I'm a Timeless Beauty

It’s World Mental Health Day today and many of us are sharing stats to convey why this matters - I decided to share some stories instead, some inner voices that go unheard. The way I see this though, even if this was just one in a million people, yet someone I have the power to help, I think it would be a total shame not to because to that one person, it’s their whole world falling apart & it really doesn't have to be that way.

I feel almost that we owe it to life to be more connected than that - and to be there for each other.

I know a lot of mental health issues come down to our appearance. E.g. 'I feel too old', 'my losing hair', 'I feel fat', 'I am not hungry', 'will my partner cheat because I can't match their looks?'

We carry tremendous stress not just over how we look but also over what happens when kooks fade. So I thought this might be a time to share excerpts from a piece I did this March...it has taken me tremendous courage to share this so please be kind.

This picture was shot by London based photographer Linda Blacker. Linda, who has shot for the likes of 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros and more, often hosts photo shoots celebrating women. Here, she wanted to capture and celebrate the beauty of women over 40. All the women in this shot are between the ages of 40 and 79 and she named it ‘Timeless Beauty’.

Linda phoned me when she was looking for the final girl. She?said. ‘As a woman, I find there is this constant underlying message?that we should fear ageing.?We live in a society where beauty and youth are so tightly linked, where anti-wrinkling creams are pushed down our throats from our mid-20s; we’re sold the idea in fear that a woman’s beauty will fade as she ages. Whereas men, we are told, grow more handsome with age, like fine wine.?I seldom see more mature women in campaigns, even those that strive for inclusion. It’s as if they simply don’t exist.’?

I was in and am the one sat on the stool in the main shot.

The 40’s story comes to me at a slightly different angle. My well wishers often suggest I get remarried because looks will fade. Although I challenge societal norm as a way of life and am strong, I'm sensitive too so yes, I hurt. There are so many more such untold stories, so this time round, I gathered some for you.

First Joanna. Joanna is the grey haired model in the front.

‘… I think my 50’s have been my best decade. I have felt a self-confidence that I had never felt before and have learnt to love myself – warts and all! Yes I have wrinkles and stretch marks that tell that I have lived, loved, been blessed with children and cried many times but these mark my journey through life. Our imperfections are part of us just like our strengths they make us who we are. I believe every woman can be beautiful if she just starts believing in herself.’

I then reached out to women who aren't on the shot, yet relate to it.

‘I can understand the connection that intertwines youth with beauty. When I see my little daughters giggling and chatting, they are simply beautiful. They reflect beauty, not with the symmetry of their facial features or their skin, but in their zest for tomorrow and their immersion in the moment. Sometimes, in keeping up with age, we leave behind the essence of beauty. No matter what our age may be, when we choose ‘living’ vs. ‘existing’, we become beautiful. Beauty is timeless, for those who choose it, and practice it.’

– Mala Wadhwani

‘People are so focused on perfect skin, perfect figure, perfect everything on the outside that they forget their inner beauty. My 40s is my best time. I’m doing things that I never thought I would do. I have massive scars on my body – and that to me is beautiful.?They make me smile as they remind me of the beautiful journeys that I have been part of.

That to me is my ‘perfect life’ that I LIVE TODAY and not wished that I would have lived.’

– Neetha Paul

‘Beauty for me is about us loving our bodies and being comfortable with them… at every age we need to learn to like ourselves and live with what we were given, being healthy is the most important.’

– Ana Bartolo?

‘I’ve always wondered what is Timeless Beauty and why such a title. I am 58 next week and I have always been one of those people that hated being put into any kind of age bracket, simply because I just want to be me… have my own sense of style and not be told things like, ‘don’t you think you’re a bit too old to dress like that, have your hair like that’. Sometimes people find out your age and even though you don’t look it, they reject you anyway. If you’ve had any kind of cosmetic surgery, you may be accepted. Why put that pressure on yourself??It’s not cheap and you’ll have to do it forever. Is it all for social media…or for the fear of losing your partner??If Timeless Beauty is going to one day represent the ones that want to stay true to themselves and be natural without all the bombardment of procedures then count me in.’

– Pauline?

And here’s a final thought from me.

This isn’t a piece for women alone. It is one for greater compassion and acceptance in totality – acceptance of yourself and of others.

There is nothing more timeless and beautiful than a genuine smile, a generous heart and the warmth of unconditional acceptance. We all have it in us to be timelessly beautiful – let’s do this together.

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In the picture from left to right: Annie Williams, Joanna Chamberlain, Astrid Clark, Vinita Ramtri, Joyce Grey-Carter, Elizabeth Gibson. Make up by Ashleigh MUA and Gina Parr. Studio: Studio Shutter House

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I am a keynote speaker and a mindset coach. If you wish to connect, I am on +447817256077. More of my articles are on?vinitaramtri.com

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