Aging Gracefully
Are you afraid of getting old? Do you know what 'old' means? Do you feel fear towards the concept of 'old'?
When the candles on your birthday cake read '50', do you feel like you're getting older? When your physical strength declines, do you feel like you're getting older? When you notice a few strands of white hair, do you feel like you're getting older? When you start to see wrinkles around your eyes, do you feel like you're getting older… When did you start to feel like you're changing with age?
I remember watching several palace dramas, all with similar scenarios: The favored concubine discovers she has white hair while brushing her hair, and immediately realizes her good days are over. She can only rely on 'blood is thicker than water' or 'rely on her family background' or 'cultivate power.' It sounds far from reality, but literary works are based on reality. Reality is: women are truly afraid of getting old, especially beautiful women. That's why many female celebrities develop a dependence on cosmetic surgery – they simply can't accept the wrinkles and even spend most of the money they earn on skincare.
Don't men also fear getting old? I've also seen men who discover they're starting to go gray and begin dyeing their hair regularly; some men take supplements to maintain their youth; some men go for wrinkle reduction injections. However, the fact remains that while women generally live longer than men, men generally handle aging better.
I'm not a person who clings to the past, and I don't reject cosmetic surgery; if conditions allow, I wouldn't rule out getting it myself. But I've also seen people who have used cosmetic surgery to retain their youth, but their faces look stiff and expressionless, which is not very comfortable. For example, Liu Xiaoqing certainly looks younger from a purely aesthetic perspective, but I still find Ni Ping more comfortable. Similarly, I've always liked actor Zhong Hanliang – I liked his slightly masculine but still charming appeal, but recently, seeing him online, he's gone for wrinkle reduction and sliming his face, although he's become ten years younger and can compare favorably with many current young idols, but my liking for him has decreased significantly.
I prefer to watch elderly people with gray hair and a simple, clean appearance. They may not be beautiful, but a sense of 'peaceful beauty' flows through their wrinkles, which is calming and serene. This is what 'old age' gives people – a sense of security.
Can you resist getting old? Many say, 'Forget your age.' But forgetting your age doesn't mean resisting getting old; forgetting age refers to a mindset, but sometimes forgetting age isn't a good thing.
I have a businessman in my circle who is 60+ years old, according to normal standards, he's also considered an elderly person. He has a very optimistic attitude and his energy is no less than when he was young. He maintains a work pace similar to his younger days, often works late and attends many events, basically working 365 days a year. One day he caught a cold and got wet in the rain, he felt sick and lay down to sleep, but his symptoms didn't improve and worsened. He went to the hospital and was diagnosed with pneumonia. After a month of illness, he finally saw his friends again. His friends saw that he was balding and his face was pale and haggard, and they thought he had cancer. In fact, it was just a simple cold that kept bothering him for a month.
A person's life is a parabolic curve; we have to accept everything that time brings. A positive mindset allows you to live in your prime during the aging process. Every age has its own beauty and unique life charm.
