While enjoying a lovely Sunday afternoon listening to jazz at our local winery, Mary, a lively 76-year old woman at our table mentioned that she recently attended her first “senior” exercise class. Upon entering the room, her first reaction had been “but…but… these people are so old!”  Then it hit her - so was she!

We both laughed, but hasn’t that happened to you? Sometimes, I am out and about and catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror or window. I am still surprised to see a silver haired woman reflected as “me“. It doesn’t jive with how I see myself. I feel energetic, engaged, enlivened and downright youthful!

Mary reminded me of the Scottish poet, Robert Burns who wrote:
O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!

Okay, in American English that means: how great it would be to be gifted with the power to see ourselves as others see us.

But wait! Perhaps there comes a time in life when we can turn that on its ear and wish for the power to have others see us as WE see ourselves! Rather than have others focus on our wrinkles and softer bodies and make all the common assumptions that typically surface around an aging person - wouldn’t it be great to have them see past the stereotype and notice the contented smile, self composure and sparkle in our eyes? Really SEE the woman we’ve become.
Is it enough just to see it for ourselves? It takes time to change a stereotype…and the only way to change it is to challenge it. How are you challenging it?