I never worried about growing old until i started feeling it in my brain. I stretch and exercise, and i’ve been seeing and feeling my age in my body for a while now. That doesn’t bother me at all. I’ve been losing my words lately though. That actually gives me pause. I have never struggled to find words in my life until now. I am most afraid of losing my mental gifts. I’m doing everything i can to slow these losses, almost obsessively. I don’t dare stop reading, playing brain games and taking my mental sharpening supplements. If i can slip this much when i’m doing everything i can, how dumb am i without the extra effort? Ell oh ell! What concerns you most about growing old?
Nothing yet. I don't feel much different than I did in my 20's. I still run, lift, backpack, mountain bike and ski. My body still responds to exercise. I can still build muscle at will. I'm still involved in complex business problems and interesting merger and acquisition activity. I'm still smarter and mentally quicker than 99% of the people around me. I'm about 10 lbs heavier than the day I graduated college at age 21. Zero health issues. Full head of hair. People tell me I don't "move" or look like like someone my age. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to move or look. I still get hit on by women all the time.
Genetics? Mental any physical discipline over a lifetime? Has everyone else just let themselves go? I don't know. Am I "normal" or an outlier? That one I can answer. Yes, a lot of men my age let themselves go starting in their 30's. Compared to them I'm not "normal".
I'm hoping I just die in my sleep one day or keel over on a run or a ski slope. Failing that, I have a solution ready for failing mental or physical capacity. Just leave the room. I'll handle it.
I'm not concerned about what you're concerned about. Some brain fog or not being as mentally alert I think is normal as we shift through energetic waves, ie sometimes we're feeling energetic, others not. It can fluctuate through the day, weeks etc on the basis of our habits, lifestyle, stress, etc but also quite naturally.
What I find really helpful is training your body in the right way. in my opinion, don't overtrain your mind. People think more thinking makes them more clever but it's like the old Tesla quote, people think deeply, but few think clearly. Learn how to be able to clear your mind. Honestly, just stopping thinking refreshes it to a great degree. Meditation can be helpful.
For most Westerners the issue is excess. If you haven't tried it intermittant fasting is great. It trains your will, makes you mentally sharp, gives your body a break from incessant digestion.
Cold showers, also.
And just the right kind of movement. Try strength side on youtube, with basic 'primal' exercises like crawling patterns or just hanging from a pullup bar. Natural movement that doesn't always have to be exhausting.
I also put my faith in God which helps calm and clear my mind.
But of course, there is always some degree of worrying about age. Yes, I don't like to see myself change physically and get grey hair. Sometimes I have quite dark dreams about death. The worst is probably not meeting your dreams and aspirations, fulfilling your desires. Unfortunately, once you hit 40, you get a sense of your own mortality. That number has changed a lot for me.
Growing old doesn’t scare me in a dramatic way, it’s more the quiet things.
Losing the people I love.
Feeling my body slow down.
Worrying that I’ll stop recognizing myself because life shifted faster than I could adapt.
But I also think aging well is less about fighting the years and more about staying curious, staying close to good people, and not letting your heart harden.
I’d say my main concerns is joint pain. I’m already struggling with so much pain i can’t imagine how it’s gonna be like in 50 years. But on the flip side, i’d be unbothered enough to do the things i wanna do without employment consequences such as getting face tats
Lack of body mobility co, stamina. The spirit is willing but body- not so much. Projects still remain to be completed. Used to be able to put in a solid 8 hour day working the yard with half hour for lunch. Heavy work is now down to an hour in the morning and another in late afternoon. I need that six hour rest to recharge.
Getting old sucks. There is a reason that there are no professional athletes over the age of 50/ . I hate people telling me that I am in good shape "FOR MY AGE".
I know somebody who had early onset Alzheimers disease. He was 60 years old. He told me that he got lost in his neighborhood at night. I hope that never happens to me.
It sucks! But the alternative is worse. I figure I'll learn to embrace getting old. There are a few perks such as I can get away with just about anything by blaming it on age. Plus it's easy to get renters to do things like taking out the trash. They always want to do it for me if its very physical. But the words I experience often. It's difficult to find certain ones that are used rarely. I always had an excellent memory but vocabulary can have spaces now.
I recently read how a study found that aging isn't linear but that there are major inflection points where things diminish quickly in a relatively short time. They found that 42 and 62 seemed to be where a lot of changes happen, obviously with some variance by individual.
Mental and physical decay. Having enough money to survive and get good healthcare. Being able to stay in my home. Having friends and neighbors who care about me. Having a relationship that will support me in my old age. Basic stuff.
Would you trust a perfect stranger to make that decision for you? The people who love you most will usually “see” something through their hope colored glasses. I had to make the decision between leaving my dad on life support or taking him off. Despite the medical professionals telling me he’s not going to come to, the hope behind my eyes had me thinking i was seeing something behind his. Worst day of my life.
I'm 39. The fact that I am 10 years from 50 terrifies me. I participate in coaching varsity soccer and even get on the field and run around with the highschoolers. Losing my physicality and wondering if I will get uglier as I age.
1
0 Reply
Anonymous
(18-24)
1 mo
My husband is 15 years older. Women live longer than men so when im 60 he will be 75. I'll miss him when he's gone and I probably won't join him for another 25 years after.
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Anonymous
(25-29)
29 d
wrinkly skin also becoming physically weaker. I remember picture of Prince Phillip and he was 99 years old in the picture in a car he looked very fragile and weak.
becoming ugly and invisible, and also non looks related physical deterioration.
1
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Anonymous
(18-24)
1 mo
The worst would be if you end up in a situation with dementia, no one around because everyone you knew and trusted are gone, and no money to buy the kind of care you need.
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