I have often wondered why Americans seems so at odds with their sexuality and aging. Europeans have always been more relaxed about nudity and sex even as they age.

When I visited the French Riviera as a young woman, I was in awe of the women walking topless along the boardwalk—many of whom were not very young. They seemed to have cared less about not having youthful bodies!

In Europe, filmmakers even dare to put older women and men in sexy and romantic movies. We rarely do that here in the States and if we do, it’s viewed as an anomaly. When I saw It’s Complicated with Meryl Streep and Alex Baldwin, I loved the fact that they finally made a movie that allowed the actors to look their age and still be sexy and seductive.

In America, we are always showcasing the youth in almost every aspect of the media. Reality shows are rife with women and men that look like they’ve been botoxed from head to toe. Nothing moves. Advertisements for erectile dysfunction always have youthful looking partners. Where are the 60-, 70-, 80- and 90-year olds? I guess they’re considered dead in that department.

The irony is that research shows these 60-, 70-, 80- and 90-year olds are actually having more sex than their younger counterparts. Probably because they have more time or maybe they realize that it’s more important than returning e-mails, texting or talking on their Blackberries.

Years ago, Time magazine featured a couple on its cover sitting on a bed with a headline that read: DINK. (Translation: Duel Income, No Kids). Oprah also invited a few young couples on her show who complained that they had no time for each other because of jobs and other obligations. The psychologist on the panel told them they needed to schedule a date to “get it on” in their planners. I found this to be so hilarious; it had me giggling for days. Now the overwhelmed couple could look forward to another task on their “to-do” list for Friday night!

As we get older, we recognize that sex is part of a larger picture. It begins with how we treat each other through words, actions and deeds. Tenderness, kindness, thoughtfulness, respect and compassion are part of feeling connected and wanting more. Great abs, a tight butt, and abundant cleavage without the aforementioned may be exciting for awhile. But it gets old . . .  and so do we.

Lighten Up Your Week:

This week, turn off your electronic devices and turn on the compassion!