Ageing (again)
Photography by Danielle Ann Rose @bydanielleannrose
I’m not going to lie, seeing signs of ageing on my face recently surprised me a little bit, and I absolutely did notice the thoughts and feelings that arose from their presence. However, I have developed a different outlook on the situation since processing this fact. Aging is a privilege, not everyone gets to experience and an opportunity I certainly never expected to receive
When I was a teenager and at my lowest mentally I found it very difficult to imagine surviving life long enough to experience a version of myself who had wrinkles or fine lines and that’s probably why I was taken back when I initially saw them beginning to form. That and obviously with the way society and the media speak to us it’s common for us to want to look youthful forever, though to be honest, I think it’s cool that I’m here experiencing this aspect of life I never thought I would
The lines on our faces are a sign of every experience we’ve ever encountered, every smile and laugh we’ve ever shared, every frown we’ve ever given and every emotion we’ve ever expressed. These moments are what make up our life and to embrace that life for all its highs and lows and wear the lines on our faces like a badge of honour, is something to be proud of
Ageing can cultivate a profound appreciation for the moments, that have shaped us. Every piece of wisdom we’ve gathered along the way is reflected through the grace of our skin. The way it changes over the years is a work of art that should be appreciated and admired
Ageing is an invitation to savour the present, to enjoy the moments we share with loved ones and to be grateful for the lives we are living. It is a reminder to nurture our bodies and minds and to be kind to ourselves as we learn and grow
Recently, my partner and I attended Dermot Kennedys concert where he spoke about the meaning behind his newest album “Sonder.” While the word wonder itself means “the profound feeling of realizing that everyone, including strangers passing in the street, has a life as complex as one's own, which they are constantly living despite one's personal lack of awareness of it,” he expressed his own intention for the album was about the fact that we only have one life and that we should live life to the fullest, be courageous and go after the goals and dreams we have for ourselves because life is precious and we never quite know when it could be over
Later on the way home, I expressed to Tyson that I know this is something people regularly talk about but for me, it’s not something that’s ever been a motivator because I truly never expected to live this long. For me, the life I am currently living is all extra time because I didn’t call it quits when I thought I would as a teenager. This idea that time is ticking and life could be over at any point is something I believe encourages people to be bold and do the things they’ve always wanted to but for me, I feel like I’m in bonus time, just wondering around doing things I never expected to, which is a weird thing to say out loud and share with someone because it makes me realise it’s not a normal mindset to have
I don’t know if this has any relevance to anyone else but I wanted to share it because I’m in this weird moment in my life where I get to start being a real adult, making real long-term decisions and I just don’t know how I got here, or what to do with it all
Life’s weird and aging is a part of that weirdness, but it’s a beautiful gift not everyone has the ability or opportunity to experience so take it in your stride, look for the beauty in it and enjoy the ride
