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So Scottsdale! Magazine July 2009

Wendy Rubicam
Wendy Rubicam

One woman reflects on approaching the age of 50 and feeling internally younger than her appearance in the mirror. Many women devote their younger years to raising families rather than themselves. As they reach 50, women face new physical and social challenges like hot flashes and extra weight despite feeling internally younger. Solutions exist, but pressures to alter one's appearance can seem overwhelming. The author advocates focusing on health, happiness, and enjoying life to age gracefully rather than trying to emulate unrealistic ideals.

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GOING ON BY WENDY RUBICAM EVANS ONE WOMANS TALE OF LOOKING INTO THE MIRROR F ifty is the new 30, or so Im told. And in a way, I believe it. Maybe 50 is even the new 20. I am fast approaching that milestone, and I honestly dont feel a day over 20. Well, at least until I look in the mirror. So heres the deal. Many of us devote years to raising our kids, creating wonderful family homes, and putting everyone elses needs before our own. We change countless dia- pers, serve as short-order cooks, race to Walgreens for last-minute poster board and markers. We wear sensible shoes and baggy team sweatshirts to muddy fields and make it to the office but somehow never have time to get to the gym when we should. Then, that bitter- sweet day arrives when we realize that we actually have time to think about ourselves. Youd think that as we approach 50 we would have earned some- thing fabulousa shining gold star or some kind of reward for our years of putting others first. Instead, our chosen Higher Power hurls even more perplexing challenges our way. You might feel like a buoyant 20 inside, but then youre cursed with a hot flash in the middle of a critical presentation, wondering how youre going to wipe the beads of sweat off of your upper lip without anyone notic- ing. Youre moody and manic, with an extra 10 pounds right where you dont want it. Theres a crevice slightly smaller than the Grand Canyon between your eyebrows that makes you look permanently annoyed. You dont want to dress like an old lady, but you dont want to embarrass yourself by trying to look too young. And what about the rogue chin hair that you suddenly spot in the rearview mirror while sitting at a stoplight on your way to Kierland for lunch? My friend Claudia blames it on biology. She insists that older females are meant to be less attractive so the males wont get confused, and will be drawn instead to females of breeding age. This theory explains the dating hell that seems to face women in their 40s and 50s. Claudia further speculates that as we age we retain fat so that we wont use up the packs valuable food resources. In biological terms, we are expected to slink off alone with our reading glasses and a Jodi Picoult novel and live off of our own fat. 38 So Scottsdale! JULY 2009
Clearly we are more evolved than that! There are solu- tions for all of the challenges we face as we age. There are injectables, creams, lasers, bio-identical hormones, surger- ies, enhancements and removals. There are trainers, coaches, doctors, estheticians, dating services and therapists. The array of options is somewhat dizzying, and the cultural pressures can sometimes seem overwhelming. Im 48. Why dont I look like her? we wonder, flipping through the airbrushed photos in magazines. So heres where it is important to combine the wisdom of our years with IN BIOLOGICAL TERMS, WE