CAN YOU SEE ME NOW?

I have often imagined taking to the air, gliding on high, suspended in flight. What whimsy, all that dipping and fluttering… downright thrilling! On the other hand, I would also enjoy stealthy, impossible to catch sight of, behind the scenes snooping… so much playful mischief. Delightful!

The many options available for the picking are mind-blowing. Nevertheless, I have always wavered between soaring skyward or crafty invisibility.

Alas, the fluttering one has completely eluded me, but it’s rumored that we (“Or Older” types) have unsuspectingly taken possession of the magic cloak Harry spoke so fondly of. The deluxe version.

We have attained invisibility. Isn’t that cool? I always thought so.

Quite the opposite. No sleight of hand or fantastical illusion is this acquired version, but rather a deceptive act of trickery meant to diminish our visibility to the world. Or so I am told.

There are many, like lots of MANY, articles written about women becoming unseen after 50. And it’s been dubbed – the Invisible Woman Syndrome. Isn’t that nice? Isn’t that just dreamy? What person man came up with this one?  

I am all for the allure of some flattering blurring and the creativity of a bit of smoke and mirrors – but this just seems like voodoo of the highest quality. DON’T WE HAVE ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH?

The what’s-that-word search,

parts heading south,

household clutter that our children won’t want,

not being able to get up without sound effects,

the neck, the face, the tush – sagging,

                  shrinking bladders,

CHIN HAIRS!!!

ENOUGH…

… ENOUGH I SAY.

To those exclaiming LOUD AND CLEAR that we are the generation afflicted with Invisible Woman Syndrome I say lift the cloak! Our blossoming years are filled with meaningful relationships, frequent laughter, heaps of hugs, dancing in the kitchen – all caught sight of, peeped at and taken notice of.

Some will say, “spare me”.

But have I got an awesome superpower we can all get behind… wait for it …SELECTIVITY. Think about it. Being a (Medicare) card-carrying member of the “Or Older” affords us the expertise in selective hearing and learning. SELECTIVITY!

As in, no obvious fingers in ears and audible lalalalalalala, just plain old extraordinary aural blocking of getting an earful expertise. So sorry I didn’t want to hear you.

And on top of that, distinguishing between what one has to become competent in and what one desires to gain mastery of (or just get the hang of) can be the liberating superpower of SELECTIVITY. As in, “wow, that sounds like such an interesting thing to learn about… but not for MEEEEEE”. WHEEEEE!!

Think we are insignificant? That we are to be tossed aside? That we are too old-er for something? Uncelebrated? Overlooked? In the background? Unsung? Underappreciated? Disregarded? Left out?

Who am I kidding? IT SUCKS.

But the short-sighted inference of age + bigger number = loads of shortcomings is nonsense. We are a bunch of cool, accomplished, magnificent, dynamic, funny, shimmering humans. Right?

And if we feel so inclined, we can activate our POWER of I’ll show you mentality.

Yeah!

Instead of others making us feel invisible, I say take back the power of the cloak. And proudly proclaim, shout it from the rooftops… it is NOT that WE are invisible …surely not my friends. It’s that WE CHOOSE NOT TO SEE YOU!

If I think of it in THAT way, have that frame of mind, then I can go for a positive spin on my reluctantly aging mindset.

Subsequently I can physiologically trick encourage my body to listen to that spirited, spinning mindset.

And finally… flap my wings, click my heels, let loose and rise up… a little fairy dust please.

Who’s with me? ⤵