Feet were sits at the center of this dementia and brain health question.
I used to think those tiny lines at the corners of my eyes—crow’s feet—were just annoying signs of getting older. I’d catch myself in the mirror, frowning at them, wishing they’d disappear. But one day, something shifted in how I saw them. Instead of flaws, I started to think of these lines as a kind of natural crown for my eyes.
Crow’s feet are those fine wrinkles that appear around the outer edges when you smile or squint. They’re caused by repeated movements of the muscles around your eyes—the same muscles that help you express joy and laughter. Over time, these expressions leave their mark on your skin because it loses some elasticity and collagen as you age.
What really changed my perspective was realizing that crow’s feet aren’t just random wrinkles—they’re proof that my eyes have been working hard to show emotion all these years. Every smile, every laugh line is like a little badge earned from moments filled with happiness or even concentration and thoughtfulness.
Instead of trying to hide them with creams or treatments right away, I began appreciating what they represented: life lived fully and openly. These lines tell a story about who I am—someone who smiles often enough for her face to remember it permanently.
In fact, some experts say crow’s feet are “dynamic wrinkles” because they first appear when muscles contract during expressions but eventually become more permanent over time due to aging and sun exposure. So really, they crown your eyes with character formed by genuine feelings rather than just being marks of aging.
Now when I look in the mirror and see those delicate creases framing my eyes like tiny rays extending outward—I don’t see damage or imperfection anymore; instead, I see a natural crown shaped by years filled with smiles and emotions worth cherishing.
It feels like honoring not only how we look but also everything our faces have expressed throughout life—a reminder that beauty isn’t about perfection but authenticity shown through every laugh line etched gently beside our gaze.
For more, see National Institute on Aging.
