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Loved this. When I get caught up in the aesthetics of aging (or the negative self talk around it), I remind myself: Aging. Better than the alternative.

Also, thought you might like this: https://thesundaystretch.substack.com/p/what-we-can-learn-from-badass-bee (yes, it's mine).

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Such a great column, Kelly! I think, in part, this is what frustrates me: there are these moments when I care about my changing outer appearance while knowing full well that I’m happier than I’ve ever been, more able to navigate and appreciate life. Sometimes I feel like I’m on the precipice of a big shift (where I can get away with still “looking young” to just full embracing that I can’t) and, because society doesn’t really have seat at the table for women to age and simply look their age, I’m resisting the leap. ALSO: you are going to love our next book club book! Loved all the bee trivia that you included.

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I'm working on embracing the AND in life. I love where I am in my life, the things I've worked so hard to be able to do AND I'm going to dye the gray away for as long as I can. We're such a binary society and as I get older, the more ridiculous I realize that is.

Can't wait to hear about the next book club book!

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thanks for this, andrea. feeling the same complex emotions about aging lately. the moment i realized i don’t “turn heads” like i used to was such a slap. i didn’t consider myself vain. i still don’t...but i now realize how much of my self worth as a women was conditioned to be based in my attractiveness to the opposite sex. it’s all such a process. ❤️

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such a process. and I'm really enjoying all of the "women of a certain age" making themselves known through their writing/publishing/creating here on Substack. it's a relief to simply share the process together!

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Loved this Andrea. My cultivating of self awareness has come with aging, being willing most times to shift and change with life. I am reminded of two things that have stayed with me. One was in high school when a pastor came to speak at my school. He said, “ You are guaranteed one thing in life and that is you will leave this life so make the best of it while you can.” I reference that when I teach from time to time. The second is something I read not too long ago at a time when I was questioning what are the thoughts we have in our minds as we meditate and move through our daily lives. It said- a soft loving voice that comes into your thoughts is intuition, a loud scared voice is anxiety. That changed my meditation. We become students of life as we age I think. Yoga is about letting go and the changes that come with it. My favorite sutra is 1.12! I would do a voice memo but I’m not sure how one does that! I was so surprised when I got one not too long ago. 😜. Amazing!!! ✨✨✨✨✨

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Love the soft voice vs the loud voice. Going to keep that one on my back pocket. I think I’m going to set up a voice mailbox for messages. Stay tuned.

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