Anti-aging is a term I’d like to obliterate from the English language. Instead, I propose we start a pro-aging movement where we focus on aging well! Are you with me?

Welcome to the 90^th edition of The Sunday Spark, a series with weekly thoughts and highlights, nuggets of learning, and a decluttering challenge for the week. Along with aging well, this week’s edition looks at Blue Zones, the power of nostalgia, limitations of Ontario’s new recycling program, and decluttering makeup.

On my mind this week: Shifting our focus to aging well

I shake my head every time I hear the term anti-aging. We can bury our heads in the sand, but we can’t change the fact that we are all aging. And there is only alternative to aging, and that is something no-one wants to talk about.

A few days ago, I read an interview that Julia Roberts did with British Vogue earlier this year. When asked about the answer to eternal youth, Julia responded:

Good genes, leading a life that is fulfilling, and I have said this – and … I do believe in the love of a good man. I believe that my husband loves me and cares for me in a way that makes me feel deeply, deeply happy. And anytime you see someone who’s happy, it doesn’t matter how old they are.

Julia Roberts

Julia is on a list of female celebrities who are saying no to plastic surgery. Famous names on the list include Meryl Streep, Barbra Streisand, Drew Barrymore, Emma Thompson, Pink, and Jodie Foster. (Source: People) I admire these talented women for having the strength to age gracefully in a business and society that judges people—especially women—by appearance.

In stark contrast, we have celebrities like Madonna who has turned into a caricature of herself in her quest for the fountain of youth.

The secret to aging well

I do agree with Julia that good genes have a lot to do with how well we age, but there’s a growing body of research that a positive attitude toward aging could make a big difference. In her book Breaking the Age Code, Becca Levy presents research that positive age beliefs can help you live longer—7.5 years longer!

If the elusive fountain of youth lies in our mindset, it’s astounding that Statista reports the global market for anti-aging products in 2023 was 47 billion US dollars.

As I think about attitudes toward aging, I recall a conversation at work several years ago when we were developing retiree personas for a project. When someone said that our persona exercises for health reasons, another co-worker replied, “That’s a lie! No-one works out for health reasons. Everyone does it to look good.” The comment shocked me because it was a reminder how obsessed our society is with appearance.

Have we always been this shallow? Or have media, advertisers and influencers successfully planted enough seeds of doubt to make us see aging as something to be feared and resisted?

Let’s start a pro-aging movement!

As a cancer survivor, I know better than most that aging is a privilege and life is precious. In 10 Years, 10 Lessons – What Cancer Taught Me About Life, I shared my thoughts on appearance and health.

These days, I’m more focused on health than appearance because ultimately, it’s health that matters. I’d rather be the ugliest person on earth than the most beautiful person in the graveyard.

I dyed my hair for years. When it grew back after chemotherapy, I decided I was done with hair dye. Who needs the chemicals, the cost, and the hassle? I may be in the minority, but I proudly sport my grey hair. I also spend very little money on skin care lotions and potions. Further, I would never entertain cosmetic surgery, and I work out because it keeps me healthy and gives me energy to do the things I want to do with my life.

So, hats off to Julia Roberts, and all others who reject the anti-aging pressure! I propose we start a pro-aging movement where we focus on aging well and gracefully! Who’s with me?

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Three highlights of the week

It’s important to celebrate big milestones and simple pleasures in life. Keeping the trend going, here are three highlights and simple pleasures of the week gone by:

• The CPKC Holiday Train passed through our region on Sunday, so we went to see it as it left Ayr. It’s such a festive and uplifting sight. You can watch my video of the train passing by on YouTube.
• On Thursday I had lunch with my sister Lorraine and our dear friend and “bonus sister” Marilyn. It was lovely to catch up and reminisce about old times.
• One of the things I love about being retired is having more time to get involved in community initiatives. I have volunteered to get more involved with running the Alpha Course at my church and we had our first planning meeting on Thursday.

Things I learned this week

Life is all about learning. Here are three things I learned this week:

Nostalgia and dopamine

This week in the Booming Encore Brain Booster Challenge webinar, we learned about the power of nostalgia. Whether it be through music, childhood traditions, or favourite places we visited when we were young, nostalgia provides a sense of connection, continuity and meaning to our lives. The feelings of warmth and connection increase dopamine levels which have a positive impact on mood regulation and cognitive function.

I think I’ll go and listen to some of my 1980s albums now!

Limitations of Ontario’s new recycling program

When the provincial government announced it was taking responsibility for recycling away from municipalities, I questioned whether the new program would really be better than what we had before. I learned this week that the new provincial program focuses on only residential recycling—ignoring the 60 to 70 per cent of waste that generated by industrial, commercial, and institutional sources.

This puts responsibility for non-residential recycling back on municipalities. It seems I was right to be skeptical.

(Source: The Record)

In defence of the Blue Zones

In my retirement coaching work, I often refer to the Netflix documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones. I learned this week that a researcher from Oxford University has released a theory attempting to debunk the longevity claims of the blue zones. (You can read the news article here and the response from Blue Zones LLC here.)

Opinions and arguments aside, I still believe in the principles presented in the documentary. There is much research to support how staying active, having a purpose, reducing stress, eating less, and having a sense of belong and community, contribute to healthy aging.

This week’s decluttering challenge – Makeup

In 2024, I’ve been revisiting the 52-Week Decluttering Challenge I completed in 2021. This week’s challenge was makeup, and I’m happy to report I decluttered 3 items. Find the details, along with my tips and learnings, in this week’s decluttering post.

Join the challenge! Visit this post to download your free checklists and jump right in with this week’s task.

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I’d love to hear what you think about any of this week’s topics. Drop me a comment below and let me know your thoughts and ideas.