Hi, kids,
Folks have been asking me for book group questions, so I thought I’d toss out a few. If you have good ones that I’m missing, please comment below.
Also, a reminder that I’m happy to Skype into book groups of 6 or more who are reading My Formerly Hot Life and lead the discussion.
1. Have you had a “Formerly” moment? What was the moment you realized that you were no longer exactly young?
2. What are some of the things that you were but are no longer? How many are true losses, and which are you glad to have left behind?
3. What are some of the things you’ve gained over time that you wouldn’t trade?
4. Do you feel a pressure to “embrace your age” now that you’re on the other side of young? Is that a good thing? Or does that place just as much pressure on women as the whole “look/act younger” push?
5. What do you think of the whole “cougar” and MILF trend? Wonderful expression of female sexuality at any age or barfworthy marginalizing of “older” women to fuel some male Hollywood fantasy? Or something in between?
6. The term “Formerly” didn’t sit well with some people, who felt they weren’t “formerly” hot and that was an insult. Do you feel as hot as you used to? Hotter? Equally but differently hot? Has your definition of hot changed over time?
7. Would you swap places with your 20something self? Why or why not?
January 13, 2011 at 1:45 pm
Question #6. For me I never really felt beautiful as a younger girl, so much emphasis was place on my “beauty” that I felt that was all people saw, cared about or wanted from me. I knew all along that beauty fades and is not important at all when compared with who you are inside. I did however place so much pressure on myself to be thin and to look gorgeous 100% of the time (can we say stilletos in the grocery people???) that I was miserable. As I have learned to love myself as well as everyone else I am sooo taken aback by the beauty in us all. Now that I know that my worth is not tied into my image at all I can honestly say I do not care what I look like to others, yet I feel beautiful, more beautiful than I ever have. I feel the beauty from God in myself and in everyone emanating throughout the world.
Question #7. I would never, I repeat, never swap places with who or what I was in my 20s. The 20s for me were a time of self hatred, false self, fake friends, tears and wild parties, for the most part I was just a hot mess. Sure I had tons of friends and a full social calender…full of drama and pain. I am still only 32 but feel so much more peace and happiness this side of the fence now that I have learned, grown and matured. I know there are plenty of stable, happy, balanced 20 somethings…I just wasn’t one of them. lol