Celebrating women over 50+ giving image and voice to their wisdom, inner beauty, ageing, life experience, beauty, wrinkles and courage. Proving that how old you are doesn’t determine how beautiful or powerful you are.
Halo & Grace want to capture the beauty of aging women and share a little of their story and what better woman to kick this off than with my wonderful Mum Jude. At 78 years old she is Mum to myself and my older sister, Nanny of two beautiful granddaughters and has been married to my Dad for 56 years.
I sat down and asked Mum to share how she feels about being over 70 in today’s world.
What’s the worst part about getting older ?
Mum: “Things that are out of your control, like my mobility not being the same as it used to be. After two hip replacements and one knee replacement, I find my confidence needs rebuilding. People treating you differently. I don’t want to be invisible to the outside world but it does feel like that sometimes.”
What’s the best part about getting older?
Mum: “My Grandkids of course! And not having to deal with cycles and hormones any longer. Thank God that’s long gone!
Being comfortable in my own skin now. I wasn’t a confident girl growing up, that definitely didn’t come until my later years.”
What advice would you give to your younger self?
Mum: “Be true to yourself - follow your gut it is always right! Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do something. Unless it’s your body - it always knows best. Definately listen to your body.”
Do you have any regrets?
Mum: “That I didn’t always follow my dreams.I talked myself out of so many things because I didn’t know where to start - but I know now, you just have to make a start.
Even though I was always so close to my parents I do regret not knowing more about them and their past.”
How old do you feel ?
Mum: “I still feel like I’m in my 50’s. I think that’s because I have so many great memories of that time in my life. I guess age is irrelevant to me, we are so much more than just a number. There’s a great comfort in having gathered over 70 yrs of experience on this planet.”
What keeps you going ?
Mum: “Always having a goal to work towards.. planning little vacations.
Best thing you ever did?
Mum: “When my father was diagnosed with cancer I convinced them to go back to visit remaining family in England as they’d never been back since they left to come out to Australia when I was 5yrs old in 1949.
They had never travelled anywhere before. They saved the airfare finally. went back for 6 weeks and re-united with family. After that visit they were so thankful and grateful they had done it and I will never forget how happy that made them both.”
