Almost There!
Less than a week until my 40th birthday, and I am flying high! Weight loss: 33 pounds down, 7 to go...almost there. I went shopping and was amazed at some of the sizes I could wear...but I do know all about the changes in sizes, called "vanity sizes," that make us FEEL smaller than we really are! It still felt good putting them on and even having a little extra room! I KNOW the tiniest girls in America would wear a bigger size twenty years ago! This "vanity size" thing is really funny. At my tiniest in the 80s, I was under a 100 pounds and wore 3s/5s and sometimes 7s. Now I keep seeing people say they wear a 0 or 2...and they are bigger than I was back then! Guess I would have been a double zero!! That's just crazy!!
No matter what size I reach, I am feeling better about myself...I believe the saying about looking better = feeling better. It reminds me of times when I was sick and miserable, but felt SO much better after a long bath plus some pampering and primping. Not that appearance is everything...I definitely want to be valued more for WHO I am not HOW I look...but it still has a way of making me feel more confident about myself when I look my best. I guess that doesn't sound very feminist. There is a new wave of feminism now, called "third wave." The idea is to advocate empowerment for women while still embracing our unique feminine qualities. Maybe that explains my seemingly conflicting views. I want to be a strong and powerful woman, but I want to age gracefully and look and feel as good as possible for as long as possible. And I want to do this for ME, not for anyone else. The only person I am trying to please is myself!
In keeping with that theme, I am constantly fighting with my hair to keep the gray away. I have been cursed with the "premature gray" of most of the women in my family. The first strands begin appearing around 30 and they really try to take over around 40. In regards to the women in my family, most are completely "salt and pepper" by 45 and then "snow white" by 50. As far as I know, they all wear their white hair proudly. I think a lot of them get that "bluing" put in to keep it white instead of dingy and yellowed. Many have commented on being proud of their white hair. I think I may be the first woman in the family to NOT feel that way! I see those darn white hairs on my head as "the enemy"! I have battled with them for several years using do-it-yourself hair coloring systems. I feel SO much better when I look in the mirror and don't see them. If I let them go too long, my face becomes framed with them...I just HATE that! But I have struggled to find the perfect coloring for my hair. Some are too dark and make me look like Morticia Adams. When I try to go a bit lighter, it ends up being too "orangy." So I finally decided to get it professionally done. I have done this once or twice before, but I really can't afford to do it on a regular basis. I really enjoyed the pampering, but I nearly fainted when it was time to pay! In addition to the coloring, I had it cut into layers. The stylist did an excellent job! I really LOVE my hair right now! The problem is, how long will it last? I just cannot afford to return every few weeks to get touch-ups. Maybe I can find something to do at home in between salon appointments. But I am determined to keep this up...no white hair for me!
Well, I am almost 40 and I have nearly accomplished many of the goals that I set for myself. I had intended to reach many of them before my 40th birthday. I have some goals that I will not complete until AFTER my birthday. I hope to continue my weight loss and hopefully will be in the best shape possible by the end of the year. If so, then my New Year's Resolution will be to MAINTAIN the weight loss and STAY in good shape! After years of resolving to "lose weight" every January, it will be nice to change that to "maintain" instead of "lose"! It will feel great to accomplish that goal! That was one that kept showing up every year, and it felt like the "impossible dream" for a while. Now I am beginning to believe that the "impossible" is truly POSSIBLE! This applies to many areas of my life!
I will receive my Master's Degree in May...a few months beyond my birthday, but I still will be forty when I accomplish this goal. I am truly proud of myself for going back to school and preparing myself for a major career change. I know I will be starting fresh...a beginnner...a rookie...a newbie. In some ways, I feel like such a teenager again! You know the feeling...fresh from graduation, feeling like you can conquer the world and do anything you want to do! It is such an exciting time! I have big dreams and I believe I can accomplish my goals. Late start? Maybe. Too late? NO WAY! Some of the most accomplished people in life didn't really get going until they hit "midlife." This idea that the world belongs to young people and once you reach a certain age it is "too late"...well, that very idea is extremely outdated! Baby Boomers changed the world and continue to do so as they reach middle age. The time of catering to young people is over...they have matured into midlfe and now it is time to cater to the largest demographic in American history. I believe I can join this group of midlifers and be part of the "midlife revolution." This phenomenon is really happening...Boomers are changing what it means to be "over 40." I think it is so fascinating! I want to be part of the excitement!
