Celebrating Life at 64: Ruth's Inspiring Journey of Embracing Age with Grace in my Smithsburg Studio

In a world that often celebrates youth and beauty, it's essential to remember that aging is a privilege. Aging comes with wisdom, experiences, and unique stories that deserve to be heard. In a heartfelt conversation with Ruth Akers, a vibrant 64-year-old who embodies the spirit of embracing age with grace and positivity. We gain insight into her profound perspective on age, her motivation for participating in an age-related campaign, her preparedness for a photo session, her feelings during the shoot, and her intentions behind gifting the photos to her husband.

Embracing Age with Wisdom and Positivity

When asked about her feelings towards being 64, Ruth exudes positivity. She emphatically states, "I love being 64 years old because you couldn’t pay me enough to be 20 ever again." Her appreciation for her age stems from the knowledge and experiences she has gained over the years, which she uses to make better decisions. Ruth, a dedicated teacher, acknowledges that teaching at her age can be challenging, but her love for the profession keeps her going. She emphasizes that age is no barrier to doing what you love, as long as you accept yourself and find joy in your pursuits.

“I love being 64 years old because you couldn’t pay me enough to be 20 ever again. I love knowing the things that I know. I love knowing about things and how I can use that to make better decisions. I’m a teacher and being 64 and a teacher can be a trying event in life. Many of my friends are talking about retirement and I’m just hoping that I can make it another six years without any problems because I love doing it. So, I think if you find something that you love doing, it really doesn't matter your age. I don't feel like it's hurting me. I love teaching, I love being around kids, I love being around young adults. Middle schoolers are great. I think that one of the things that's really important as you age is just to accept yourself as you are. I just started to embrace enjoying myself, enjoying the things that I like to do. I love to spend my summers going to music festivals, ideally Christian music festivals, because I like the alternative music and I like the good message that's behind it. I like hanging out with younger people and I don't have my own children. So being around children or kids, whatever you want to call them, just brings youth to you. I think I heard someone the other day say something about giving. And when you give of yourself, when you serve others, it makes the time in your life, no matter what it is, better.” – Ruth Akers

Intrigued by the Age Campaign

Ruth's decision to participate in the 40 over 40 campaign was fueled by a desire to do something special for herself and her husband after a challenging year. She was intrigued because society often neglects the beauty and wisdom of older women. Ruth believes that older men are often celebrated for their wrinkles and gray hair, but older women are not given the same recognition. She sees the 40 over 40 campaign as an opportunity to challenge these stereotypes and inspire others. Ruth's excitement about the campaign reflects her eagerness to show that age should never limit one's ability to embrace new experiences.

“It’s been a tough year, and my husband really could have used some encouragement, so I thought, let me do something for myself and for him. I was sort of intrigued because people don't look at older women, especially older men can look great. They look great with gray hair and wrinkles and all that. But people don't embrace older women. And so, it's just intriguing to me that someone is willing to go out there and make it a special day and make it something that you can share with others so that maybe that helps them someone else later on that sees, oh, well, she's 64, and she still can do this. I’m excited about it.” - Ruth Akers

Preparedness and Confidence for the Photo Session

Ruth approached the photo session with great preparedness. She lauds the resources provided, including emails, reminders, and text messages, which helped her feel confident and well-informed. The prompt responses to her queries were particularly reassuring, ensuring she had all the information she needed to make the most of the experience.

“I was super prepared. I mean, all the resources that were provided online, the emails, the reminders, the text messages. If I had a question, I got a response really quick. So, all of those things sort of hit me right this week when I was getting ready to pick them over. I’m like, oh, what did I forget to ask? So, I was very happy that I got a quick response with everything.” - Ruth Akers

“If you find something that you love doing, it really doesn't matter about your age.” - Ruth Akers

A Comfortable and Empowering Photo Session

During the photo session, Ruth felt exceptionally good. She embraced the opportunity to try something new and step slightly out of her comfort zone, which left her feeling comfortable and empowered. She hopes that the photos will pleasantly surprise her husband, adding a touch of excitement to their lives.

“Super good. I mean, I even tried something. I might not have showed more skin than I might have but made me feel really comfortable. And hopefully it'll be one of those views that really surprises my husband.” - Ruth Akers

Gifting Happiness to Her Husband

Ruth's intention behind gifting the photos to her husband is to bring happiness into his life. She recognizes the challenges he has faced due to health problems in recent years. A simple picture she once gave him had a profound impact, and she believes these photos will have a similar effect. Ruth aims to reinforce her husband's commitment to following medical advice, ensuring that he continues to strive for better health and happiness.

“Well, I have to see what they look like, I guess. But I'm gifting to him, so I'm not sure if it'll be for his birthday or for Christmas. I have to decide that anything that makes him happy. And I know that he's been through a lot of health problems in the past three years, and when I just gave him one time, I gave him a picture that he could put on his desk. It was like the biggest deal in the world. So, I think this might be one of those things that just makes him happy. He’s doing a lot of these things. He’s following doctor's orders because of me, and if he’s doing that because of me, I should give him a little something that reinforces it, maybe whatever it is, to keep him trying to do better.” - Ruth Akers

Ruth's Intention Behind Gifting the Photos to her Husband

Conclusion

In Ruth Akers' story, we find inspiration and wisdom that transcends age. Her journey reminds us that embracing life and age with grace, pursuing passions, and challenging societal norms can lead to a fulfilling and rewarding existence. Ruth's act of participating in the age campaign and gifting these photos to her husband demonstrates the power of love and the enduring value of embracing life's precious moments.

If you're inspired by Ruth's story and wish to celebrate your age with Depiction Portraits by Diana, don't hesitate to book your session today. Join us in capturing the essence of your journey and celebrating the remarkable person you've become with each passing year. Embrace your age with confidence, and let your story inspire others, just as Ruth's has inspired us all.

All the best,

Diana