Growing old is not something to fear.
I woke up and my head was pounding. Not a dull pound either. A large, thumping, painful all encompassing thudding feeling. If a doctor had asked me to identify specifically where it ‘hurt’, I would have just made large circular motions around my skull.
It hurt everywhere. Too much red wine with dinner; Shiraz is always my downfall.
My husband is in a similar world of pain, so refuses to get out of bed and come with me when I attempt to rouse him around 8am. But I don’t care – I know the only cure for my headache is the delights of greasy bacon, fried eggs and warm coffee. As I stagger up the street, I see a group of 19-year-olds who haven’t hit the pain point yet. They’re still kicking on from the night before, unlike me they’re capable of pushing past the fatal 3am mark and on towards dawn.
One of the women shrieks and giggles as she holds back the hair of her friend, who is vomiting daintily in a public bin. She looks up to catch me staring at them and – noting my decade or so’s seniority – mutters audibly “Ugh, Claire, promise me we’ll never be THAT sad and old”.
The world tells us daily that the worst possible thing a woman can be is old.
Ask a group of 50-something women to describe how strangers perceive them and they’ll inevitably respond with one of three ‘i’ words: ignored, irrelevant, or invisible. The way we treat mean women, rude women, or lazy women pales in comparison to the special dismissiveness, and occasionally disdain, reserved for women of a certain age.
Top Comments
Really enjoyed this article! Given me some more inspirational women to look into as well - thanks!
Thanks Jamila as an older woman who does at times feel insecure about getting older, you have made a lot of valid points that I hadn't considered before, so thank you for the supportive and uplifting comments.
I recall a young man one time chatting me up, and I was laughing and saying I think I'm a bit old for you, and he said, "the older the wine the better it is." That made me feel great!
Of course before it becomes wine it starts off as a refreshing grape, so all ages of the life cycle has it's own worth.
So from a smooth wine to a succulent grape I say thanks for the sentiment Jamila :)