Today is As Young As You Feel Day!

I don't know how young Christie Brinkley feels, but at 57, she looks fantastic!

"We need to stay viable, we need to look vibrant, and we need to stay visible. Because if you feel good about yourself, veryone around you will feel good too. Confidence is contagious. You have to get to the point where you can look in a mirror and say, 'Wow! I look fabulous!'"--Charla Krupp


Today, according to Wellcat.com, is As Young as You Feel Day: "Now more than ever you are as young as you feel. So stop acting your chronological age and get out there and start feeling peppy!"

I admit it...the older I get, the more I resist the idea of looking and acting old. I mean, I know I have to be realistic...I'm definitely not young anymore, and I couldn't look like a teen-ager if I wanted to. However, I do want to be the very best (mumbling my age under my breath)-year-old woman I can be!

Inner Beauty

Of course, I believe inner beauty is the most important thing of all. A woman in her twenties may be absolutely gorgeous while being ugly on the inside...but by the time she gets to be my age, believe me, that ugliness is showing up on her face.

But I think it's important for a woman to at least try to look attractive. I have to laugh when I remember something my dad used to jokingly say: "Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone!"

"How Not to Look Old"

A few years ago, I blogged about Charla Krupp's book, How Not to Look Old. Now, Charla's pretty opinionated about some of the wardrobe items she thinks we need to get rid of in our quest for a more youthful appearance, and I can't say I agree with her on every point...but here's the list:

Holiday sweaters with bells and appliqués (reindeers, teddy bears, bumblebees, pumpkins).
Granny necklaces that tell how many grandchildren you have.
Souvenir T-shirts.
T-shirts with meant-to-be funny sayings.
Acid-washed jeans.
Ripped jeans.
Shoulder pads.
Flannel shirts.
Muumuus. (**Does this really need to be stated?)
Photo handbags (the older you get, the more sophisticated your accessories should be).
Flesh-colored hose.
Penny loafers.
Oversize blazers.
Mommy robes.
Thin gold chain necklaces.
Elastic-waist pants.
Granny undies.
Baggy sweats.
Bearlike, full-length fur coats.
Short shorts.
Cargo pants.
Stockings with reinforced toes.
Three-piece suits with vests.
Backpacks.

Now, I don't agree with her on everything, but it's certainly worth thinking about. Sometimes it can be as simple as changing your hair color, covering your gray, or getting rid of your 80's poodle-perm. We tend to get stuck in a rut, and sometimes we have to take a good hard look at ourselves and see what could be improved. If we look better, we're going to feel better--and you're as young as you feel!

I will not go gently into age-induced frumpiness!!!

Check out my book blog, Cindy's Book Club, where I'm currently reviewing Mel Starr's A Trail of Ink!