We are a society that is obsessed with maintaining our youth, or at least the look of it. There are currently hundreds of products on the market that promise to prevent wrinkles, sagging and any other sign of aging. Magazines constantly feature images of flawless women, sending the message that aging is ugly and unnatural. We can only be beautiful if we look 25, even if we’re 60-years-old. Unfortunately, we have bought into their persuasion.

If we weren’t so driven to erase every laugh line on our faces, we would probably be happier. In fact, studies from UT-Austin, the University of Chicago and Duke University show that aging is associated with positive emotions. Whether it’s wisdom, serenity or just general satisfaction, people over the age of 60 have reported greater feelings of ease and contentment. They are less likely than their younger counterparts to have feelings of anger or anxiety, despite facing inevitable problems related to health and loneliness.

People tend to say that we are as old as we feel. Maybe it’s time that we accept the fact that we can’t stop the hands of time, and learn to embrace the aging process.