You Are Lovelier Now - Don't Let Anyone Tell You Otherwise

I don't know about you, but I've grown rather fond of my not-so-faint facial lines, the silver strands making their quiet debut and even the gentle softening along my jawline. They give my petite frame a kind of earned elegance - a maturity that commands respect without ever needing to ask for it.

But let's be honest: the aches and pains? Those I could go without.

At 62, getting out of a bed feels like a full-body negotiation. I lie there for a moment, checking whether my parts are willing to stand together and sing, "Oh, What A Beautiful Morning!" or whether today might be a slow roll onto the floor. Then there's this infamous squat- you know, the one where you bend to fetch something under the sink and suddenly need to call your husband because you're not entirely sure you can get back up again.

And how about the heels? Once upon a time, we wore them without thinking. Now our knees, backs and entire skeletal systems unionize at the very thought. I know many of you are nodding along.

But as my dear friend Diane once told me," I can't give up. I don't want to give up because we're here to live." Perfectly said.

So We Keep Going.

We keep discovering - and rediscovering - our purpose. We try to stay healthy so we can feel good in our own bodies. We build balance so we can enjoy life more fully. We pour goodness into our small corners of the world because that's what makes life meaningful.

Yes, we make the effort to look good everyday. Not for others - but because we owe it to ourselves. We worked hard for our families, our careers, our homes, our communities.

We've shown up as wives, sisters. mothers, grandmothers, friends, neighbours, workers, entrepreneurs - even faithful women trying our best. For all of that, we deserve "looking good days". A chic blouse, a well-fitted dress, an elegant skirt, a confident outer layer...they're not vanity. They're self respect. They're a reminder that you matter too.

We can't forget ourselves simply because we've aged or because life, family and responsibilities once took priority. In our maturing years, this is the moment to reclaim the parts of us we may have shelved.

A Little Story From Me.

I've always loved art. As a child, I designed clothes for my mum's customers and for my beloved paper dolls. In school, even though writing was my strongest suit, my favourite moments were the creative ones. But my Dad, out of love and worry, insisted that art wouldn't give me a stable future. So I studied Psychology. Then life happened - career, success, marriage, responsibilities - all wonderful in their own ways.

Art became something I doodled during breaks. Then the years rolled by and I realized something important.

Life isn't meant to be simply lived, it's meant to be felt. Enjoyed. Explored. Reclaimed.

No more excuses.

Do good, feel good, look good.

Better yet - do better, feel better, look better because now you have the wisdom and experience to back it all up.

So be confident. You are lovelier now. Age hasn't diminished you- it has deepened you. Your body isn't fading - it's evolving.

Your confidence isn't behind you - it's waiting for you to fully step into it.

Here's to us - wiser, braver, kinder, stronger and lovelier than ever.

Xx

Chari