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There Is Nothing Wrong With Wanting to Feel Beautiful
Women are often taught that caring about appearance becomes less important as they grow older.
I disagree.
Wanting to feel attractive doesn’t disappear with age.
Neither does wanting to feel confident.
Neither does wanting to receive a compliment.
I’ve lived long enough to understand that beauty isn’t about looking twenty years old.
It’s about carrying yourself with confidence and accepting the person you’ve become.
At 91, I don’t want to look younger.
I want to look like me.
My Heels Have a Story Too
My shoes may seem like a small thing, but they represent something bigger.
They remind me that I still make choices for myself.
I don’t wear them because I have something to prove.
I wear them because I enjoy them.
Of course, I also know my limitations.
I’m not going to pretend I’m twenty.
Comfort and safety matter.
I choose footwear carefully, and I don’t take unnecessary risks.
But being sensible doesn’t mean giving up everything I enjoy.
There’s a difference between adapting to your age and surrendering to it.
Getting Older Has Taught Me Something Important
When you’re young, you spend a lot of time worrying about what other people think.
You wonder whether your clothes are fashionable enough.
Whether your hair looks right.
Whether someone will judge you.
Whether you’re making the right impression.
Eventually, you realize something.
Most of those worries were a waste of time.
Life moves too quickly.
People come and go.
Circumstances change.
And one day you realize that you could have spent much more time simply enjoying yourself.
That’s one lesson I’ve carried with me into my nineties.
Don’t give other people control over how you live your life.
I Still Enjoy Getting Ready
There are mornings when I open my closet and think about what I want to wear.
I still enjoy that process.
Sometimes I know immediately.
Other days, I try different things before deciding.
It may seem insignificant to someone else.
To me, it’s part of living.
There are many things that change as we grow older.
Our routines change.
Our responsibilities change.
Our bodies change.
But having little things to look forward to can make an enormous difference.
For me, getting dressed is one of those things.
The Best Compliments Aren’t About My Age
Every once in a while, someone will tell me:
“You look amazing for 91.”
I appreciate the kindness.
But honestly, I prefer another kind of compliment.
“You look beautiful.”
That’s enough.
I don’t need the reminder that I’m old.
I already know how old I am.
What matters to me is that I still feel alive, confident, and comfortable being myself.
I Hope Younger Women Learn This Earlier
If I could give younger women one piece of advice, it would be this:
Stop waiting for permission to enjoy your life.
Don’t wait until you’re older to realize how little other people’s opinions matter.
Wear the clothes you love.
Take the trip.
Try the hairstyle.
Dance when you feel like dancing.
Laugh loudly.
Take pictures.
Say what you mean.
And don’t spend your entire life trying to fit into someone else’s idea of what a woman should be.
I wish more women understood this earlier.
At 91, I’m Not Finished
People sometimes talk about old age as though it is the end of the story.
I don’t see it that way.
Every year I’ve lived has brought something new.
Some years were difficult.
Some were wonderful.
Some taught me lessons I never expected to learn.
But I’m still here.
And as long as I’m here, I want to enjoy my life.
That includes my skirts.
That includes my heels.
That includes getting dressed up when I feel like it.
And it includes ignoring anyone who thinks I should stop simply because I turned 91.
Why Should I Stop Now?
I’ve spent decades learning who I am.
Why would I suddenly abandon that person?
I have nothing left to prove.
I don’t need everyone’s approval.
I don’t need to follow every trend.
I don’t need to dress a certain way just because someone thinks a woman my age should.
I simply want to wake up, choose what makes me happy, and live the day in front of me.
If that means putting on a skirt and a pair of heels, then that’s exactly what I’ll do.
Because getting older may change many things.
But it doesn’t have to take away your personality, your confidence, or your joy.
And at 91, I have no intention of giving those things up.