It's an Uphill Battle, But I'm Not Ready to Raise the White Flag

I'm talking about the battle to stay young, to feel and look young. I don't mean crazy young, but just 'younger'. It's not easy; anyone anywhere around my age knows that. But ladies, we are not giving up; not raising and waving that white flag; not yet. Okay, so it does get even harder as the years go by, but each day we can make a difference in the way we look and feel. This week is spa week; and for the first time in probably twenty-five years, I had a facial. Rachele and I booked it a couple of weeks ago, and it was pure heaven. My skin absolutely glowed with no make-up of any kind! I was reminded to use sunscreen each and every day (which I don't do). It's not that I'm baking in the sun; no, I won't do that anymore. But just walking the dog, or running around, I really don't wear sunscreen. Maybe I should start. Let's face it ladies; my generation really knew how to 'soak up the sun'. I shudder to think of the slathering of baby oil, the album covers as sun-reflectors (covered in aluminum foil!)hours and hours of baking! When I look in the mirror now, I can't believe my skin has remained as good as it has instead of drying up like a prune. I guess the sun was just alot less strong back then.

Anyway, getting back to beauty - exercise is a must on the road to re-youth. I'm really good at long walks, but lately haven't been doing much else. Rachele brought home some excercise tapes from Physique 57 Exercise Studio in the City. Physique 57 is the excercise du jour of many celebrities, and Rachele actually goes and works out there. Her and I did the tape; it was so hard, and I was so sore for three days. But now I want my own set of these tapes. It anything can kick our butts (and everything else) into shape, it is these tapes. I will force myself to use them.

Yesterday I passed by a woman probably about my age, with long white/gray hair. Honestly, she looked pretty good. I, however, cannot jump on this bandwagon. Even though the thought crosses my mind from time to time, I will not allow myself to have gray hair. Even though I absolutely hate "washing those grays right out of my head" I cannot have gray hair. And that's that.

Hands. Next on the list. I do not get my nails done, and very infrequently put nail polish on myself. I need to get better at this; sometimes my cuticles are atrocious. Maybe once a week I can polish my short trim nails. Hands I think are a real tell-all as far as age is concerned. Need to improve in this area.

We all have our 'pretty days' when we look in the mirror in the morning and you just know it's gonna be a great day. And then there's the 'ugly days' where no amount of precious pink blush can do the trick - everything just looks really bad. You just want to wear sweatpants all day long. We have to fight through those ugly days!! Smile at yourself in that mirror - you always look younger when you smile, and prettier. We can do it, one baby step at a time, yes we can. The battle is on - bring it.