A couple of weeks ago, I showed a photo to a colleague.
It was me, back when I just started working.
I was 19.
Had hair. And
was pretty fit and healthy.
They didn’t recognise me.
At. All.
Now, I appreciate a gap of 30+ years between photos would make anyone hard to recognise, but it still made me laugh how much they refused to accept it was me.
Then I saw this photo of Brendan Fraser.
After laughing at it – by which, I mean laughing at the writing that referenced the photos rather than the photos specifically – I wondered how much of my ancientness was down to my career.
Maybe some.
Maybe a lot.
Let’s be honest I – like everyone else in the industry – has definitely worked ridiculous hours.
Super ridiculous hours.
But then I realised that despite having a face like a dropped pie, I was fortunate … because [1] I was never as pretty as Mr Fraser so however I end up, I would never cause as much comment as he probably – and unfairly – gets and [2] thanks to never drinking, smoking or doing drugs – I have saved myself from looking ever worse than I do now.
That said, I don’t know why anti-aging cream brands don’t just prove their worth on anyone who has worked in adland for 5+ years. Their effectiveness would be undeniable.
Oh … that’s why they don’t.
And as depressing as this may all sound, there is another silver lining.
Because you know something all those beautiful, young, talented, creative bastards you work with seem to not realise.
It’s coming to them.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.