves, as if aging were something we could truly prevent if we only had lived a different way. Nope, we are all going to age. Why do we want to hold back on the gifts of it?
What if this new kind of beauty is really our soul saying, “IT IS TIME for you to step into this new era—it is time for you to be a wise woman. It is time for you to wear your badges, your robes, and your crown. It is time for you to be counted and named among the others. You are needed. Your wisdom is needed, your experience is needed, your patience and love are needed, your stories are needed, your fierce devotion is needed.”
Sister, here’s what I wish for you—no more shame, only pride and honor for what it’s taken to wear every wrinkle . . . every sag . . . every scar . . . every lump, every bump, every spot. Take the best care of yourself and then sing along when your body creaks, giving you a new beat to dance to.
I love you, I count myself among you. I will seek you out in crowds and give you a knowing nod, a confident smile, and an admiring bow.
You are so beautiful. Own it.
Here’s to the second half.
Melody Ross
