The Fountain of Youth

My sister came across a recent article (and translated it into a language a non science-y person can understand). It talked about the potential for transfusions of young blood into older people to improve brain function. Potentially, these transfusions could be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s).

From a pharmaceutical and cosmetic perspective, it suggested it could (with many long years of research) be used as an anti-ageing product. The potential of this, blew. my. mind.

Yep, let’s face it, I have no idea what I am talking about in terms of research. The point is this…what if we had a drug that could stop us from ageing?

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There are two aspects of this. The first – we could live healthy lives for much much longer. The pressure of an ageing population would be relieved, retirement age would most definitely rise! I could go on. But the second, more cynical side would be pharmaceutical companies developing something for the purpose of keeping us looking young. I am cynical enough to believe that this is something that wouldn’t filter down to the masses. It would be an elite drug, for those rich enough to deny to postpone natural ageing.

Imagine, no fear of wrinkles or sagging skin or deep bags under your eyes. The potential to look eternally young.

My problem with this is – who said looking young was so good anyway?

When I look at my older colleagues and don’t share their wish for Botox, I get told that I’ll change my mind when I’m their age. The thing is though, I feel (unless you are a ridiculously shallow human being) you generally accept someone as they are.

The more you get to know them, the more you accept them. They stop being “the petite lady with the brown hair” and they become a name.

Those physical features that first helped you distinguish them fade and you notice their personality. The point is, I certainly don’t judge my colleagues or see their age as a determining feature, only in the way that they clearly have more experience than me – which in the world of work is highly sought after.

In fact, I could probably be doing with looking a bit older and I could maybe blag a few more years experience at my next interview.

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When I look at my mum, or my gran or nan, I don’t see their age, I see the faces of my family members, I’ve known them for 24 years but I couldn’t tell you that they’ve aged. They look the same to me every time I see them. I see the face of my mum, nan or gran as I always have.

So why do we want to look young? Yes, I can see the amazing benefits of feeling youthful and healthy, but why do we have to look young?

To me, it’s just another way to generate a huge amount of profit by selling us the (currently) impossible. You’re not going to look 22 at age 52, and doing so will only make you look frozen or permanently surprised.

I don’t think it’s cool to look 22 at 52, if it was possible, I think it would be a little bit creepy, and you would be throwing away those years of experience and gracefully maturity that I secretly envy when I people watch on the train.

I want to be able to reach the age where I can cut my hair short and dress demurely and walk around with a confidence that says they’re at the age where they simply don’t care what others think and that they would happily put you in your place if they had to.

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When I hear older colleagues talking about their age hang ups, and I tell them they don’t need anything, they give me the you’ll-change-your-mind-look. But my point is – nothing is wrong with them, it’s the stupid idea that we have to look younger that is wrong. That’s what needs to change.

Happy ageing everyone!

If you enjoyed this article, why not check out ‘What’s My Age Again’?

Tags: ageing beauty body image eternal youth

Categories: Becky Solomon From the Heart Mirror Mirror: Self Improvement Wise up!