A Young Person Asked If Attraction Fades With Age, And This 78-Year-Old’s Answer Is Surprisingly Beautiful
AaronAmat | Canva The internet often shows itself to be a space that brings out the worst in people, due to the sense of anonymity and invisibility found in typing words into a seemingly open void. But every once in a while, people share their opinions and experiences in a way that captures kindness and grace.
A post that was reposted to an online forum captured an element of humanity that isn’t highly broadcast. On August 6, 2023, the X account “Internet Hall of Fame” posted the following question: “When you get older, do old people become attractive to you, like when I’m 70, are 70-year-old men gonna look hot? This is a real concern of mine.”
A wise and generous answer came from someone claiming to be 78 years old, highlighting how our attraction shifts as we age.
A 78-year-old gave a surprisingly beautiful answer to a young person wondering if attraction fades with age
Junior REIS / Unsplash
The 78-year-old said she 'gained' her decades
“I’m 78 years old, as I’ve gained my decades. At 30, teenagers looked like kids, but 20-30 looked good,” their post began. “40 looked old, when I was [in my] 40s, the 50-year-olds started to look pretty darn good, and so on, but when I was in my 40s, I realized if I didn’t see some wrinkles, they didn’t look finished.”
“Now, at 78, I see beauty that is hard to get into words, like a work of great art; it takes my breath away, life is written on a body, hard labor, sorrow, even joy, happiness, fear, it’s all right there in front of me,” they continued.
“And I swear to God, the beauty, the price we pay for our physical appearance, it’s like when you look at a newborn, you admire the perfection. In old age, you admire the work it took to get there, and it’s beautiful. Hope that helps,” the 78-year-old exclaimed.
Dr. Sue Johnson, director of the International Center for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy, explained that we don't often see "the beauty in a face that reflects a life lived." Surviving decades of love, loss, laughter, and grief is something to wear with pride, not apologize for.
The overwhelming reaction from people showed the deep emotional resonance of the 78-year-old's answer
Getty Images / Unsplash+
A man named Will Selden shared a post explaining just how much he agreed with the sentiment. He wrote, “Yes. At 65, sometimes the young look a little ‘incomplete’ to me, and a careworn mark here or there is more badge than disqualifier.”
Another person, named Cora Lili, proclaimed appreciation and gratitude for the answer, posting, “Agreed. Thank you for your wisdom. There’s an unspoken beauty that comes through after I’ve sat with an older person. And it’s quite charming to fall in love with the truth of an individual who’s lived through times and seen things that I’ve seen or have yet to.”
She continued, “Thank you so much for posting this. You have truly given comfort and reassurance to us ‘younger’ ones.”
As someone named Sam posted, “I’m in my twenties, and I completely agree. There’s an unmatchable beauty in wrinkles and signs of age. Wish more women my age and teens understood this so we could live with grace and joy, not overly obsessed with looks and weight. Maturity is priceless.”
While the age of the person who provided such a deeply felt answer isn’t entirely clear, the fact remains that their response garnered millions of views. It seems as though the truth of the sentiment they expressed holds inherent weight, even if their identity isn’t what they claim. The process of aging is anything but simple; still, to do so is a gift.
Attraction is about so much more than our skin, our bodies, our features. Our physical frames carry the stories we’ve lived. For those of us allowed to accrue year after year of existence, it’s clear that our beauty blossoms as we go.
Alexandra Blogier is a writer on YourTango's news and entertainment team. She covers mental health, pop culture analysis, and all things to do with the entertainment industry.
