MALFUNCTION

Here's a "Testimonial" I presented as part of a Women's Service at my church last Sunday:

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First of all I’m annoyed that no one sees my red hair.  I complain about this a lot.  I mean, are people blind???  My hair is bright red!  It’s beautiful!  Everyone has told me this since I was 2 years old.  I don’t understand....

Next, I’m annoyed that they’ve started making jeans in weird sizes that don’t fit.  I mean, really, I can try on 20 pairs of jeans and not one, NOT ONE, fits anymore.  Why, back 30-40 years ago I could find a decent pair of jeans that fit like a glove!

Also, the entire skin care industry is tanking.  I slather on cleansers, toners, serums and various moisturizers, per manufacturers' exacting instructions and what happens?  I still see wrinkles!  It seems my skin is sagging a bit in the neck region.  Again, what’s with these products?  I’m calling for a recall!

Also, and this is really serious -- there are now more calories in food than there used to be.  I eat exactly the same amount of bread and cheese and cake but somehow the scale is showing weight gain.  That can’t be right.  Of course, it may be the scale; I’ve heard they can go bad and need recalibrating.

Someone suggested to me recently that all of these annoyances may be age-related.  Hogwash!  There are plenty of people out there my age and older who do not experience these changes.

Their hair is the same vibrant color it was in their 20’s.  Their skin is tight and taut and not sagging anywhere; in fact, in some cases, their faces barely move!  They have not gained an ounce of weight as they aged -- some have flatter tummies and impossibly perkier “other parts” than ever.  Their clothing fits perfectly.

So, obviously, there is combination of malfunction of my body and the industries in place to support it.  In our society, in the 21st century, there is absolutely no reason, we are told, for a person of advancing age to have to look like they look.  None at all.  

Unless, of course, looking like we look is some form of statement about self-acceptance; some form of protest against the cultural romance with youth; some crazy personal demonstration of the cumulative effects of a lifetime of love, challenge, joy, grief, hard work, and laughter that carves lines into our faces, causes gray hairs to sprout from our heads, and encourages us to embrace our imperfect bodies.

We all want to look our best, to look as “good as we feel” some say.  There is nothing wrong with a good haircut, flattering clothing, a little body adornment.  What is wrong is the message that we are not good enough just as we are, especially as we grow older in this youth-obsessed culture.  So next time you look in the mirror, don’t think “malfunction”.  Instead, smile and say, “Hello Beautiful!”

At least, that's the view from here....©