Tomorrow I will be another year older. Recently, there was a news broadcast on Good Morning America indicating that life is better after 50. However, the main concern with women over that age is maintaining their looks when they enter the golden years. Many women are also reluctant in telling their age but I consider myself blessed to be here so here goes – I will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of my 21st birthday. Meanwhile, there are two major things concerning aging that affects my family history

– a major facial feature and arthritis; I have been working on my facial area for many years and recently have taken a major step, exercising to combat the results that arthritis can cause.

I have been told that I look at least 10 years younger than my age. So, I am trying to maintain any good features.

My aunt has a picture of my granddaddy hanging on her living room wall and I noticed that he has major bags under his eyes. When I was 39, I also noticed this same thing happening to me. At that time a friend was selling a beauty product and when I told her about my situation, she introduced me to it. I have been using it ever since.

Many people don’t know how to apply beauty products. Face-lifts mean just that. So when I apply any kind of mask, cleansing cream or foundation, I do it in an upward sweep. Never rub down because you will be pulling your face down. You also use the products on your neck in the same way. I try not to ever use soap on my face because this seems to dry my skin out which could eventually cause wrinkles.

Since I joined the YMCA on Jan. 10. I have tried to walk on the treadmill at least four times a week for at least 30 to 40 minutes.

Everyone who joins the Y has the option of retaining a trainer to help them reach their goals. I talked with fitness director Jane Burgess and she informed me that all the member has to do is to fill out a FitQuest Member Orientation Form which will let him know about the member’s health, and the times that he will be available to meet with a trainer. The trainer will then give him a pin number, which he can then enter into a Kiosk Machine that keeps a record of his merits. At the present time the &uot;Y&uot; has eight trainers.

Financial scholarships are also available through the &uot;We Build People Program&uot; if you are on a low or fixed income. The Y is now offering a half-fee membership through the end of January.

So now, my next step is to obtain a trainer in order to help me to set some goals. Though I will not be able to retain youthful looks forever and because the result of not growing old is death, my main objective is to live a long life and not to let the amount of years that I live dictate the quality of life that I will live as I do grow older.

Evelyn Wall, a retired staff writer for the News-Herald, is a regular columnist. She can be reached at 934-9615.