Please World, Let Me Age in Peace

Please World, Let Me Age in Peace

aging gracefully

I cannot tell you the number of TikTok videos that I get about botox. The number of women I know who nearly faint about finding a strand of gray hair is countless. The 25-step skincare routines I have been told will keep me looking young forever–many. But, what if I don’t want to look young forever?

Age IS beauty

Being a woman is EXPENSIVE. Being a hairless, wrinkle-less, nail polished, hair dyed, on-trend woman …. that is a whole other level. Now, I indulge in some of these. They make me feel great, the keyword being me. 

If someone has a problem with the peach fuzz on my face, that’s fine.

If someone has a solution for the creases on my forehead, they are welcome to keep it to themselves.

If God forbid I look like the age I am …. I am just fine with it.

My body has lived

When I raise my eyebrows and see the creases on my forehead, I remember that those come from silly faces with my daughter and the display of delight and surprise when my son learns new milestones.

When I catch a glimpse of some “face fuzz” in some unflattering light, I remember that my husband has never once cared and still thinks I’m beautiful. 

When I gripe over pulling my high-waisted jeans over my mom belly, I remember the long months of carrying my kids there and the sacrifice my body made for them (and still continues to make for them). 

I don’t want to pretend these things did not happen. I don’t want to erase the effects of joy, hardship, laughter, and sadness. My body keeps track of my life. It’s the canvas that shows my experiences, the good and the bad. I don’t want to erase it. 

What I want my daughters to know about beauty

When I start to be hard on myself, I think about what I would say to my daughters.

Would I want them constantly changing to fit what the world says is beautiful?

Would I want them to prioritize vanity over health?

Would I want them to speak to themselves the way I speak to myself about self-image?

When my daughters look in the mirror, I want them to feel like themselves. If that means putting on makeup to make them feel confident and put together, so be it. If they decide that keeping up with the trends is fun because they love fashion, sure. But my hope for them is that it is on their terms, and no one else’s.

So in the meantime, I’ll continue to age. I’ll continue to splurge on things that make me feel great and most like myself. I’ll give myself grace and give thanks for a strong, capable body to love my family with. Our bodies are a gift, not a curse. Let’s not treat them as such.

Jessica Hauerwas
Jessica is a nonprofit leader who loves bopping around Lafayette for the best burgers or bands in town. She is the Executive Director of Downtown Lafayette Unlimited where she runs the day-to-day nonprofit. She and her husband Chris have three littles at home (Jane, Clark, and Louise) where there is lots of giggling and always a cup of coffee brewing. Jessica is passionate about community-building and empowering working mothers. Jessica also volunteers for various organizations, is a member of the Lafayette Re-Entry Coalition, a graduate of Leadership Lafayette, and a survivor of being a mother of three under 4.