ARE EXPECTED TO SLINK OFF ALONE WITH OUR READING GLASSES AND A JODI PICOULT NOVEL AND LIVE OFF OF OUR OWN FAT. the desires of that impetuous 20-something that still resides at the heart of us. Deal with age in the way that feels right to you. Most of my friends are obsessed with boobs. Youd be amazed at how often the conversation works its way around to boobs. They want them lifted, enhanced or reduced. I prefer to fly under the radar on the boob front. But for some of my friends, making their desired changes has sparked the electrical charge between the 50 and the 20. Even if no one else can really put their finger on whats different, they have reconnected with their inner sexy babe. For others, the face is the battleground. There are frequent soulful evaluations in front of the mirror and an obsession with the most exotic products in the Blissworld catalog. There are laugh lines and frown lines to be smoothed, and always the tempta- tion of something more dramatic. I am someone who is comfortable with the familiar. I dont want a dramatic new look, or to look like someone prettier or more ideal. I want to look just like meonly maybe not quite as old. continued on page 40 JULY 2009 So Scottsdale! 39
The ever-shifting body shape and composition that we find ourselves faced with can be frustrating and genuinely confusing. The diets and treadmill ses- sions that used to work for us no longer budge that fat. Nonetheless, I have real- ized that exercise must be a regular part of my life from this point on. Yes, Im softer than I used to be, but Im not rel- egated to the shadowy edges of the pack yet. Although Im never again going look like Im 20, Im going to look the best I can for 50 while still being kind to myself. YOU MIGHT FEEL LIKE A BUOYANT 20 INSIDE, BUT THEN YOURE CURSED WITH A HOT FLASH. My goal as I approach the big Five-O is simply this: to look healthy and happy, and to be physically able to do the things I want to do. Its along the lines of aging gracefully, but with a little more kick to it. Its about listening to the spunky 20 thats alive and well inside of me, getting to the heart of my dreams and desires, and not 40 So Scottsdale! JULY 2009
allowing my age to hold me back. The bottom line is that I have choices. If it makes me happy to erase my frown lines and keep the laugh lines, so be it. If I am fit enough to stand at the top of a 12,000-foot mountain but still have a Yippee! I WANT TO LOOK Urban kidz is celebrating JUST LIKE ME with a storewide sale. 速 ONLY MAYBE NOT QUITE AS OLD. little jiggle in the thighs, Im not going to worry about it. If I want to end my eve- ning with tiramisu, just try to stop me. If I am lucky enough to find myself snorkel- ing by a Mexican reef in the warm sun, I dont have to look like Carmen Electra in O n & Ts my bathing suit to do it. And you know, Save* Shorts s r Hop on And sign up our website Wea Skirt for our new simply having the ability to make those Swim Dresses * re sletter &m o choices and enjoy my life may just be the Stock up NOW for summer wear at the reward Ive been looking for. Urban Kidz Half-Yearly Summer Sale Thursday, July 16th- Sunday, July 19th Wendy Rubicam Evans is a free- Up to 75% off ! Items as low as $10! lance writer and marketing consultant Shop early for best selection specializing in content and communi- cations. For more information, go to Wardrobing the Tiny to Tweens in clothing they can live in. www.rubicamwriting.com. 8787 N. Scottsdale Rd, Ste 220 | Scottsdale, AZ 85253 480-483-6800 | www.urbankidzwear.com JULY 2009 So Scottsdale! 41

