A SUPPORT SYSTEM THAT DOESN’T RELY ON CUP SIZE

Lately I’ve been thinking about how best to maneuver through this next chapter of life with my dearest gal pals. I love my girlfriends.

I love that we get to share our complex, insecure, conflicted thoughts with each other. I adore all the joy, the blessings of our interwoven histories, and the respect and deep love we have for one another.

We can chat daily about absolutely nothing in great detail. Or we pick up right where we left off – no matter how much time has passed.

I wish we all lived on the same street.

If I have one complaint, it’s that a whole lot of “old lady talk” seems to be seeping into every crevice of our yakkity-yaks. I mean even when we try really hard to focus on our soulful selves and acquired wisdom – conversation inevitably turns to wrinkles, wrinkles, wrinkles.

But look at us! We are fabulous! Every single one of us. I’ve said as much – right >here.

I will admit to fanning the flames of the “old” rhetoric by flippantly and repeatedly referring to myself as a “reluctant ager”. But now I get the “ick” when saying it aloud. Yes aloud. Or is it out loud? Who knows?

What I do know is all that age related whining could be sucking the joy out of life.

Naturally, our collective face pulling and genuine concerns will spring up without fail. We all need healthy commiserating. What I worry about is negative patterns of conversation taking over and tipping the balance.

And by the way, if we are going to talk wrinkles …. how come we seem to be very forgiving of men? Why is that??? Well I don’t like that one bit. Hell no.

Which brings me to Wiser Than Me with Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Her podcast where she talks with a whole bunch of iconic older women who offer the kind of perspective and wisdom that comes with age. AGE being vibrantly celebrated and lived. How brilliant and beyond inspiring is that?

The women Julia interviews know how to talk-that-talk and walk-that-walk. They are people who view aging positively. And that positivity tends to make for longer lives. I read that somewhere.

How ’bout we start by reframing the fact that another birthday is on its way? It’s just a f@%king number. (That’s what I hear). So let’s do this instead: what age do you feel like? On your best day.

For instance, I am currently vacillating between 28 and 45. Yes I said 28 – that’s my attempt at being extra positive. Let’s be EXTRA!

In similar fashion, I suggest “not acting your age”. Show me a law banning infantile fun!

I just had a horrible thought. Is the government going to get involved with that too? Let them try taking names and monthly accountability of our mischievous decorum. I dare them.

Ugh. Deep breath. Now back to dialing down the “old lady talk”.

I get that being unwaveringly committed to a positive aging agenda is not realistic. But how’s about we start by dipping our toes?

Instead of dwelling on the doom and gloom of advancing years – wouldn’t it be great if we could coax some of that inner ‘what age do you feel’ out of hiding? And for good measure, let’s toss on a pair of rosy glasses for some positive reinforcement… because denial is highly underrated.

And to further this along, someone will need to act their shoe size or let a flamboyant fart rip. (And I am not talking the silent but deadly sort). I’m talking LAUGHTER 😂😂: side-splitting, disorderly, unrestrained medicinal therapy with dear friends.

Like it or not that f@%king number will rise. At the same time, it’ll be our super, significant, stellar support system offering laughter, providing unconditional comfort, lively banter, wise advice and an eager ear.

Cup size, schmup size. That half-assed support is nothing to rely on. It’s life with our unfiltered buddies… hoisting, boosting, elevating.

All those “I’ve got your back” and “you can count on me day or night” partnerships that lift us up. BIG TIME.

As for those wrinkles laugh lines? Hang onto them… they just might become the most sought after pro-aging cosmetic procedure we did not see coming.

~image of woman laughing via internet

~featured image via Pinterest