i understand not being happy about losing the ability to do the things we used to do. It is hard when I try to perform a simply task and find myself having to change how I perform it. Seems that just as we arrive at that point in our life where we have time, our body plays a cruel joke on us. It wears out. I find this to be very distressing.
I do love the self portrait. You have a beautiful face that has character. You are living your life. I see a lady that does not sit on the sidelines. So many of my patients do not really live. They sit on the sidelines and complain.

Absolutely wonderful and introspective image !!

Superb capture Andrea. God bless.

Srlf-acceptance is one ot the hardest things to do. I've heard that denial is a river in Egypt.

Excellent self-portrait!

Truth, honesty & acceptance are beautiful things. Humans, like all other living things, go through a natural & inevitable life cycle, which can be challenging at various times, whether at the beginning, middle or end. Being closer to the end of the cycle myself, I've come to accept the physical limitations & aches & pains that I experience, but actively enjoy the time, freedom & peace that comes with not having to get up every day to go to work (though I actually did do interesting work for most of my life). Though I've never met you in person, Andrea,I can tell from your photos & comments that you are an honest, perceptive & creative person. As a fan of film noir, I appreciate this self-portrait...

Two superb images with outstanding atmosphere. Like most I would like to have a younger body but I find exercise and diet do a lot to substitute for that. Even though I feel 25 most days I would not want to have my 25 year old mind back. Back then I knew everything and thought I was so wise. Today my wisdom comes in part from realizing that the more I learn the less I know and the more questions I have.

Two superb portraits.

Two beautiful selfies Andrea !

You have aged ever so beautifully dear friend.

Think photosynthesis has said it best !

Thanks for sharing.

We are all not getting any younger, that's life. It is important to stay young at heart. A superb selfie!!

Ahh yes the changes aging brings. I remember the first time I really noticed it. I was walking down a street where the windows were truly like mirrors, but I was not paying attention to that. I was in a hurry to go sometplace. I do not remember why I turned to check behind me, but as I did I saw an older woman and thought to myself, "poor gal she looks to be in pain" Then it dawned on me that I was seeing myself in the reflective glass. What a wake up call that was. Most of the time though I just look out from my eye windows without thinking about age because even though I have developed a few restrictions in what I can do I do not feel any different inside. I guess it is a good thing we are so adaptable...and also in my case good to mainly avoid mirrors...hehehe. You have done a beautiful job with these selfies. And I also agree with Claude.

Excellent self-portrait. I usually don't look at myself in the mirror because it is so depressing!

Very nice.

you got some heavy duty responses to this! It's an amazingly truthful photograph, and the light and shade is splendid. And the composition of you---to one side---is terrific too, as if you're suddenly appearing in the mirror. I have to tell you, in the States there's such an insane rejection of age, when you say that you're not able to do what you once did, you get this litany, with real anger: "If you THINK old, you'll BE old!" And a whole tome on how you're only as old as you want to be, etc etc etc. (yada yada yada.) It makes me want to SCREAM, because part of age is accepting age, and gaining whatever wisdom we can from it. You can exercise, eat well, etc, but age still brings---well, age---and slows us down, and so on. This is an antidote, because it's direct and honest---and Andrea, I know you won't want to hear this, but you have real and deep beauty in your face and presence, and we need to see a lot more of that beauty in the western world, where 20-something seems to be everything. (If you tell helle she's beautiful, btw, she'll throw something at you, lol. Ya can't say that to certain people. She changes the subject!) I love this shot, and I love your eyes and expression. The light's great too. And the flickr version---which has a slightly more pondering look---is beautiful as well.

(You know when I realized I'd aged? A few years ago I was photographing, and I leapt off a rock---all of 2 feet/60 cm---and when I hit the ground? My legs collapsed like an accordion. I couldn't get up. Three teens ran over and---nicely---said, "Sir? You ok??? You need a hand???" I thought, "Sir?????????" I wanted to say, "no that's ok, children, I'll be ok...I have to get back and churn the butter and sit on the porch and feed ol' yeller..." (ol' yeller's the dog...) Sheee-it, I thought. When did THIS happen? I think you're in better shape than I am...)

Excellent