Sloane Heffernan: Birthday blessings
"I waited all year for this day!" Those were the first words my daughter proclaimed on the morning of her 11th Birthday. The day itself was a gift in her eyes. Wouldn't it be great if we could all view our birthdays that way, especially as we get older?
I turn 50 years old in less than a month. As the day approaches, I'm trying to turn my attention to the many blessings that come with being a year older verses cursing each new wrinkle that appears on my face.
Aging is not always easy, particularly in a society that celebrates youth and beauty. All you have to do is turn on the TV to see that women have a much shorter shelf-life in appearance-driven professions, while men seem to grow more distinguished and trustworthy with each new strand of gray hair that pops up on their head.
According to a recent survey by the dating site match.com, 72% of women said they find men with gray hair more attractive, than men who did not have a salt and pepper hair line. I challenge you to find a similar survey regarding women.
It's been said that beauty is only skin deep, and I really want to believe that, but our culture with its filtered social media tells a different story. After a certain age, the media tends to make women less relevant. Once gravity begins to take its toll and wrinkles develop, we are no longer celebrated in quite the same way.
How do we change that? How do we teach our daughters to base their worth on what's on the inside?
The wisdom and insight that we gain with each passing year provides priceless perspective and is arguably more valuable than just a pretty face.
As I approach my 50th, I will be intentional about embracing the "inner beauty" that is the gift of getting older. We all know someone that exemplifies true inner beauty. For me, it was my Aunt Janet. At 80 years old, she had an inner glow that made her appear ageless, wrinkles and all.
Now that's reason to celebrate!
Sloane Heffernan is a two-time Emmy award-winning journalist and former WRAL-TV anchor/reporter. In June 2021, Sloane transitioned from journalism to launch Storymore, a brand storytelling business. Sloane now uses her storytelling skills to help businesses clarify their message and create a deeper connection with their desired audience.
