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It looks like the glow down challenge is here to stay. We wrote about it last week, but it's still going strong; women who think they "peaked" in high school continue posting photos to show how much their looks have changed since then.

Of course, the definition of peak beauty can change over the years, but it's worth mentioning that some of these glow downs appear to have only happened very recently, and the participants of the challenge are still beautiful.

While it's still important, physical appearance isn't the most important thing in the world. That being said, people keep applauding these women for their "honesty" and "sense of humor".

But do we really peak as early as high school? William Klemm, Ph.D., who is a senior professor of Neuroscience at Texas A&M University, thinks that ours is a youth-obsessed culture. And says that it shouldn't be this way. "We are all going to get old, assuming we don't die first," Klemm writes. "Our friends, relatives, and loved ones are or will get old. As baby boomers retire, older people are coming to dominate the population. Modern medicine and the wide pursuit of healthier living styles have enabled many older people to live longer and remain vigorous and productive in their old age. Yet [in many] Western countries, we shun, neglect, and sometimes abuse the old."

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On the surface, it makes sense. We fear aging and being sick and lonely. But is fear of aging really really warranted? By the time we get old, we all have accumulated a "rich reserve" of life experiences and lessons learned. We can act our age or act young. We can do things we didn't have time for in the past. Like smelling flowers. We can take naps in the middle of the day without feeling guilty. We feel less guilty about the way we raised our kids, because now they know just how hard raising kids is and are having many of the same difficulties.

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"Time becomes precious, because it is running out. You therefore spend it more wisely. You don't waste time on harmful emotions or personal animosities," Klemm says.

So what if we looked better in high school? In the absence of debilitating sickness, aging can be a blessing. So when you think about it, understanding this — posting a TikTok acknowledging it — is really mature. You go girls.

#3

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Antoine Gagnon
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol there is a maximum of 4 years between these pics... Can these young ladies relax a bit about "glowing down"? They are not even in their 30's.. ffs

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GFSTaylor
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ideally, she should lose some of the weight, for the sake of her health. However, her face looked rather drawn in the original pic and she looks lovely now.

Rocky Mom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm bummed that these are mostly just weight gain. As a former big big girl, to skinny girl, to now, just your average chubby girl... these ladies need to figure out their identity is not their weight.

Melinda Jensen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

She's actually prettier in the second photo, if only she realized it.

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Wolfstar
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this a Conan Gray reference? If it is, kudos to you, he's the best :)

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Antoine Gagnon
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

21 years old and worrying about "glowing down"... we live in a f*****g sad world

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Blackheart
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

News flash...all people age. The only alternative is to die. Women in particular go through extreme changes to their bodies with childbirth, varying levels of hormones, age, etc. We need to realize what beauty truly is, and that it is important to have substance as a person.

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Enna Kazclah
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4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

so, a glam-it-up photo vs your every day look, and this is what you call glowing down?

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