Real Bodies | ‘Life doesn’t end when you get grey hair’
66-year-old semi-retired nurse Jack is the latest Attitude reader to strip off to talk body image.
By Will Stroude
Jack Lindley, 66
Occupation: Semi-retired nurse
Height: 5ft. 6″/168cm
Weight: 11 stone/70kg
What sort of foods do you enjoy cooking/eating?
I don’t cook! My favourite meal is Sunday lunch, cooked by someone else. I especially like Yorkshire puddings. I’ve always eaten whatever I wanted to, but have stopped eating sweet puddings.
What are your guilty pleasures?
Pleasure is not something I feel guilty about.
Do you feel comfortable naked?
I guess it depends where I am. In the bedroom and on the beach are both fine.
What made you want to do this shoot?
It’s a great opportunity to show that life doesn’t come to an end when you get grey hair and a bit of a midriff bulge.
Has social media had an impact on the way you feel about your body?
I’d be lying if I said no. It used to a few years ago but it’s not something that bothers me greatly any more. I’m at a time of my life where I believe that if I need a perfectly buffed body for someone to like me, or more importantly for me to like myself, then something is wrong with their/my priorities.
Do you think magazines such as Attitude have helped shape that body ideal that so many gay men aspire to?
I’m afraid I have to say yes to that. Looking at the majority of magazines aimed at gay men, there aren’t many articles featuring older, “ordinary-looking” guys.
Do you think the gay community puts pressure on gay guys to look good?
Yes of course, particularly the younger guys. That’s why I’m happy I’m the age that I am and don’t feel the need to have the perfect body or wear the latest fashions. There are good things about getting older.
Do you spend time manscaping?
I don’t even know what the term means!
What advice would you give to people about loving their body?
I was reading about an American plus-size model and blogger called Notoriously Dapper, the other day and I believe he puts it perfectly when he says, “Our bodies are beautiful the way they are. True beauty is the beauty we have as individuals. We are all perfectly imperfect.”
You can read more from Real Bodies in Attitude’s February issue. Buy in print, subscribe or download.
