Jessica Grose is an opinion writer at The New York Times. She is also the author of the nonfiction "Screaming on the Inside: The Unsustainability of American Motherhood," as well as two novels.
I’m talking with her here because she has written several pieces in 2024 that resonated deeply with me, but none more so than January’s “Botox Destroyed What I Like About My Face,” and last week’s “Teens Are Getting Botox. I’m Going Full Crone in 2025.” (Those are both gift links to the articles, btw.) And I thought a longer conversation on these topics could be something you want to get in on, too.
We chatted after she returned from the gym one morning, and she brought her filler-free, make-up free “42-year-old woman face to the conversation, which I loved.
Highlights:
“It’s impossible to not be mildly wounded by someone saying something nasty about you.” (5:50)
“It’s very good to remember it is almost never about me.” (9:04)
“I just love her. I love her accent. I love her message. I love her confidence like that.” (19:17, talking about Shirley Manson of the band Garbage, who talked about turning 50 years old here)
“I always go back to this question of who is this for? Why am I doing this?” (23:18)
“Sometimes people get it just because they are so afraid of looking older. And I am just trying to not be afraid.” (25:51)
“I have a velvet dress that I splurged on.” (28:06)
“It’s okay to be disgusted by a society that tells us we look bad because we look older.” (35:49)
I hope you’re doing something just for you as you listen, but I also know chances are good you’re doing something for someone else, eg wrapping presents, cleaning the house, glazing the Christmas ham, etc. Either way? I hope you get to enjoy the life that moves in, through, and around you this holiday season.
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