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So Scottsdale! Magazine July 2009

  • 1. GOING ON BY WENDY RUBICAM EVANS ONE WOMANS TALE OF LOOKING INTO THE MIRROR F ifty is the new 30, or so Im told. And in a way, I believe it. Maybe 50 is even the new 20. I am fast approaching that milestone, and I honestly dont feel a day over 20. Well, at least until I look in the mirror. So heres the deal. Many of us devote years to raising our kids, creating wonderful family homes, and putting everyone elses needs before our own. We change countless dia- pers, serve as short-order cooks, race to Walgreens for last-minute poster board and markers. We wear sensible shoes and baggy team sweatshirts to muddy fields and make it to the office but somehow never have time to get to the gym when we should. Then, that bitter- sweet day arrives when we realize that we actually have time to think about ourselves. Youd think that as we approach 50 we would have earned some- thing fabulousa shining gold star or some kind of reward for our years of putting others first. Instead, our chosen Higher Power hurls even more perplexing challenges our way. You might feel like a buoyant 20 inside, but then youre cursed with a hot flash in the middle of a critical presentation, wondering how youre going to wipe the beads of sweat off of your upper lip without anyone notic- ing. Youre moody and manic, with an extra 10 pounds right where you dont want it. Theres a crevice slightly smaller than the Grand Canyon between your eyebrows that makes you look permanently annoyed. You dont want to dress like an old lady, but you dont want to embarrass yourself by trying to look too young. And what about the rogue chin hair that you suddenly spot in the rearview mirror while sitting at a stoplight on your way to Kierland for lunch? My friend Claudia blames it on biology. She insists that older females are meant to be less attractive so the males wont get confused, and will be drawn instead to females of breeding age. This theory explains the dating hell that seems to face women in their 40s and 50s. Claudia further speculates that as we age we retain fat so that we wont use up the packs valuable food resources. In biological terms, we are expected to slink off alone with our reading glasses and a Jodi Picoult novel and live off of our own fat. 38 So Scottsdale! JULY 2009
  • 2. Clearly we are more evolved than that! There are solu- tions for all of the challenges we face as we age. There are injectables, creams, lasers, bio-identical hormones, surger- ies, enhancements and removals. There are trainers, coaches, doctors, estheticians, dating services and therapists. The array of options is somewhat dizzying, and the cultural pressures can sometimes seem overwhelming. Im 48. Why dont I look like her? we wonder, flipping through the airbrushed photos in magazines. So heres where it is important to combine the wisdom of our years with IN BIOLOGICAL TERMS, WE ARE EXPECTED TO SLINK OFF ALONE WITH OUR READING GLASSES AND A JODI PICOULT NOVEL AND LIVE OFF OF OUR OWN FAT. the desires of that impetuous 20-something that still resides at the heart of us. Deal with age in the way that feels right to you. Most of my friends are obsessed with boobs. Youd be amazed at how often the conversation works its way around to boobs. They want them lifted, enhanced or reduced. I prefer to fly under the radar on the boob front. But for some of my friends, making their desired changes has sparked the electrical charge between the 50 and the 20. Even if no one else can really put their finger on whats different, they have reconnected with their inner sexy babe. For others, the face is the battleground. There are frequent soulful evaluations in front of the mirror and an obsession with the most exotic products in the Blissworld catalog. There are laugh lines and frown lines to be smoothed, and always the tempta- tion of something more dramatic. I am someone who is comfortable with the familiar. I dont want a dramatic new look, or to look like someone prettier or more ideal. I want to look just like meonly maybe not quite as old. continued on page 40 JULY 2009 So Scottsdale! 39
  • 3. The ever-shifting body shape and composition that we find ourselves faced with can be frustrating and genuinely confusing. The diets and treadmill ses- sions that used to work for us no longer budge that fat. Nonetheless, I have real- ized that exercise must be a regular part of my life from this point on. Yes, Im softer than I used to be, but Im not rel- egated to the shadowy edges of the pack yet. Although Im never again going look like Im 20, Im going to look the best I can for 50 while still being kind to myself. YOU MIGHT FEEL LIKE A BUOYANT 20 INSIDE, BUT THEN YOURE CURSED WITH A HOT FLASH. My goal as I approach the big Five-O is simply this: to look healthy and happy, and to be physically able to do the things I want to do. Its along the lines of aging gracefully, but with a little more kick to it. Its about listening to the spunky 20 thats alive and well inside of me, getting to the heart of my dreams and desires, and not 40 So Scottsdale! JULY 2009
  • 4. allowing my age to hold me back. The bottom line is that I have choices. If it makes me happy to erase my frown lines and keep the laugh lines, so be it. If I am fit enough to stand at the top of a 12,000-foot mountain but still have a Yippee! I WANT TO LOOK Urban kidz is celebrating JUST LIKE ME with a storewide sale. 速 ONLY MAYBE NOT QUITE AS OLD. little jiggle in the thighs, Im not going to worry about it. If I want to end my eve- ning with tiramisu, just try to stop me. If I am lucky enough to find myself snorkel- ing by a Mexican reef in the warm sun, I dont have to look like Carmen Electra in O n & Ts my bathing suit to do it. And you know, Save* Shorts s r Hop on And sign up our website Wea Skirt for our new simply having the ability to make those Swim Dresses * re sletter &m o choices and enjoy my life may just be the Stock up NOW for summer wear at the reward Ive been looking for. Urban Kidz Half-Yearly Summer Sale Thursday, July 16th- Sunday, July 19th Wendy Rubicam Evans is a free- Up to 75% off ! Items as low as $10! lance writer and marketing consultant Shop early for best selection specializing in content and communi- cations. For more information, go to Wardrobing the Tiny to Tweens in clothing they can live in. www.rubicamwriting.com. 8787 N. Scottsdale Rd, Ste 220 | Scottsdale, AZ 85253 480-483-6800 | www.urbankidzwear.com JULY 2009 So Scottsdale! 41