The Sands of Youth

Trying to hold on to youth is like trying to hold on to a fistful of sand.  We can tighten our fist, but it eventually escapes our grip. The hunt for the elusive fountain of youth is still on, only the format has changed.  Youth is now marketed in the form of invasive surgery and injectables to the comparatively milder and safer options of facials and creams, each offering more promising and longer lasting results. 

When someone goes through painful and desperate extreme measures to look more youthful than nature intended them to be, they send out a message; What they believe they have gained in ‘looks’ is negated by the message they send out. So they work on their face, but why leave out the hands and neck which in fact divulge one’s true age?

Would I ever opt for invasive surgery? Where do I stand on non- invasive procedures?
I shudder to think.
I hope I never lose my self esteem.

I want to make my stance very clear.  I do support organic and holistic approaches to better mind and body.  In a nutshell, I support the notion of working on the inside out instead of outside in.

I sometimes wonder what I would look like at age 50, 60 or 70. My grandmother, in her late seventies, looks great despite her age.  Although life, time and gravity have morphed her face into the typical mould of an old person, her visage has not yet been invaded by numerous fine lines which is noticeable in women in a few age brackets younger than her. She has aged well.  I guess that’s what I would want for myself.  To age gracefully. To age well.

PS: A 20 year old British woman flew to the US to get a back alley enhancement procedure.  Another woman ended up disfigured after injecting her face with silicone.  These are just a two of many cases.  Silicone (used in showers, windows etc) can be purchased from hardware stores.  Hydrogel, a very toxic substance which is available in drug stores can stop the heart and cause death if it enters the blood stream. Both are used illegally in the US in injectable form. 

Turning a new leaf; one leaf at a time




 

I didn’t make a resolution this year.  Or last year.  Or the year before that.  In fact I don’t remember the last time I made a new year’s resolution. Each year many of us, in the hope for self transformation make resolutions.  It is an acknowledgement of our awareness for the need of improvement.   It is a step towards the better, as a change for the better not only benefits us; its ripple effect inspires and benefits everyone in our circle.

We’ve all heard the phrase- life is too short. So why do we wait for the new year to take that vow of self transformation; to quit smoking, quit drinking, loose weight, spend more time with family, learn something new, eat healthy, pursue our hobby, help others, reduce stress, be happy?  Why wait to be a better person later? Of course the process of introspection doesn’t begin all of a sudden. One ought to have been conscious of their nagging qualities well before New Year’s Eve. Then why the need to time our resolution with the advent of the New Year?  Is it because we need time to mentally prepare ourselves before we can actually muster the mental strength to make a commitment? Do we harbor a fear of derailment?  Is it easier and more convenient to just be? Is it an acknowledgment that taking a step towards bettering ourselves is a hard task?  Are we buying time?

Maybe so.

Studies have shown that only a small fraction of people who make resolutions actually succeeded. (I don’t want to bore you with numbers and statisticsJ)

For those of you who prefer the notion of steering over veering, daily positive affirmations might be a more practical approach towards self improvement.  Daily mini resolutions can help situate you in a more positive frame of mind each morning.  I myself have seen quicker results and experienced noticeable personal growth.  I’m not the same person I was a year ago, or 6 months ago or even 3 months ago. 

Setting mini goals and taking it one day at a time makes them all the more attainable and hence more effective as it allows one to be more cognizant of one’s self on a daily basis, rather than just on Jan 1.

For Forever And A Day

Something sweet! Something beautiful! Something sparkly! Something thoughtful!

Translation? 

Chocolates, Flowers, Diamonds and Cards!

Once upon a time there was a day called St.Valentine’s day.  It was time of celebration for lovers; a thrill of receiving an anonymous note from a secret admirer.  Quite a contrast from today’s Valentine’s Day celebration which has strayed from it’s hallmark  boundaries of celebration of intimate love and become synonymous with an exchange of mass produced impersonal cards between people who share relationships that are far from romantic.  I say far from romantic for a reason.  This morning during a popular live morning show, a snippet was aired of a little girl of about eight, holding a sign that said-“Daddy’s Valentine”.  Is it just me or is there something odd about this?

Card companies and flower companies spend a ton promoting this holiday.  Diamond companies have further raised the bar and successfully brainwashed many into believing that a little sparkly will go a long way in adding to the celebration.  Is it impossible to effectively express one’s true feelings unless accompanied by an expensive gift? Are expensive gifts being used as crutches to express love? Or maybe even to buy love?  Or maybe shut your love up?

Talking about this reminds me of an incident several years ago. During a scenic drive to the mountains I remember seeing a young man pull over to the side of the road.  He had in his hand a bunch of flowers that he had made from the beautiful flowers that were growing wild in the middle of nowhere.  (Lucky girl!) I’m sure most women would love to receive that clumsily put together, thoughtful bunch of flowers from their loved one in lieu of an extended shelf life, fragrance free, polished bouquet of roses.

So this Valentine’s day, hope to infuse some long lost warmth into the heart of this day and restore it its true meaning by imparting it your own personal touch.  Create a bouquet of heart felt wishes, love songs, quotes or old letters. Write a note or a poem from your heart.  Better yet vocalize your feelings. Make your own chocolate dipped strawberries together.  Whip out a new recipe and cook together. Go out for a scenic drive (weather permitting) or simply cozy up with a good movie.  Bring out the sparkling wine.

So there you have it.  Something sweet! Something beautiful! Something sparkly! Something thoughtful!