Be what you ARE!!

Recently, I visited an orthopedist for pain in my left elbow. Despite not having played the sport in years, I was diagnosed with tennis elbow. Sadly, I think what I actually have is ‘scrolling elbow’. Now… this could obviously be the topic of a post but for today, it is not.

When I arrived at my appointment, I was greeted at the door with the gigantic image and message above.

“Be what you were.”

I actually stopped in my tracks.

Obviously, as orthopedists, I understand what they are going for. There are times when this message is 100% appropriate but… often it is not. This is the message that I, as a middle aged woman, hear, read and see constantly. I am reminded to dye my naturally greying hair, botox out my well earned wrinkles. starve away my my menopausal weight. All to be what I was.

To be the skinny, natural brunette with unlined skin who I was thirty years ago. Thirty years ago I had lived less, laughed less, loved less, learned less, understood less, appreciated less. But… despite having less knowledge, less experience and less love, the world wants me to believe that I was better because I was young. Because I showed no sign of aging.

Yet I am human. We all are. With age, we change intellectually, emotionally and yes- physically. So why would we want to be what we were instead of being and loving who we are?