*Cougar (see also hunt, prowl, corner, pounce): Noun. A 35+ year old female who is on the “hunt” for a much younger, energetic, willing-to-do-anything male. The cougar can frequently be seen in a padded bra, cleavage exposed, propped up against a swanky bar in San Francisco (or other cities) waiting, watching, calculating; gearing up to sink her claws into an innocent young and strapping buck who happens to cross her path. “Man is cougar’s number one prey.”
(*Definition written by someone under thirty-five.)
The great thing is, one day we will all be cougars … now, you can make that something creepy and tawdry in a Mary Kay Letourneau way, if you choose. But truth is, a cougar is one of the most incredible animals on the planet. Sleek, beautiful and a survivor in the food chain.
It takes a lot to get to be a cougar. It means strength in the face of great adversity from many different prey. Gracefulness when all hell breaks loose. To be respected by your adversaries, who learn quickly to get out of your way. To know what you want, and get it. And sizing up the situation, and knowing when to play and when to pass.
If this was a description of a man, he’d be proudly called a lion.
When did being an older woman of independent means become a bad thing?
I tell all my younger girlfriends what a true joy it was turning forty … I learned what was important to me, and what I needed to be happy. I no longer suffer fools or the ridiculous. My life is my own, and I only surround myself with people who make my life complete … I am not married—oh, yeah, at one time I collected the Martha Stewart wedding books and dreamed of the perfect Vera Wang dress. But it didn’t happen—I chased a career. That was my choice, and I can’t say I really regret it at all. I have a fantastic thirty-two-year-old man in my life who is happy to have a woman who knows what she wants. Is he looking for a mommy? Don’t know. Don’t care. All I know is that when we’re together, where not going through the twenty-something crazies or thirty-something angst.
The very definition you find of an older woman—a cougar—is meant to be negative. Someone to be wary of. Why is a confident woman someone to be feared? Shunned?
We have knowledge to share that can make us all stronger and more beautiful.
Hell yeah, I’m a cougar … and I invite all my cougars to share their stories here! Let’s celebrate these wonderful years together, and pass on our tales to our cougar pups in training!!
