A woman has the age she deserves.

In the grand unfolding of life, there are moments when we, as mortals, must confront the very essence of our being. In these moments, when we face the passage of time, we must ask ourselves not only how we have lived, but how we have lived—for it is the quality of our lives, the choices we make, and the grace with which we meet the challenges that define our years. Coco Chanel, the legendary designer whose name became synonymous with elegance and boldness, once said, “A woman has the age she deserves.” These words, though seemingly simple, hold a profound truth about the human condition, and in particular, the journey of a woman through time.

To understand Chanel's words is to understand that age is not merely the passing of days, but a reflection of how we choose to live, how we choose to face the world. Age is not something that is done to us—it is something we shape, something we earn with the experiences, choices, and attitudes we carry throughout our lives. When Chanel spoke of a woman's age, she was not simply referring to the years of a woman’s life, but to the essence of her spirit, to the way she has approached the world, and how she has nurtured or stifled her own growth. It is the internal life, the soul, that shapes the outward form of age.

The ancients knew this truth well. In the Greek myths, Athena, the goddess of wisdom, was often depicted not for her youthful beauty, but for her wisdom, which transcended the limitations of time. She was revered for the strength of her character, her courage, and her ability to act with clarity in the most trying of circumstances. Similarly, the Roman philosopher Seneca spoke often about how character shapes our destiny. Age, he believed, was not a burden, but a gift, a gift that brought us closer to the truth of our lives if we chose to embrace it with wisdom. It was not the years that counted, but the soul’s response to the unfolding of those years.

Consider the life of Queen Elizabeth I, the sovereign whose reign defined an era of strength and brilliance. She was a woman who defied the limitations of her gender, rising to a position of unparalleled power in a male-dominated world. Her age was not defined by the wrinkles that marked her face as she grew older, but by the courage she displayed in ruling a kingdom. As she matured, Elizabeth’s wisdom grew, and her leadership became defined by her maturity and steadfastness. Her age, in the eyes of history, was not a measure of the passing years but of the influence she had cultivated throughout her life.

Chanel's quote also touches upon the inevitability of aging. It is a profound truth that we all must face: we will grow older. And yet, as Chanel suggests, this aging process is not random. It is shaped by how we live, how we choose to meet the challenges of each stage of life. A woman who lives a life filled with regret and fear will see her age reflected in the weariness of her soul, while one who chooses to live with passion, creativity, and grace will find that her years only deepen her beauty and strength. The face that carries the marks of a life well-lived—one filled with laughter, resilience, and purpose—radiates an ageless beauty, far greater than the superficial youth that fades with time.

The essence of Chanel’s words lies in the understanding that age is earned, not given. It is the measure of how we choose to approach the world. Consider the story of Harriet Tubman, whose face bore the marks of struggle, of years spent in the service of freedom. Her age, like that of Elizabeth, was not measured by the number of her years but by the courage and sacrifice she had made for the greater good. Tubman’s true beauty lay not in the youth that she once had, but in the strength and wisdom that had grown within her. In her old age, she became a symbol of the enduring power of a soul that had lived not for itself but for the liberation of others. Her age, like that of many women who have lived lives of significance, was not a punishment but a triumph of spirit.

Therefore, the lesson in Chanel’s words is this: age is not something to fear or resent, but something to embrace as the natural culmination of a life lived with purpose and intention. A woman’s age reflects her choices, her attitude, and her spirit. Let us then live each day with the understanding that we are, in truth, the architects of our own age, that the years we accumulate are the products of the lives we choose to lead. And as we walk through the stages of life, let us remember that it is not the flesh that defines us, but the soul that grows and strengthens through every challenge, every joy, every step of the journey. Let us live each day with the intention to earn the age we deserve—one marked by grace, wisdom, and beauty that transcends the fleeting nature of time.