‘Youthiness’: What Boomers See When They Look in the Mirror
I still see myself as young no matter what. Even when that extra crease appeared on my eyelid — a telltale sign of middle age — I persisted in my belief that I was young and vital. So, if Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central’s popular Colbert Report has ‘truthiness’, I want:
- YOUTHINESS
I have coined this term for baby boomers and others to use, indicating their utter, unrelenting ability to feel and act youthful despite all indications to the contrary.
You heard it here first.
January 4th, 2007 at 10:08 am
I love this blog! And I think “youthiness” is indeed the right way to look at this. I just got this new computer with a built-in camera, and yesterday my daughter turned it on while I was writing–and omigod! It turns out that I look like I’m 105 years old when I’m concentrating. So, yes…youthiness. I can go with that description. And may I just say that Stephen Colbert would be proud.
January 4th, 2007 at 10:18 am
Oh, too funny! I love that! I sure need me some more youthiness!
January 4th, 2007 at 10:36 am
As soon as I read the word “youthiness” I thought of Stephen Clobert and his “truthiness”! Good for you! And I agree with you totally on this! I don’t think that I look 48 but I’m sure that I do! Maybe it’s the same thing that makes anorexics look in the mirror and think that they’re FAT when they could blow away with a good wind.
Well, they do say that age is a state of mind so perhaps our minds are all just in a younger state??
January 4th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Too bad you can register Youthiness as your special word. i think it has a future.
January 4th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Jan: Thanks! If you or anyone else likes the term ‘youthiness’, consider linking to the post. We can spread the concept that way!
January 4th, 2007 at 12:04 pm
It helps that my close-up vision is fading fast as I get older. What I see in the mirror isn’t necessarily that accurate. By the time I’m 70, I’ll be seeing a 20-year-old stud looking back at me. Nature works itself out.
January 4th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Youthiness, huh? I like that…sort of describes the fact that my face and other parts are heading south but my mind is still blooming. Better youthiness than toothless, mindless, sagginess, or damn old. I do admit wearing my magnifers to put on makeup or to pluck my eyebrows…..but as far as I am concerned that is quite a feat…working around glasses to put on wrinkle filler!
January 4th, 2007 at 3:04 pm
Young at heart is alive and kicking!
January 4th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Me too…I just had to go for my physical today….yuck….that time of year when u get to follow up with blood work, and mammograms. Those wrinkles are appearing more and more each day….but I still feel so very young at heart.
January 4th, 2007 at 3:40 pm
I love it! Youthiness! I agree totally about seeing yourself as young regardless the number. In my minds eye I’m still in my twenties, and probably always will be. Well maybe in 30 years I’ll make it into my 30’s mentally.
January 4th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
I have spread the concept from my own little corner of the blogosphere. May all enjoy a wonderful life of youthiness.
January 4th, 2007 at 9:53 pm
That’s why I don’t wear my glasses in the bathroom very often! I don’t know who that old lady in the mirror is, but she looks a LOT younger without my glasses.
January 4th, 2007 at 10:36 pm
Our self image never keeps up with our age. Just as well, I think. I wonder if the Boomers will be the generation to turn ageism around. That would be nice.
January 4th, 2007 at 11:55 pm
[...] And then today, even as I was to reconcile that not-yet-old-but-no-longer-young feeling I get whenever I am forced to look at my reflection in a mirror, I found a blog called The Boomer Chronicles, and saw the real answer for what I’m going through. Rhea says that what we boomers see when we look in the mirror is youthiness. [...]
January 5th, 2007 at 10:01 am
A little less obsession with one’s appearance would reduce the need for “boomers” to get desperate about shallow stuff, I think. You can’t stop aging, and the term “act your age” has no discernible significance whatsoever as far as I can tell. Can’t people just accept that we are designed to wither and die, and make the best of it?
Maybe if people would get comfortable in their own skin we wouldn’t have to hear that “50 is the new 30″ and such drivel. Of course, a lot of people make money off of our desire to “look young.”
I will concede that the term “youthiness” is cute.
January 5th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Sandi: Thanks for helping spread the word!!
Big Dave and Tshsmom: You think alike!
January 5th, 2007 at 6:43 pm
[...] A new term has been coined at The Boomer Chronicles called Youthiness. [...]
April 16th, 2007 at 12:35 am
Its all about being positive. This new word means that – better than dull boomer!