I will be back next week to comment on how I feel when I am "officially in my forties." I am truly inspired by women reaching 40, 50, or 60 who say that they feel better now than they ever have before. I am beginning to see exactly what they mean. I feel so rejuvenated! As good as a teenager, but better because I have more knowledge and confidence than I did in my teens. The general idea that life is full of possibilities and the best part of life is still ahead of us...now THAT is a good attitude! Remember that song with the line, "My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades." That's EXACTLY how I am feeling right now! Woo hoo! :)
No matter what size I reach, I am feeling better about myself...I believe the saying about looking better = feeling better. It reminds me of times when I was sick and miserable, but felt SO much better after a long bath plus some pampering and primping. Not that appearance is everything...I definitely want to be valued more for WHO I am not HOW I look...but it still has a way of making me feel more confident about myself when I look my best. I guess that doesn't sound very feminist. There is a new wave of feminism now, called "third wave." The idea is to advocate empowerment for women while still embracing our unique feminine qualities. Maybe that explains my seemingly conflicting views. I want to be a strong and powerful woman, but I want to age gracefully and look and feel as good as possible for as long as possible. And I want to do this for ME, not for anyone else. The only person I am trying to please is myself!
In keeping with that theme, I am constantly fighting with my hair to keep the gray away. I have been cursed with the "premature gray" of most of the women in my family. The first strands begin appearing around 30 and they really try to take over around 40. In regards to the women in my family, most are completely "salt and pepper" by 45 and then "snow white" by 50. As far as I know, they all wear their white hair proudly. I think a lot of them get that "bluing" put in to keep it white instead of dingy and yellowed. Many have commented on being proud of their white hair. I think I may be the first woman in the family to NOT feel that way! I see those darn white hairs on my head as "the enemy"! I have battled with them for several years using do-it-yourself hair coloring systems. I feel SO much better when I look in the mirror and don't see them. If I let them go too long, my face becomes framed with them...I just HATE that! But I have struggled to find the perfect coloring for my hair. Some are too dark and make me look like Morticia Adams. When I try to go a bit lighter, it ends up being too "orangy." So I finally decided to get it professionally done. I have done this once or twice before, but I really can't afford to do it on a regular basis. I really enjoyed the pampering, but I nearly fainted when it was time to pay! In addition to the coloring, I had it cut into layers. The stylist did an excellent job! I really LOVE my hair right now! The problem is, how long will it last? I just cannot afford to return every few weeks to get touch-ups. Maybe I can find something to do at home in between salon appointments. But I am determined to keep this up...no white hair for me!
Well, I am almost 40 and I have nearly accomplished many of the goals that I set for myself. I had intended to reach many of them before my 40th birthday. I have some goals that I will not complete until AFTER my birthday. I hope to continue my weight loss and hopefully will be in the best shape possible by the end of the year. If so, then my New Year's Resolution will be to MAINTAIN the weight loss and STAY in good shape! After years of resolving to "lose weight" every January, it will be nice to change that to "maintain" instead of "lose"! It will feel great to accomplish that goal! That was one that kept showing up every year, and it felt like the "impossible dream" for a while. Now I am beginning to believe that the "impossible" is truly POSSIBLE! This applies to many areas of my life!
I will receive my Master's Degree in May...a few months beyond my birthday, but I still will be forty when I accomplish this goal. I am truly proud of myself for going back to school and preparing myself for a major career change. I know I will be starting fresh...a beginnner...a rookie...a newbie. In some ways, I feel like such a teenager again! You know the feeling...fresh from graduation, feeling like you can conquer the world and do anything you want to do! It is such an exciting time! I have big dreams and I believe I can accomplish my goals. Late start? Maybe. Too late? NO WAY! Some of the most accomplished people in life didn't really get going until they hit "midlife." This idea that the world belongs to young people and once you reach a certain age it is "too late"...well, that very idea is extremely outdated! Baby Boomers changed the world and continue to do so as they reach middle age. The time of catering to young people is over...they have matured into midlfe and now it is time to cater to the largest demographic in American history. I believe I can join this group of midlifers and be part of the "midlife revolution." This phenomenon is really happening...Boomers are changing what it means to be "over 40." I think it is so fascinating! I want to be part of the excitement!
I will be back next week to comment on how I feel when I am "officially in my forties." I am truly inspired by women reaching 40, 50, or 60 who say that they feel better now than they ever have before. I am beginning to see exactly what they mean. I feel so rejuvenated! As good as a teenager, but better because I have more knowledge and confidence than I did in my teens. The general idea that life is full of possibilities and the best part of life is still ahead of us...now THAT is a good attitude! Remember that song with the line, "My future's so bright, I gotta wear shades." That's EXACTLY how I am feeling right now! Woo hoo! :)
posted by Kate Ryan @ 8:16 AM
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