Entertainment
10 Women Who Prove Why Growing Another Year Older is Actually a Great Thing
New Year's Eve is perhaps the most nostalgic day of the year. More so than the last day of summer, or Christmas, or even our own birthdays. For better or worse, the end of the year stirs up something in us — Something that says, "Well, another year has come and gone and what have you done?" But, don't get too overwhelmed, for, you see, the years passing can actually be quite an exciting and uplifting thing. And for InStyle UK's January cover woman, Michelle Dockery*, a new year means, well, this, "In my twenties I was a bit of a worrier; it bothered me what people thought of me, what job I was doing. But, then, the day I hit 30 I didn’t give a sh*t any more."
YES, MICHELLE, YES. Praise be to the lords of not giving a sh*t —for not giving a sh*t (in the right circumstances) can mean freedom, self-acceptance, and living life to it's G-D fullest. So here's to 2014, to you, Michelle, and these other celebs who remind us why another year gone by is a reason to celebrate.
*Bonus: Downton Abbey returns January 5th! THANK YOU, 2014.*
Helen Mirren
On getting more fabulous each year, “When you’re 16, you think 28 is so old! And then you get to 28 and it’s fabulous. You think, then, what about 42? Ugh! And then 42 is great. As you reach each age, you gain the understanding you need to deal with it and enjoy it.”
Gabourey Sidibe
On weathering the storm, “Just relax. When I was younger, I made myself the victim of catastrophic thinking. Anything that went wrong was the end of the world. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned to stop myself and say, ‘Hey babe, calm down. Tomorrow there will be sun.’”
Robin Wright
On being your own boss, “I think I’ve always been a follow-the-leader with my career, or maybe waiting for things to happen. Now I’m like, ‘I’m OK—I know the direction, whoever’s on board can go with me.’ ”
Queen Latifah
On the advice we all need, “I don’t have any regrets. If I could have talked to my 19- or 20-year-old self, I would have said, ‘You’re going to be fine. It ain’t that serious!’ ”
Jamie Lee Curtis
On turning 50, “The F-word really is freedom. It’s the freedom to have dropped the rock—the rock of addiction, of family, of comparisons with other people. It’s being fit and focused and kind of furious.”
Aisha Tyler
On not waiting around, “Enjoy the love of others, but revel in the love of yourself. Don’t wait for someone else to save you.”
Jodie Foster
On women, “I’m not interested in being perfect when im older. Im interested in having a narrative. It’s the narrative that’s really the most beautiful thing about women.”
Diablo Cody
On mind over matter, “Don’t underestimate the powers of an open mind. A lot of people are concerned with staying physically young; while that’s appealing, I’m more interested in maintaining my curiosity.”
Candice Bergen
On getting weird, “People can get crazier as they get older. I can just be weird whenever I want, and there’s the freedom of not caring what people think.”
