Grayteful: Grateful To Be Going Gray

Summary

The article "Grayteful: Grateful To Be Going Gray" discusses the author's perspective on embracing the aging process, particularly graying hair, as a symbol of life's blessings, inspired by the wisdom of a late friend who faced terminal illness with grace.

Abstract

"Grayteful: Grateful To Be Going Gray" is a reflective piece that introduces the concept of being 'grayteful'—appreciating the silver strands that come with aging. The author was deeply influenced by a close friend's battle with cancer, which led to a profound appreciation for each birthday and the privilege of growing older. Despite the societal pressure to maintain a youthful appearance, the author advocates for gratitude towards the natural signs of aging, suggesting that the focus should be on the joy of life and the experiences accumulated rather than the superficial aspects of aging.

Opinions

The author coined the term 'grayteful' to encapsulate the feeling of appreciation for being able to age and witness the changes in hair color that come with it.
There is a societal expectation, especially for women, to prevent or hide gray hair to avoid looking older, but the author challenges this notion by expressing gratitude for each gray strand as a reminder of life's preciousness.
The author reminisces about a friend who faced terminal cancer with acceptance, which has taught her to value life's milestones, including the aging process.
While the author does not necessarily advocate for abandoning hair dye, she emphasizes the importance of being thankful for the option to color or embrace gray hair.
The article lists ten things to be grateful for, including gray hair and the opportunity to celebrate each birthday, highlighting the author's belief in the beauty of life's simple pleasures amidst the inevitability of aging.

grayte•ful

/ˈɡrātf(ə)l/

adjective feeling or showing an appreciation for graying hair due to aging; thankful to be going gray

Some years ago I lost a good friend and super smart work colleague to cancer. She was maybe 39 years old when she was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. She died a very short 2 years later. She was a beautiful daughter, sister, wife, and mother to 3 young children.

She left me with so many lessons but the one thing I remember her telling me when I would question why this was happening to her was…

“It’s just life.”

Before this experience, I celebrated birthdays but without putting much meaning or thought into them. Since my friend’s passing, I am so grateful to make it to each of my birthdays, for my friends and family making it to each of their birthdays.

With each passing year, my mom and aunts tease me about starting to get more gray hair. But you know what? I tell them I’m grayteful for it!

What I would give for my friend to still be here going gray alongside me, alongside her growing children and aging husband.

Sure, I still color my hair, let the roots grow out, color it again. It doesn’t mean I’m not grayteful for the gray strands because I truly am. It means I’m still here and aging.

People, women more often than men in the society that I live in, tend to worry a lot about their gray hair. They spend tons of money and time trying to prevent gray hair, hiding their gray hair. Maybe it’s because they don’t like the color against their skin tone, maybe it’s because they don’t like the two-toned look, but my guess is it’s mostly because they don’t want to look older.

I’m not suggesting that everyone go out and embrace their gray hair. It’s a personal decision. I’ve not even yet decided to go gray.

I’m simply suggesting that rather than grappling with the notion of going gray all day or despising the gray hairs as we sit stranded in the salon chair a few hundred dollars broker, we instead stay grayteful to be on another trip around the sun.☀️

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