A Pro-age Story Retold: Meet Erin

Here at BOOM!, we love hearing your stories.

We consider it a gift (and a privilege) that so many Boom readers reach out to us to share details about their lives. We get to hear how inspiring women (like you) feel about beauty, aging, and most of all, how they’re embracing life at every age.

We hear new stories like this every day. It’s amazing to witness! It’s proof to us that the Pro-age Revolution continues to grow around the world.

Every so often, we hear a pro-age story that’s so profound that it has to be retold.

That was the case with Boom reader, Erin Huemann. At 52, Erin has a fantastic perspective on body shaming, health, happiness, and discovering true beauty.

Also, Erin has a pro-age story that dates back to the 70s that’s very easy to relate to—no matter what age you happen to be right now.

She recently shared her life story with us as a comment here on our blog. With Erin’s permission, we want to pass this story along to you now.

Read on to hear Erin tell this story in her own words.

Learning from life: Erin’s story

What inspires me are the lessons I have learned in life. I am 52-years-old, and I have never felt more comfortable in my skin.

My formative and young adult years were spent in the late 70s to early 90s—when our bodies were defined by models like Twiggy and Kate Moss, and our sexuality and beauty was based on the unrealistic benchmark that if you weren’t a playboy bunny or Victoria’s Secret model than you couldn’t possibly be sexy.

That was super frustrating for me, since I am only 5’1″. There isn’t anything that is going to make me nearly 6′ tall, long, and lean.

Body shaming was just part of the culture as well. I remember going to my High School cheerleading tryout. I was asked my name, my height and then told to step on the scale—all of which they wrote down in their little pad to determine if we could “make the cut.”

Most of this time I never really felt beautiful or safe in my skin. Instead, I attempted to do everything that magazines told me I should. Realizing every single time, that I still didn’t quite look like that model in the picture. That left me feeling insecure.

But as I aged, I was surrounded by so many beautiful women of all shapes, sizes, colors and ages who showed me what true inner beauty and confidence are. And what I found was astonishing…

And what I found was astonishing…

Beauty has very little to do with appearance

Much of that beauty was based on a real healthy mind, body, spirit connection. One where you appreciate all of the natural beauty you have already been given (your mind, strength, empathy, gifts, talents, spirit and so much more).

As my older friends have pointed out: Very little of it has to do with your appearance and how others respond to your appearance.

The more of these life lessons I learned the more beautiful I saw myself and the more confident I became. I wore less makeup, relied on the healthy glow of a good skin care regimen, let my hair be more natural, and less processed. I invested in my Boomstick Trio, which has just added to a healthy, natural glow without the heavy makeup look and feel.

People ask me, “What’s different? Did you cut your hair? Lose weight?” It’s amazing how attractive confidence can be.

I also learned to love the small crow’s feet at my eyes, which are most definitely the product of years of smiling and laughing with the people I love.

The gray hair reminds me that with age has come wisdom and more security than when I was young. The slightly saggy belly (and other parts) remind me that I gave birth to and raised two beautiful children who are doing good things to make this a better world.

There is not one of these I would trade, because to take any of that away would make me a perfectly coiffed, yet serious, insecure, lonely person.

I know that life bangs us all up at times, but it also chisels us into a more beautiful replica where hard edges are softened and insecurity is replaced with knowing.

Beautifully said, Erin Huemann. Thank you so much for sharing this.

Please help us thank Erin for sharing her story. Leave us a comment and tell us: Did her story inspire you? (Even a quick “yes!” is appreciated!)

Also, does her story remind you of anything in your own life? Or does it inspire you to tell your own story? If so, we’d love to hear it!