What to know about this topic:
- Jane Fonda: What you gain as you age
- Oprah Winfrey: What you learn
- Jane Caro: Earning your age
- Sally Field: New roles to play
- Susan Sarandon: Be yourself
- Cher: Rock on!
Six celebrity women older than 65—a few much older—weigh in on how to age well, and enjoy the hidden benefits of getting older. Some of them are legends, while others might be lesser known, but all stand as contemporary models of aging gracefully.
Who resonates with you the most?
Jane Fonda: What you gain as you age
One way to age well is just to have a good attitude. But society is doing everything it can to make sure we don’t have a good attitude, from the beauty industry to the news media. There’s an assumption that 'getting older is terrible.' That’s not just a little insulting, it’s wrong. Many people find more happiness as they age. … So much of your life gets better as you age. We get less stressed. We become kinder to ourselves and braver. We’re less judgemental and best of all, we stop caring so much about what other people think of us.
Oprah Winfrey: What you learn
We live in a youth-obsessed culture that is constantly trying to tell us that if we are not young, and we’re not glowing, and we’re not hot, that we don’t matter. I refuse to let a system or a culture or a distorted view of reality tell me that I don’t matter. People who lie about their age are denying the truth and contributing to a sickness pervading our society — the sickness of wanting to be what you're not. I know that only by owning who and what you are can you start to step into the fullness of life. Every year should be teaching us all something valuable. Whether you get the lesson is really up to you.
Jane Caro: Earning your age
I am part of the first generation of women who have worked most of their lives. Our generation is, in fact, the most healthiest, wealthiest, most active women in history. And yet, the world wants me to hate and deny this stage of my life. Why am I expected to spend money that I spent a long time earning to try and fight aging. Why would I want to pretend that I am not my age? I have earned every cent of my age! I’m proud of it!
Sally Field: New roles to play
I see myself on TV, and I say, 'Oh, I wish that weren't happening to my neck. And your face is falling down, and your eyes are so puffy.'... I don't want to look old and worn, but what can you do? My real focus is being an actor. I care more about having the opportunity to play roles that I haven't played than I care if my neck looks like someone's bedroom curtains.
Susan Sarandon: Be yourself
[When you're] older, what you look like becomes less and less an issue and what you are is the point.
Cher: Rock on!
When it comes to aging, we’re held to a different standard than men. Some guy said to me: 'Don't you think you’re too old to sing rock 'n' roll?' I said: 'You’d better check with Mick Jagger.'
