BoomerGirl Diary

There's a new book out, "How Not to Look Old." I haven't read it yet but I have read and heard plenty about it. The author, a former editor of Glamour, offers a myriad of valuable tips such as shortening your skirts and cutting bangs in order to project that youthful image many of us aspire to.

Clothes, hair and makeup visually define who we are and hint at our age. But there's another important factor in the equation; one that shouts old no matter how well you've nailed the perfect skirt length or lip color and that's posture and bearing. If you don't pay attention to them, all else is for naught.

Just look around any mall and you'll see what I mean. As we age osteoporosis and the force of gravity conspire to cause many of us to bend at about a 25-degree angle from the waist. We just sort of pitch forward. Some of us may be a bit hunched in the shoulders or our necks may have shortened.

I realize I'm not painting a pretty picture here but as I said, look around and you'll see what I mean. If you're focused on achieving that youthful look, it's something that must be addressed.

The solution is simple; make a concerted effort to straighten up. The most effective way is to lift from the rib cage, which may over time have taken to resting on your stomach. Try this first standing sideways in front of a full length mirror. You'll notice that as you lift the rib cage, your shoulders drop and your chin raises a bit; your lower back lengthens and flattens as does your abdomen. Now practice walking in this position. It may take a little practice but keep at it and soon it will become automatic.

This is a trick I learned from my mother who even at 85 did not want to look like an old lady and never did.