Aging Gracefully or Gratefully?
Many years ago, I told a lovely older woman she was a role model for me as I deeply appreciated her poise and presence and how plain-spoken she was. She told me something I’ll never forget, "I am you twenty-five years from now.” Wow!
Then, I told her I hoped I aged as gracefully as she has. She chuckled and said, “Swans are graceful. Humans are grateful.” She then helped me to see that you never hear a man being called a graceful ager. It’s a term reserved for women, often based on preserving their looks or manners.
She went on to say, “Aging gratefully is what we should aspire to because gratitude offers the ultimate facelift. It makes you smile.”
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