My age is seventy. I recently noticed a woman my age wearing really short clothing at the beach. Intrigued, I decided to approach her and suggest that, considering our ages, it might be wiser to dress more modestly.
Unconcerned by the stares she got, this woman, who was about seventy years old, walked along the beach with remarkable confidence. She seemed to be taking full advantage of the opportunity to embrace her body without hesitation. This sense of freedom made me reflect. Was I the only one who thought too highly of what is considered appropriate for our generation?
Even though I have to admit that her confidence enchanted me, I couldn’t help but question whether we shouldn’t become more modest as we age.
I really believe in the need of self-assurance. I also feel young at heart, love life, and take care of myself.
But this woman made me question if becoming older also means dressing more modestly.
I went to her and expressed my thoughts to her. I gently pointed them that a more sophisticated choice may be a bikini with greater coverage, considering our ages.
However, her response was completely unexpected.
She simply grinned and carried on walking as if she hadn’t even heard my advice. This made me question why I felt the need to give such advice and what matters most at our age.
Perhaps I grew up in a different environment with different ideas about how we “should” appear when we’re seventy. The concept of “appropriateness” is evolving, and conventional norms such as grace and modesty may no longer be as relevant.
This beach experience, her confidence, and her ability to embrace herself taught me that there are many ways to express oneself. And perhaps I was wrong to assume that modesty and elegance are inherently related.
Everyone makes decisions about their way of life and attire based on their emotions. The real meaning of this story may not be that one outfit is superior than another, but rather that everyone, regardless of age, has the right to make their own decisions.
Our bodies, our lifestyles, and our sense of style are all individual decisions; what matters most is that we are comfortable and confident in our identity.
