in and out

Sometimes I wonder if whats happening on the inside can show on the outside.
If I am supposed to look different somehow now, old or useless or broken. That youthful glow people tend to have and then lose. Does it happen over night or over a long period of time.

People used to tell me that I looked much younger than I am. It used to frustrate me. I had glasses to see far. Yet I would still wear them to work, even though I only needed them to drive.
I wanted to look older. Maybe taken more seriously. Wanted people to listen, not dismiss me.

Around my first year of working in the real world, a pt said to me that I looked like I was 16. I was 24. She told me how she was the same. When she was younger, everyone thought she was much younger than she looked. But she said "oh but it catches up to you, and it does quickly. One day you look younger and the next day you wake up and you look your age." Eek sounded abrupt and harsh. I was more aware of this because of her, so much that I did not feel too concerned about looking older as much...Tried to enjoy it.

So I guess I cannot say I was not warned.
I secretly dreaded that day where I would wake up and youth was not there anymore. So I wonder, if people can see  it in your face...
I'm much older than that 24 yr old me...
I am not sure if I am taken any more seriously though....