A Famous Supermodel at 39? Shocking? Try Being Fabulous at 85!

Daphne Selfe, 85-year-old supermodel

Today's Huff Post Style led with a story on an onslaught of senior supermodels.  One of my favorites, pictured above and below, is 85-year-old Daphne Selfe. Now, I am not one to think supermodels are all that special except in the lucked-out-in-the-gene-pool category, but, come on, 85? That's fantastic. It's fantastic that people may just start appreciating beauty at any age. It's fantastic that 85 doesn't have to look like it used to. This woman obviously does have some pretty remarkable genes and I'm sure being a dancer and model for a large part of her youth didn't hurt.

What it is I admire is the sparkle in the eye. At any age that is the greatest thing there is. I love it in little children when they walk into a room lit by the lights from a Christmas tree. I love the way it felt when I realized I loved the man who became my husband - and the light in his eyes when I'd make him laugh (or more often, he'd make me laugh). How do you keep that sparkle of enthusiasm for life when the body starts slowing down, the energy dissipates, and loved ones fall ill and die? I love Ms. Selfe's responses in an interview:

What's the point? I go around looking at people and I think: "You look so sad". I have been very lucky so I can be cheerful and I'd like to make other people cheerful, too. If wearing clothes and prancing about in funny outfits is going to amuse people, I'll keep on doing it.

My life in six words… Perseverance, happiness, curiosity, luck, excitement, gratitude.

I've really got to work my way back from all of the injuries and setbacks from the last couple of years. This woman is 26 or 27 years older than me. Now, I can't take up dancing because that would only mean more broken bones, but there's a lot I can do. I figure if I keep on writing and keep on reading about yoga and healthy eating…well, the more I read and write, the more I stay conscious of my goals. 

I'm excited about enjoying life as an older woman. I've always thought the hands of elderly women are so cool. They show so much….life. Slowly I am starting to take better care of myself. Slowly I am starting to care better for myself. I've always thought that people living joyous, happy, REAL lives inspired those around them. Being Debbie Downer doesn't do anybody any good. I am happy right here in this particular moment of my life. 

One more thing. I read about a study and the University of Pennsylvania medical school. It was about meditation and aging. It said that in a study of seniors, those who meditated were discovered to have longer telemeres (I think that's the word). They are the ends of the genes in the DNA. The longer the telemere, the longer you live. Those that meditated in the study did "loving kindness" meditations. Instead of OM, they meditated on wishing long life and happiness to others. I promise next time I'll include references for something like this. But, today I did some meditating and I thought of my grand babies. I held them in my mind and heart and just focused on wishing them happy, healthy, love-filled lives. A.) it was easy to focus on, and B.) it felt great. I could feel those telemeres stretching. 

Every day, just one or two more little things to open my life up. Baby steps…granny steps!