Yesterday I took Mom (MIL) to the spa for a pedicure and hair wash.
Mom is 87.
Mom is in a wheelchair.
Mom is a cancer survivor.
Completed her PhD at 78 on non-duality.
Is living with vision impairment since her stroke at 82.
Mom needs a full-time caretaker to help her with her needs.
Wheeling her in at Enrich Spa in Prabhadevi needed maneuvering, three people needed to lift her wheelchair. Few people had to move and clean up the area to enable her wheelchair to fit in the pedicure room. Once there it took a few of us to lift her from her wheelchair and help her in the pedicure chair.
Looking around at other patrons at the spa I wondered what was going on in their mind.
Why are people fussing over this old differently abled lady?
Is she someone famous?
What is her deal?
She is taking up so much space and time, where is she planning to go?
Who is she planning to meet?
She is old, she can’t even walk on her own isn't it vain?
While patrons might be thinking of different things because all the attention from them was focused on someone they deemed less important or significant, the staff was phenomenal. It took multiple people to get her from the pedicure room to the hair wash area. No one complained, in fact, they had a light touch and a smile on their face even though a few stylists who lent a hand had clients they were tending to. Most importantly they did not rush her out. They took as much time as was required. While her hair was being washed another staff member had the foresight to get her wheelchair so that she could be transferred directly to the comfort zone for her hair drying instead of shifting her around and causing her stress.
We wheeled her to the hair drying area where the stylist took her time gently making mom’s stresses look beautiful. I could see the pride she felt in her work. I don't think the stylist looked at Mom as an 87-year-old. For the stylist, mom was a client and she was going to do her best to make her look her best!
The photos I took are proof that beauty has no age. Wanting to look good, feel good, at any age is ok. Instead, it is permissible and should be enjoyed without judgment. Who cares if you are just going to sit at home after a pampering session? Frankly, it's really no one's business. In fact, it should be applauded that someone at 87 is feeling good about themselves and wants to do something for herself.
As a social commentary, what would come to your mind when you see an older visibly impaired person taking up space? Let's be honest about this… what stories would you be making up? Should we stop attending to our needs and ourselves after a certain age? Is there an age limit to want to look and feel beautiful? Please share your thoughts after you see these photos.