“To color or not to color, that is the question. Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to embrace the silver strands of time or to take arms against a sea of grays and by opposing, dye them.”
– Claudia McMicken (NOT William Shakespeare)
As I sit here in my comfy pajamas, drinking my morning coffee, I can't help but think about this Shakespearean-style dilemma that plays out in my mind. The struggle between what society expects and accepting ourselves is something we often face, especially as we get older. The pressure to maintain a youthful appearance is a tale as old as time, especially for women.
Society often suggests that gray hair is a sign that you're past your prime or no longer as important. I call Bullshit! Why should something as natural as aging be seen in such a negative light? Why do we let outside opinions influence how we feel about ourselves? When did growing old gracefully and naturally become negative? 🤔
In my mid-50s, I find myself thinking about these questions more frequently. There's a certain freedom in growing older and embracing your true self. Yet, the appeal of hair dye is hard to ignore. It offers a short break from the ongoing passage of time. My friends say I am too young to go gray. Am I? Or is this merely society talking?
It's amazing how a simple matter of hair color can become a reflection of deeper societal issues. The expectation for women to constantly defy aging is a heavy burden, one that can erode confidence and self-esteem. It perpetuates the notion that our value diminishes with age, that beauty is synonymous with youth. People seem to judge you for your hair going gray, for not wearing make-up, and for not being the "perfect" size. (All topic conversations for another day).
As I consider my next move, I can't help but wonder:
is my hesitation to go gray really about my own desires, or am I succumbing to the invisible pressures of societal norms? There is no easy answer, but it is one worth exploring.
So, as I sit here writing this blog post, I'm embracing the uncertainty. I'm learning to find solutions between personal choice and societal influence. Whether I decide to color my hair or let the grays shine, the journey to self-acceptance is a valuable one.
In the end, it's not just about hair; it's about challenging the narratives we've been fed and finding confidence in our own stories. And who knows, perhaps in this act of defiance, we'll discover that the truest beauty lies in the wisdom and grace of embracing who we are, silver strands and all.
I must say that this old tale that is as old as time pressured me - a male - each and every time I was about fly away while I was working that day job in the corporate world. But people did begin to notice. There I was - the oldest of five kids and while I did not appear to be aging - there were my younger brothers with hair that was almost completely gray. These days with the ripe old age of 65 fast approaching - rarely do I let a professional add colour to my hair - I just go out to the local grocery store and buy a cheap product to do that.
But the pandemic…