Aging Disgracefully

So much talk of anti-aging and how to age gracefully is aimed towards women. For men, it seems that we’re just supposed to sort of figure it out. When that’s the case, it’s no surprise that some of us… don’t do the best job in the world.

There are a few telltale signs of a man who isn’t taking the time to make it clear he knows the years are passing. There is nothing quite so tragic as a man in his 50s who still acts like he’s 25. Rather than trying to prolong your youth, it’s far more satisfactory to find a way to adjust to your new age – rather than trying to recapture the “glory” of the years gone by.

Maybe this is sounding familiar? There’s a few telltale signs that a man is stuck in the past and needs to update himself to catch up with the age he’s at now, rather than the one he still hankers after being. If you commit any of the below, then there’s a chance that you too are aging disgracefully…

1. Using Slang You Don’t Understand

Slang is a fascinating part of language, something that changes and moves like water – always evolving. The problem comes when someone tries to use a slang that they don’t really understand. Nothing is more of a glaring sign of being out of touch than using a “hip” word you have heard and just guessing as to how it can be used.

Get Your Grace: Unless you truly understand what a word means and how it should be used, then don’t use it! Or, if you want to find out more – such as what on earth the phrase “eyebrows on fleek” is meant to mean – then just Google it and find out, rather than using it randomly in the hopes it will fit.

2. Not Accepting Balding

Balding is a genetic condition – male pattern baldness – and that means you can’t really fight it. Even the options for hair transplants don’t always go as you might initially hope. Clinging on to those last few hairs is a sure sign of a man that’s stuck in the past. As for the most dreaded sin in this category – the combover – you must know the second you do that that you really, really shouldn’t.

Get Your Grace: It’s simple really. If you’re losing your hair, then embrace the new bald version of you as soon as possible. It’ll be a quick, easy adjustment and then it’s just how you are, rather than some harbinger of aging. All you need to do is use this to your benefit, get a good moisturizer for your newly exposed scalp, and then get on with life.

3. Anything Too Stereotypical

There are a few well-established harbingers of the mid-life crisis: dating younger women, buying a huge (usually convertible) car, trying to keep up with trends even if they don’t suit you. If something falls into the cliche category, then you probably know deep down you’ve gone too far.
Get Your Grace: Rein it in, and remember you’re still you. An older, more refined, more educated version of you. It’s far better to embrace now rather than trying to recapture yesterday.