Here in America we have a culture that worships youth and in fact is somewhat obsessed by it. Our media has promoted the youthful look as being the height of beauty just as it has promoted the slim look. As a result, many of us suffer declining self esteem as we develop the wrinkles and sags that are characteristic of aging.

As the baby boomers enter middle age there has been a tremendous increase in the amount of money spent on anti-aging research as well as on cosmetic techniques to preserve the youthful appearance people so crave. Actors in the movie industry lead the trend towards face-lifts and human growth hormone injections, perpetuating the myth that beauty and youth are synonymous.

I would like to propose an alternative view. As a culture, we need to start focusing on health as our measure of beauty. To some extent, of course, health and the youthful look are synonymous. Sickness ages a person very quickly and the vibrant healthy person always looks younger than one would expect, considering his or her chronological age. But wouldn’t it be wonderful if our magazines started presenting older models who are the picture of health, rather than only younger models who are the picture of our stereotypes?

My dream is a world where people focus on beauty from the inside out rather than from the outside in. I’d love to see people take some of the money they are spending on plastic surgery and cosmetics and instead spend it on healthy, organic food and top quality supplements. Then we’d see a nation of faces full of lively color and vibrant energy that even the most advanced make-up techniques cannot duplicate, regardless of their age. What could be more beautiful than that?

~ Tys Dammeyer

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