I decided it might be time!

The years are passing, and I am growing older.   Who would have thought thirty years ago that my small newsletter which I named "RoseMary's NoteBook"© would have become an older lady with me?   I had certain hopes but frankly I look back now and am slightly astounded to think that we have come this far.

Thirty years ago women were confronting discrimination.   Race, colour, gender, and my pet-focus at the time - size discrimination.    Have things changed in the years between?  I leave that to you to answer, for I am not quite sure.   In some ways, perhaps, in others definitely not.

That brings me to the situation as at now.   It was in chatting to a number of other women in my age group, and younger, that someone mentioned a couple of my small naIive motivational booklets that I wrote back in those early days.   While the majority of these booklets were focussed on building up the confidence of women-of-size, surprisingly many women of different faiths, cultures and race found the subject matter gave them the inspiration to strive forward, to seek acceptance, and to build upon self-esteem.   

So with that thought in mind, I've decided to allow some of these booklets to be included on this blog.   For while time has marched on, the subject matters dealt with during the past thirty years from my desk have remained constant.

Keep tuned ........

HOW DOES ONE ACT OUTRAGEOUSLY WHEN IN LOCKDOWN?

From the heading of this post one can easily see that being outrageous in lockdown is a little beyond a growing older lady.   In one way or another.

For we're allowed an hour for exercise.   Well that's terrific - if you are still mobile enough to stride along the beachfront (which I would dearly like to do), but with the years come not only some of the "slowing" probems but also increased pain.   Something we have to confront and face, and adjust to, and overcome if we are fortunate enough to do so.

But I am fortunate in having a mobility scooter.   A general little run-around scooter.   It's amazing just how many little corners, and streets and courts, that I find I enjoy wandering within.   

But sometimes I feel as though I would like to break into dance.   Under the large gum trees sprinkling right throughout this area of suburban Melbourne.   Mind you, if I dressed according to how I would like to express my "dance" then maybe I'd be charged with some sort of offence, but seriously I feel like putting on my sequinned neck to ankle garment that I wore when Belly Dancing - back in the good old days!   Believe me, a big girl can move really well when belly dancing!

So I'm left "dreaming", but dreaming is part and parcel of our lives.   And I like to think that even growing older shouldn't in any way impede our memories and our future dreams.  For dreams are essential to us as food and water.

 

RECOGNISING BEAUTY FOR WHAT IT IS - AT WHATEVER AGE!

Miss Piggy probably said it best:

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder 

and it may be necessary from time to time 

to give a stupid or misinformed beholder a black eye."

But let's seriously consider it.  It's a very old sentiment which has been around since the 3rd century and while many men have included that sentiment in their work (Shakespeare for one), the actual quotation "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" was first seen in print in 1878.  Margaret Wolfe Hungerford (nee Hamilton) who wrote many books often under the pseudonym of "The Duchess" wrote "Molly Bawn" in 1878 and used the phrase "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder".

And the saying and the meaning behind the saying is as pertinent today as it was when first penned.

You only have to look at the animal world to see that it's true.  Mothers just adore their off-spring and it's the same with us.  A new born babe will bring oohs and aahs and sighs of delights.

Take your surroundings - things of beauty dazzle our eyes every moment of every day.  Beautiful flowers, extraordinary sunsets.  The moon reflected on the water.  The sight of Uluru after it has rained.  The sound of a country stream merrily singing as it travels down a hillside.  The quietness and beauty of the forest.   Tiny little insects - ladybirds and the like, small birds learning to fly; the snuffling of a wombat.   We will spend time just watching their antics and movements.  Funny little kittens and puppy dogs.  Even little children as they try to walk and in doing so keep toppling over.

It's not only young things that are beautiful.  Oh yes, the body of a "gorgeous" young woman will bring similar oohs and aahs and in fact will convince other young women that they should emulate the beauty defined by the media while those of us who are older, smile and remember!

As far as "beauty" is concerned, where does that leave the growing older woman?  Or the woman in her prime - the 70s, 80s and 90s?

It's weird, but men seem to be besotted and enamoured by battered old rusty cars or utes.  They'll spend hours longingly cleaning them and doing them up.  But what do they do when their girl-friends or wives grow a little old and rusty?  Trade 'em in for a later model.  Crazy!

They may even cunningly suggest that she's let herself "go" and could do with a bit of Botox (or not!) which should be taken with a grain of salt.  What do you really want botox for?  To hide the life-experiences that show the world that you've lived?  We should never be taken for granted or persuaded to change our looks merely for the sake of "looking younger".  Why?  The hands and neck will tell the story anyway and no botox will help those areas.

(And anyway, do most of us actually KNOW what Botox is?  It is made from "botulinum toxin type A", a poison produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which causes botulism, a severe form of food poisoning. 

Botox is injected into the muscles used in frowning and raising the eyebrows to paralyze them and thus smooth out the wrinkles. Common side effects of Botox injection include droopy eyebrow or eyelid, headache, respiratory infection, flu syndrome, and nausea.)

To be continued .....