Do you remember the Twilight Zone (Season 5 episode 17) Number 12 Looks Just Like You where a woman is feeling pressure to have cosmetic surgery to look beautiful? This blog post addresses the same pressure in today’s world.

The subject of aging and striving to have no tell -tale signs is a conversation that quickly exhausts me. The subject of gray hair, wrinkles, age spots and all the other anomalies of aging is a subject that quickly bores me.

Consequently, commercials fill our television with creams and serums that promise a wrinkle and age spot free face. I admit, being well into the aging process the intrigue baits me into visiting the website to see what they offer.

Reality hits when you see that the offer is only available for the next twenty-four hours. But the “free” is only the product, the shipping and handling is usually astronomical for only one bottle. In addition, you must provide your credit or debit card information and choose a subscription to receive the product monthly. Laughingly, I infer that these commercials are akin to a snake oil salesman in times past. Do they really work or are the creators of such things just preying on an optimistic, naive public?

In fact, the next time you are in a social situation observe to whom others gravitate. Typically, the aesthetically pleasing people in the crowd are the ones others engage in a conversation with. The person who is outwardly beautiful and dresses according to the latest fashion trend is the stand-out. The quiet, unassuming person sits in the background; That is the person I am drawn to and engage in conversation. Many times the inner beauty or the intelligent conversation outshines the stand-out.

And remember, getting old is a privilege.