Brooke Shields and I have a few things in common. We’re both wives. We’re both mothers. We both have brown hair and brown eyes. 

And, we’re both “women of a certain age.” 

Ms. Shields is a bit older than me. (Nine years to be exact.) She’s in her very early 60’s, and I just recently celebrated my 50th birthday. 

Knowing this big birthday of mine was coming up, I was curious about the memoir Brooke Shields published in 2024 — Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman.

I loved the dedication the author wrote:

“To all the women in this new era of life: It’s an unexpected, scary, emotional, bittersweet time — and yet also refreshingly beautiful and exciting. Please give yourself room for mistakes, successes, and joy. Don’t be afraid. Be excited for what’s to come. And guess what? No matter what happens, you’ll figure it out. You always have!”

Here’s my big confession — the book was better than I thought it would be. I definitely wasn’t expecting footnotes and studies being cited. The author did such a good job of being honest and authentic when writing about the period of time when a woman’s life drastically changes; a time which can include menopause, children leaving home, career pivots, and body changes. I thought the book would mostly be centered on the author’s own experiences. And while she does include that here, there really is so much in this book that applies to all women.

Here are a few of my favorite passages:

“We are always chasing, never appreciating, and what runs through my mind is, Ugh, where is the justice?? Why are we forever criticizing ourselves and our bodies while seeking ridiculous perfection? Why do we never see how unique and special we are? And why, when we finally take the pressure off or count our blessings or just enjoy who we are, is it practically too late?”

“There came a day when I was simply tired of judging myself and feeling like I wasn’t enough. I was over the angst. I didn’t want to be mean to myself anymore, and I started to wonder where I got the idea that I needed to be perfect at everything anyway. What would it feel like in my body if I told myself I’m smart, I’m talented, I’m strong, I’m beautiful, I’m a good person and friend? I asked myself. What if I just assumed I was good enough as is? Turns out, it’s liberating!”

“Just because you think about death occasionally or recognize its inevitability — it doesn’t mean you’re close to death. It means you appreciate life. You live more thoughtfully, more fully. You approach relationships with more gratitude. You use your body a bit more intentionally.“

“Sometimes shit just happens. It’s hard to accept that, because it feels like chaos, but it’s the truth. It doesn’t mean you aren’t thankful enough or that you’re moving too fast or your priorities are out of whack. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason.” 

“I look at what my body has done for me — bearing and nourishing children, surviving trauma, healing from harm — and I have such appreciation for it. The entirety of what my body is capable of makes me proud, and recognizing its wisdom and resilience allows me to see it beyond the limitations of body image. But that’s a perspective that comes with age. And experience.”

“… I’m a work in progress just like anyone else. And thank God for that. It’s far more fun than thinking you have it all figured out.”

“Still, I try to treat my daughters like adults these days, because they are adults. They are my babies, but they are adults, and I want to be their ally. I want them to always trust me.” 

“Do I want to do this? If I had to boil down the joy and freedom of aging to one question, that would be it. The fact that I’m finally at a place where I can ask myself if I want something, answer honestly, and act accordingly— that’s the joy of this time.” 

Friends, have any of you read Brooke Shields is Not Allowed to Get Old? What did you think of it? I’d love to chat about our experiences reading this book. 
Any thoughts about getting older? Have you learned something new? Adapted a new outlook? If you’re comfortable, please share. 

Please note: I am including a link to buy the book that I’m highlighting this week. If you use my link, I do make a small commission on your purchase at no additional cost to you. I am working with Bookshop.org which also sends a portion of the profit to support local, independent bookstores.