There's a trend in home decorating that includes antiques, faux finishing (making walls look old with special paint techniques) and "distressed" furniture. Anything old or even appearing to be antique is good when it comes to the interior design of your home. When it comes to your face and body, however, the rule of thumb changes - because any sign of aging has become reason enough to run to the plastic surgeon or latest diet and exercise guru.

What gives with the concept of "old" being embraced in home decorating, but shunned when it comes to people's bodies? Apparently, old buildings and antique décor are respected for their historical worth. Does an older person have to overhaul herself in order to be valued as well?

We as a society buy into the idea that youth is better, perhaps without realizing why we do. In truth, to be young is not always an advantage - mature individuals usually have the edge on wisdom, based on life experience ("the school of hard knocks"). And you can't ignore an older worker's job expertise as compared to that of a green youth fresh out of school.

Be that as it may, we tend to judge a book by its cover, and if the package isn't pretty and fresh, it may go unnoticed and unappreciated. Unfortunately, we tend to determine a person's value by physical beauty (or lack thereof) as well. Of course, the older the individual, the more wrinkles - and therefore, "flaws" - he may have. Too bad mature folks can't be judged like pieces of furniture, where the "antique look" is worth more!

But, alas, until that magical day when your "inner you" counts more than the outer one, you might be one of the crowd continuously working on your appearance. Maybe you're watching every new line on your face, counting grams of fat in your diet, and looking nervously across the room at a party for someone who might be younger and more attractive.

Or . . . you could decide that you won't accept the culture's take on the supremacy of youth, letting each wrinkle and imperfection show up at its own time. Rest assured, there's no necessity for going under the knife to try to stay youthful. Actress Jamie Lee Curtis says in a People magazine interview, "I did all of it [plastic surgery] in attempting to stave off aging." She added that the surgery made her look and feel worse.

In the end, it's how you feel about yourself that counts. You can't buy self-acceptance in a drugstore or a doctor's office - it, like most things of value, comes from within.

© Kathy Sanborn
Life Channels Staff Writer
All Rights Reserved

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