Aging Gracefully Means Never Having to Say You're Sorry

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 cosmetic surgeons, cosmetic dental treatments, and medical spa treatments (such as Botox and 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 am 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!