Testimony: "I do not see myself the way others do."
At 50 years and above, some women feel better being in their skin. Read Pam's testimony on how she channels her positive energy in life.
Pam, 51, is a divorced sales manager with a 16 year-old son.
“When I was 20, people aged 50 and up seemed old to me but today, I am 51! I am not afraid of aging, as I know that I can’t do anything about it. I prefer to channel my energy to doing something else. I have never felt better; I have acquired a certain maturity, I no longer have a complex about my physical appearance. I don’t want to be 10 years younger! But I do not find myself fitting into the image of the 50 year-old woman. When people talk about 'senior', I do not feel concerned, I feel younger. Except at work, when I deal with some customers or with this marketing director who is around 25 years old. I didn’t notice it on the telephone, but when I saw him, I was surprised by his youth. I felt that he saw me as an old woman.
As a result, I felt outdated! But very quickly this feeling disappeared. I am an experienced woman and people listen to me. The thing that worries me is that this gap is only going to get bigger; I have to work for another 15 years. Besides, at work, I do not meet many women of my age. My team consists mainly of young people, but I find working with them more rewarding. They teach me many things, particularly the Internet. In return, I bring them my experience. I help them put issues in perspective. Recently I told them laughingly, ‘I would have swallowed my dentures!’ and they really believed that I wore them!”
Marie Le Marois
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Testimony: “Now that my children are adults, I live as if I am 30.”
Expert’s opinion: “We retain a youth that others do not want to see.”
