The author reflects on turning a significant age, emphasizing the importance of both physical and mental well-being. She discusses the challenges of aging, the allure of vanity, and the power of intellectual engagement in maintaining a youthful spirit.
It was my birthday on December 10th. I find it impossibly hard to type the number, so will just say that I could have officially retired 15 years ago. Every year is a portent of approaching death, which will come soon enough. And a reminder of the life force within me that beats fiercely and refuses to lie down quietly. To put it another way, I am old. But not down and out… yet. The body has become creaky. All sorts of health problems creep up and I have had to change bad old habits.
I eat fewer chocolates – that’s really, really hard. I walk a whole lot more. I take tablets, have tests at the GP surgery and hospitals, all that stuff. I even had the bags under my eyes sorted by a skilled surgeon. I went to the same chap and he sorted mine. That was then. Now I am a sucker for various treatments. Nevertheless, bodily care is vital. The alternative would be to inertly accept what is happening. I do admire people who really don’t care about that. But I do. Joan Collins and Helen Mirren are ageing beautifully. I don’t have their looks or money, but one can try. Vanity in women of a certain age is a catalyst, a spark we need. That said, it is the life of the mind that keeps women feeling and looking younger than we are. We are wholly engaged with what’s going on politically and socially. We read, we argue, we write, we blog and tweet, we do not rest easy or take up knitting to fill the time. This is not to diss those who choose to do that. I can only speak for myself and those other “pensioners” who refuse to do what their mums and grans did before them. On my birthday, I went to a journalists’ ball at a plush hotel. I had never been before. This year, it felt like now or never. It was full of tabloid hacks, so much drink, swearing and raucous laughter. The playlist was perfect, so many of us women – old and young – danced with each other for hours. Well, why not? The next day I had lunch with four dear girlfriends
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