Grand Plans: October 24, 2024
A semi-monthly newsletter from Grand Plans designed to normalize and celebrate our glorious geri-destiny through information, stories, real talk conversation, smart planning and shared experience.
Things I’m prattling on about today
I am not a sciencey person, like at all. But I am fascinated by the biology of aging and our response to it.
My Theories of Aging class at the University of North Carolina Greensboro taught us there are about a bajillion ways to understand what's happening to our bodies as we experience new seasons of life, and why. My new fakest and smartest best friend Co-pilot, puts biological theories of aging into two broadly defined categories: "Programmed Theories and Damage or Error Theories. Programmed theories suggest that aging follows a biological timetable, with processes like gene activation and hormonal changes playing key roles. Examples include the programmed longevity, endocrine, and immunological theories. On the other hand, damage or error theories propose that aging results from accumulated damage over time due to environmental factors. These include the wear and tear theory, rate of living theory, free radical theory, and somatic DNA damage theory."
Some of that is Greek to me. The gist of it is the nature of aging is complex and multifaceted. But as the science behind it describes, it's natural -- it's biological. However you choose to understand, accept or address this science, one thing is certain: it's happening.
The first time I realized it was happening was about a decade ago when I was making my bed. At night, I like to wear those super sexy, full coverage long white cotton nightgowns, so no surprise, I had one on to compulsively complete my early morning routine. While leaning over to smooth the sheets and fluff the pillows, however, my nightgown got all hiked up and I caught a glimpse of my thigh backs in the full-length mirror. What the hell? The once-taught skin between my knees and my nether-regions was now billowy and dimpled. I felt humbled, but also -- excited? As shocking and strange as the back of my legs looked, I felt honored to be embarking on some new rite of passage. My legs were starting to look like my mom's did back in the day. Mom rarely wore anything but long skirts or slacks, but on occasion, she'd throw on a skirted one-piece and take a dip with us at the Farm pool. Call me a little weirdo, but I was captivated by the realness of her biology. Mom's legs were not unsightly, but they weren't like the panty-hosed models I saw in the JC Penny's catalog either. They were bumpy, a little veiny, spotty -- they were fluffy and jiggled. She was gorgeous in her realness! Mom's legs were beautiful because she didn't care one hoot about how they looked, she was just happy to splash around in the pool a minute.
I had the same revelation about my arms recently. I caught a hint of crepey mom wing peeking out of my jog bra when I got back from a walk. Again, my reaction was surprise, but also gratitude that maybe I was becoming as beautiful and as capable and strong as my mom was before she passed away. I have often wished and prayed for the same silver hair she had at age 30, but it has eluded me to date. One day, I hope for a similar crown.
The fascinating thing is how conditioned we are culturally to deny this kind of beauty. We aren't supposed to embrace it, we are supposed to fix it. I know a great many people who spend major bucks on Botox and fillers and weight loss drugs, exercise regimens and fancy diets. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, nearly $16.7 billion was spent on cosmetic procedures in the United States in 2020. This includes both surgical and minimally invasive procedures and doesn't even begin to consider the makeup, medication and malarky we spend money on each year to keep ourselves "looking younger." That is crazy to me!
And this comes from someone who has spent malarky and money on such ridiculous enhancements over the years. After the kids were born and my abdomen and boobs looked like a mad cow’s udder -- long, long before the crepey bat wings and billowy thigh back made their first appearance -- I had it all "fixed." During the same decade, I gave injectables a try. Today, I wonder wth I was thinking -- no one needs that kind of thing, especially a young mother whose kids, husband and community would never have known or loved her any differently! I mean, come on, 30-year-old self!
So here's my theory on the biology of aging: the way we accept our physical appearance and how little obsess over, fear, dread or try to mask it, has a positive impact on how we are loved and admired by others, and therefore, on the well-being we experience as older adults. It's not exactly sciencey, but I sincerely believe this to be true. I mean, if you're a kid, what kind of grandma figure do you want to hug and snuggle up to -- a scrawny, self-conscious beauty queen with unnaturally shiny cheeks and jacked up eyebrows, or a bosomy pillow of a person with a beautiful smile who throws her bat wings around you with reckless abandon and has zero effs to give about the way she looks -- but loves others deeply. That is my biological theory of aging. What's yours?
News you can use
Here’s some more biological aging news, but it’s def on the sciencey-er side so focus. This UNF scientist is doing some NIH-funded research on skeletal muscle atrophy, a common occurrence in our bodies as we get older.
More cool biology of aging news: “If it’s ever felt like everything in your body is breaking down at once, that might not be your imagination. A new Stanford Medicine study shows that many of our molecules and microorganisms dramatically rise or fall in number during our 40s and 60s. Researchers assessed many thousands of different molecules in people from age 25 to 75, as well as their microbiomes — the bacteria, viruses and fungi that live inside us and on our skin — and found that the abundance of most molecules and microbes do not shift in a gradual, chronological fashion. Rather, we undergo two periods of rapid change during our life span, averaging around age 44 and age 60.” Woah.
Have wealthier countries’ populations hit a new life expectancy limit? Looks like it, according to this study. See, it’s all about the biology.
Another biology of aging study headline: “Our analysis suggests that survival to age 100 years is unlikely to exceed 15% for females and 5% for males, altogether suggesting that, unless the processes of biological aging can be markedly slowed, radical human life extension is implausible in this century.”
If you’re determined to worry about how you look as you biologically age, at least consider being “pro-aging” vs. “anti-aging.”
Make sure you’re connected to Grand Plans on social media (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn) so you don’t miss a thing! GerontoloGeeWhiz! is the latest little ditty out there on the line. Enjoy!
And you can keep up with all the “GeronTOKogy” fun by following MyGrandPlans on TikTok. This is new territory for me so be patient!
Grand Plans Podcast
This season we’re talking to people who have been there done that. We’re talking about our experiences and lessons learned. The first podcast is out on the line and it is awesome! What an honor to speak with Kari Bell and Sarah Dymond from River Garden. They have some fantastic wisdom to share! Let me know if you want to be part of the conversation and sharing. Patience please as I muddle through homework and papers and group work (!!) to make time for new podcast interviews, I promise it’s happening!
Shelf life
This book, The Undertaking: Life Studies from the Dismal Trade by Thomas Lynch, is so good, I have loved reading it and need to return it to the sweet friend in North Carolina who let me borrow it. This book is about two generations of undertakers and the lessons they learn about living. Don’t let the title scare you or make you think it’s too grim, because it isn’t. The Undertaking is poignant and beautiful, buy your copy today here.
And of course, it’s also smart to remember to order a copy of Grand Plans and the Grand Planner for all your friends. Let’s hold each other accountable?
Some golden gedunk and goods
Get yourself another few copies of Grand Plans: How to Mitigate Geri-Drama in 20 Easy Steps and the Grand Planner for all the people who like getting gifts in your life! Visit www.mygrandplans.com for links to purchase on Amazon.
And… Check out our Grand Plans merch in our Etsy storefront.
