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Paltrow then went on to share how she felt about her body, especially at 50. “My body, a map of evidence of all days, is less timeless,” she said. “A collection of marks and irregularities that dog-ears the chapters. Scars from furnace fires, a finger smashed in a window long ago, the birth of a child. Silver hair and fine lines. The sun left its heavenly fingerprints all over me, as if it had dipped a brush in dark taupe and sprinkled it over my skin. And as I do everything I can to strive for good health and long life, stave off weakening muscles and bone loss, I have a mantra to tune into those reckless thoughts that try to throw me off track: I accept, I accept the spots and the peeling skin, the wrinkles, I accept my body and let go of the need to be perfect, to look perfect, to defy gravity, to defy logic, to defy humanity. I accept my humanity.”
Paltrow also spoke about past mistakes and her belief that the most enduring ones came from not being “fully” in her truth. However, she added that she doesn’t believe in going back in time to correct any of those mistakes. Instead, at 50, she asked herself: what does she want to do with the rest of her time here?
The answer? “I want to slow down,” she said. “I want to withdraw a little. I want to shrink my circle. I want to cook more dinners. I want to see misunderstandings become understandings. I want to continue to open the deepest part of me to my husband, even if it scares me. I would love to sing more, even if it’s just in the shower. I want to say I’m sorry to anyone who has had a negative experience with me. I want to fully appreciate myself. I’m imperfect, I can switch off and turn to ice, I have no patience, I scold other drivers, I don’t close my closet doors, I lie when I don’t want to hurt feelings, I’m also generous and funny… I’m smart and brave, I’m a seeker , and I can take you with me on my quest for meaning. When I love you, you will feel it surround you through time and space and to the ends of the earth. I am all of it.”