Upon leaving the health club a few days ago I picked up a copy of the gym’s Health, Beauty and Wellness magazine. I thought I would flip through it and find out all the latest tips on health and beauty. But all I found were ads for plastic surgeons, cosmetic dental treatments, and medical spa treatments (such as chemical peels). Is that what beauty has come down to? Cutting ourselves up and putting chemicals on and in our bodies in the name of looking good?

The inside cover of this magazine had a message from the publisher of the magazine which said that while, diet and exercise were certainly an important part of a healthy and happy life, health and wellness often goes beyond just working out and eating your veggies. Fitness cannot fix crows feet or bags under the eyes. It can’t help you achieve the perfect smile, or the perfect body you have always wanted. That takes a little more than a fitness instructor. Really? Then what the heck was I doing paying to belong to a health club? Could my health club actually be advocating looking your best and living a healthy and happy lifestyle through surgery and chemical processes? I spend 3-4 days a week working out. Maybe I should just quit the gym, and save the money to have the fat sucked out of me!

As I skimmed through the magazine I noticed a dentist whose philosophy read “…and a healthy smile can be the foundation for many positive outcomes in life.” Which positive outcomes would that be based simply on my smile? What about self esteem and confidence? Does he sell those as well? And there was the plastic surgeon who had a testimonial from one of his patients stating that “he is amazingly gentle and extremely kind.” Those are special qualities? I thought those were qualities all doctors were supposed to have!

It is messages like these that cause us to be unhappy with our looks and our bodies, to always be seeking after perfection and youth. We are told that crows feet and wrinkles are bad. That being 40 and looking 40 is unattractive. We are constantly reminded via the media that youth is where it is at and we need to continually be striving for that which will make us young forever. But at what cost? Whatever happened to aging gracefully? Just because you are 40 and look 40 doesn’t mean you are unattractive. You can still have that youthful and healthy glow without risking your life to look 20. What about using products on your skin that are healthy and good for your skin instead of chemicals that cause your skin to age and lose elasticity through the use of a chemical soup? I didn’t see that one mentioned anywhere.

Children as young as 10 are using cosmetics and 16 year old teens are dreaming of plastic surgery to cover their flaws. Parents are actually giving breast implants and nose jobs as “sweet 16” gifts. And where do you think they get these ideas? How dramatically different are these aspirations than those of kids from previous generations. Where is this heading?

Aging is a natural process and it certainly doesn’t have to be a negative one. Stop chasing the elusive dream of youth at the expense of your health. Never apologize for aging gracefully!