Is being an older woman a liberating experience for you?

In her poem, Warning, Jenny Joseph imagines her older self and the freedoms she will enjoy when she is liberated from the conventions of her life. I believe that we can change throughout our lives - I had certainly reinvented myself at least twice before I hit 50, including dying my hair bright red aged 26 and never looking back! Now I’m enjoying another renaissance as an older woman, and finding it is indeed liberating. For example, I have always loved wearing black, but now I am adding bright colours to my wardrobe but, unlike Jenny Joseph’s imagined older self, who defiantly relishes the fact that wearing purple with a clashing red hat that doesn’t suit her, I have found the odd clash of vibrant colours actually works and I really enjoy putting them together. One of my favourite combos is a hot orange coat from Jigsaw teamed with a raspberry beret. Rather than feeling I have to shock people, I find making bold colour choices gives me confidence, a sense of fun and even joy!

Many older people say they feel invisible, but is this because we start thinking ourselves ‘old’ or because of the way the world perceives older people, or perhaps a bit of both? Changes in circumstances as well as changes in our physical appearance and attitude can all knock our confidence and make us feel a more timid, shadowy version of ourselves. Ageism is certainly out there, so to be seen we need to present a more confident version of ourselves. For many women who have had to conform to dress codes or been constrained by situations or relationships where adornment was discouraged or disapproved of, or who have felt restricted by social conventions, work and family life, being older can provide a new freedom to experiment and discover other versions of themselves. For some this is a liberating and joyful time, but for others the prospect may be daunting, or even not desirable. But if you don’t want to quietly fade into the background in your third age, then this is a wonderful time to experiment with your creativity and present yourself to the world as the brilliant, beautiful, confident and liberated butterfly you are in this new era of your life!

The key to being a bolder woman lies in your attitude and your willingness to try new things. It doesn’t have to be radical, even taking small steps like wearing a bright lipstick or scarf, or signing up for a course, or joining a group of like minded people can kick start a whole new confidence and be a liberating experience.

What makes you feel confident? Please add your thoughts and comments below.

If you need some help, I offer online Discovery Workshop on aspects of living as an older woman, including how to reinvent your style, please email me at: hellowearingwell@gmail.com