Younger than You Look?

By bowden mcelroy | Jan 30, 2007

I’m married to an incredible woman who has always appeared younger than she looks. People often remark, upon hearing we have a 25-year-old daughter, there is no way she can have a child that old. No one has ever said that to me. Ever.

I started turning gray in high school. When you’re a therapist, appearing a little older than you really are isn’t necessarily a bad thing. People associate the gray hair with age, age with experience, and experience with wisdom.

All of the above is to say I’m ordinarily very sensitive to the issue of appearance.

SpankyBut today, when I needed to look up the email address of a denominational employ (don’t assume anything, I work with a variety of ministers and denominations throughout N.E. Oklahoma) and found his very youthful picture, it didn’t help (not this picture… this is Spanky from the Little Rascals).

Here’s a hint: if you are in the position to sell yourself as a leader in a church, denomination, or para-church organization, and you look 12, you might not want to put your picture on the web.

It doesn’t inspire confidence. All it inspired in me was the thought, “I have boots older than you.”

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9 Comments so far
  1. jasonk January 31, 2007 8:55 am

    So come on, man. Give it up. Who is it? Show us the pic!

  2. Bowden McElroy January 31, 2007 9:01 am

    Woodward and Bernstein wouldn’t give up Deep Throat… I’m not giving up Spanky!

  3. Josh January 31, 2007 10:18 am

    Bowden

    Dude I’m totally detecting some youth bias here. Whoa…make that major youth bias.

    Shall I be the first to bring up Timothy and Pauls famous words, “Let no one despise you” because you put your picture on the web and you look 12? (Obviously a paraphrase.)

    Perhaps he thinks no one as old as you can use the Web? ;-)

    Josh
    “…the word of God is not bound.”
    –2 Timothy 2:9

  4. Bowden McElroy January 31, 2007 10:22 am

    Josh,
    Or… maybe I just need to buy some newer boots.

  5. Bowden McElroy January 31, 2007 10:23 am

    Josh,

    And… that’s Mr. Dude, to you.

  6. Josh January 31, 2007 12:25 pm

    That was really tongue in cheek Mr. McElroy. I was, once upon a time, the recipient of much grief over my apparent youth and I still get ID’d over the craziest things. I actually remember the day when I first got called “Mister” it was shortly followed by something like, “Is that kid actually old enough to drive?”

    BTW, breaking in new boots it hard on the feet. I prefer getting them re-soled. Isn’t that what you were talking about in the SBC post?

    Josh
    “…the word of God is not bound.”
    –2 Timothy 2:9

  7. Bob Cleveland January 31, 2007 1:23 pm

    Actually, the experience I can still remember runs in the other direction. Like the man who asked for a Senior Citizen Discount at the theater on his 65th birthday. He asked if the ticket lady wanted ID and she said “no”. To which he responded “I guess I look trustworthy”.

    To which the lady replied “No. You look old”.

  8. Jamie Murphy February 15, 2007 2:29 pm

    Mr. Mcelroy,

    Thank you for your website. Great material that really helps people. I have a new blog, and I am adding you to my blogroll.

    Jamie Murphy

  9. Bowden McElroy February 15, 2007 5:21 pm

    Jamie,
    Thank you. Looking forward to reading bluecollarparent.

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