Recently my husband has been groaning
each time he looks in the mirror. This will inevitably be followed be
such comments as.... Do you think my hair is getting whiter? You are
married to an old man... or Do I look as old as...? He really is
getting rather deflated at his reflection in the mirror. Hence, I ask
the question – when is a reflection not really a reflection? We all
age and once we past fifty – the process does seem to gather
momentum. But the image we see in the mirror is but a poor reflection
of the whole person – particularly one who is aged. That is – a
person who has gathered wisdom through the challenges and struggles
of life; a person who has foregone self gratification through the
raising of children; a person who has developed skills and knowledge
throughout their career; a person who has learnt how to explore and
enjoy this life we have been given. A mirror does not reflect such
characteristics as these. The lines, wrinkles and grey hair are
merely outward indicators of qualities that can only be attained one
way – that is by growing old!!
