Do we really know what we look like?

B

Blessed

Well-known Member
I was trying to take a photo of one of my dogs sleeping to post. I do not have a cell so I turned on the camera on the laptop. OH!!!!, the horror, jeez I am know I am old, I know I am over weight but I did not expect to see Jaba the Hut. It freaked me out. I am not one that is obessed with my appearance, I do not put makeup on everyday but I sure did not expect to see that. It has gotten so much worse in the last year. Guess I will have to start wearing a bag over my head with cut out eyes to the Walmart. Yes, I know, not a good idea, probably look like a robber. No worries, I have delivery available. Now if I say can't go out for a dinner or party I won't be untruthful LOL.

WARNING: Do not take a selfie unless you are prepared for the result.
 

Well, it is true that, in my 70's, I don't look like I did in my 20's. Sigh. It's monumentally unfair.

Luckily, my husband of 40 years still thinks I'm pretty(!) and doesn't see anything wrong with growing old together. He's obviously a keeper. ❤️
 

Blessed said:
I was trying to take a photo of one of my dogs sleeping to post. I do not have a cell so I turned on the camera on the laptop. OH!!!!, the horror, jeez I am know I am old, I know I am over weight but I did not expect to see Jaba the Hut. It freaked me out. I am not one that is obessed with my appearance, I do not put makeup on everyday but I sure did not expect to see that. It has gotten so much worse in the last year. Guess I will have to start wearing a bag over my head with cut out eyes to the Walmart. Yes, I know, not a good idea, probably look like a robber. No worries, I have delivery available. Now if I say can't go out for a dinner or party I won't be untruthful LOL.

WARNING: Do not take a selfie unless you are prepared for the result.
Click to expand...
Gaer said:
I have one mirror in the house and a dim lightbulb over it, so I think I look GREAT!
But I DID catch a reflection in the car mirror in bright sunlight once.
Never do THAT again! hahaha!
Click to expand...
I hear you, @Blessed! Looking in the mirror is not my favorite thing. I think @Gaer has the right idea. Dim light is best, and the fact that we don't see quite as well as we used to helps. 🥴

The last few years have taken their toll. It's not just advancing age that has affected my looks, it's also the added stress of my husband's death. I know you both understand what I mean.

I don't obsess about my appearance, and it's no surprise that every time I look in the mirror, I see a woman who's getting older. That's the way it is. Seeing as there's no magic elixir to turn back the hands of time, I take care of myself and just do the best I can with what I've got left to work with to make myself presentable. I hope that who I am as a person is worth more than my outward appearance. Every dog has his day, and I had mine in spades. People get old, if they're fortunate. I'm glad that I didn't always need to rely on my looks to win friends or influence people. Otherwise, at this point, I'd be sheet outta luck!
 
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Who remembers Vera Wang?
The fashion designer who posted regular images of herself posing in different high-fashion looks while in lockdown at her home in Miami. She shared three photos that showed her posing in an orange sports bra. Social media users went wild for the pictures, with many remarking on how youthful Vera, 70, looks in them.
 
Blessed said:
I was trying to take a photo of one of my dogs sleeping to post. I do not have a cell so I turned on the camera on the laptop. OH!!!!, the horror, jeez I am know I am old, I know I am over weight but I did not expect to see Jaba the Hut. It freaked me out. I am not one that is obessed with my appearance, I do not put makeup on everyday but I sure did not expect to see that. It has gotten so much worse in the last year. Guess I will have to start wearing a bag over my head with cut out eyes to the Walmart. Yes, I know, not a good idea, probably look like a robber. No worries, I have delivery available. Now if I say can't go out for a dinner or party I won't be untruthful LOL.

WARNING: Do not take a selfie unless you are prepared for the result.
Click to expand...
😂 I have shocked myself several times when turning it on and facing the truth!!
 
Gaer said:
I have one mirror in the house and a dim lightbulb over it, so I think I look GREAT!
Click to expand...
I'm sure you do! Your picture here looks great.
Gaer said:
But I DID catch a reflection in the car mirror in bright sunlight once.
Never do THAT again! hahaha!
Click to expand...
Pay no attention, car mirrors lie.
horseless carriage said:
Who remembers Vera Wang?
The fashion designer who posted regular images of herself posing in different high-fashion looks while in lockdown at her home in Miami. She shared three photos that showed her posing in an orange sports bra. Social media users went wild for the pictures, with many remarking on how youthful Vera, 70, looks in them.
Click to expand...
And very cartoonish. Appears to me lots of photoshop there, not much photo.
 
It seems most of us are fine with getting older and are realistic about are grateful aging.
I think @Blessed is talking about turning on the camera and the setting is facing you and you are hit with your big face which is at a poor angle and your expression is usually puzzled or grimaced, , unready for a photo and it gives you a shock.
In my case, there's shock, then you laugh at yourself and that's when you should snap a photo because that face is a great shot!
 
One trick with selfish or video chats is to position the camera up high so you're looking up to it. At our age everything is droopy and wrinkly, looking up let's gravity pull that skin tight on your face and neck so you look at least a few years younger!
 
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C50 said:
One trick with selfish or video chats is to position the camera up high so your looking up to it. At our age everything is droopy and wrinkly, looking up let's gravity pull that skin tight on your face and neck so you look at least a few years younger!
Click to expand...

That's something that I've remembered from the past. (y) .. always look up.

But these days with my poor eyesight, that takes care of worrying about what I look like. :giggle:
 
After spending 12 weeks in hospital after a fall that resulted in 4 broken bones in my left leg, followed by liver problems, and getting a new cardiac pacemaker, and losing just under 100 pounds of body weight........I don't look at all like I did in March of 2023 when I fell. I am now at the lowest body weight of my adult life ( 195 ). I can now walk without a cane or walker, but slowly. All of my clothes are way too big for me now. I used to have a 46 inch waist, now it is 36 inches. Even my shoes are too big now. On the bright side, my pacemaker has resulted in my BP, heart rate, O2 perfusion and body temperature all now being with in normal values. I have made sure my Wife takes lots of photos of me in my new body. I look at this as an opportunity to restart my life, with a different food plan of diabetic foods, and no more alcohol consumption. My Driver's license photo will have to be re shot, as my current appearance has little relation to what I used to look like. JimB.
 
I see something more deteriorating by the day. Ah well, everyone must get older. I look after myself, moisturise, wear some makeup with a subtle lipstick being vital, have my cut and colours regularly. I find it surprising to see the years catching up with me.
Where has the young girl gone, the child, the bright eyes, thick hair, blooming cheeks? The strong pain-free body?

Still, now comes wisdom, peace, relief somehow, as there is nothing more left to prove. I think there is something wrong with resisting old age too fiercely. I find it startling to see women with Botox and 'work' done and those who maintain unfeasible slim figures by denying themselves food. Life is for living and it WILL end and ought to be faced with a degree of philosophy.
 
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