Illusions of Age

[mso489]

Ones age bears in a large way on ones self image. I remember in my late twenties, I felt the weight of adulthood sapping my sense of youthfulness, and in my thirties feeling that I'd graduated to a new level of responsibility but also of understanding, and so forth. People passing their 40th, 50th, and 60th year feel more knowing, experienced, and sometimes more skeptical and jaded. Not everyone makes it through their 70's and 80's, but if they do, they may have a sense of having traveled through history, partly that of their own lives, but also through experience, through some of the ages that preceded them, and maybe reaching into the future beyond their own lives. You certainly know more about what happened to you in previous decades than you did at the time. I suspect someone in their 90's looks forward to the upcoming decade as much as anyone else, hoping they'll make it and do as well or better. How's your journey to date? Where, in time, do you think you are?

 

[verporchting]

“I’m not dead yet.”

 

[Grangerous]

I’m in my prime (late 50’s) and plan on going down swinging, MSO. I’m still an early to bed, early to rise, everything done in moderation type. I eat one meal per day, exercise hard and in my mind, I want to step into that boxing ring. But... some days the body stiffins and reminds me of my place in time.

Was recently with a childhood friend. I said, “Mark, you see those two old farts across the bar? Well, in 10 more years, that’ll be us!”
Mark said, “You idiot, that’s a mirror.”

My boys are both adults. I’m retired and out of the rat race. I don’t recognize where this world is heading and I’m glad I had the place in time that I had; growing up without technology was a blessing. It’s both a crutch and aid to today’s younger folks.

As for travelling through time? Well put. I watched the Apollo 11 astronauts live. Knew both of my great grandparents, one born in 1895 and a doughboy in WW 1 and whom passed when I was in high school. Time slows for no one. We all have our regrets and can’t go back one single minute. But we can start each day differently and possibly change someone’s life for the better.

I see you’re waxing philosophical today, MSO. No doubt a 3 Pipe problem, as Sherlock Holmes would say.

Whatcha smokin, Sir?

 

[Old School 3319]

As I look back on life it often makes you wonder what could have happened if I would have known then what I know know. My life has been a series of ups and downs as I would assume is with most people. I am who I am because of what I went thru but I still wonder what it would be like if I could talk to my younger self and set me straight

 

[Chasing Embers]

Late 40s passing my prime decades ago. Arthritic with some replacement joints. Nowhere near the physical ability I was twenty years ago.

 

[bnichols23]

“I’m not dead yet.”

That's me too, best I can say.

 

[anotherbob]

early 40's and people think I am in my 20's. Which is actually annoying. I feel like I am in better shape then I was ten years ago. Otherwise then the fact that I can't abuse myself and shrug it off in the same way things aren't that different. My favorite thing though is it's impossible to be cool which is a lot more freeing

 

[Kingsley]

I feel as if I’ve come so far, yet, luckily, I’ve a very long way to go, biologically speaking.

 

[biz]

If I had some Makers Mark right now, I would wax poetically on my life and future vision. I don't, and I have to work tomorrow. So the abridged version. I fear my mortality, due to my responsibilities to others.

 

[Chasing Embers]

If I had some Makers Mark right now, I would wax poetically on my life and future vision. I don't, and I have to work tomorrow. So the abridged version. I fear my mortality, due to my responsibilities to others.

In the same boat. Working 7/12 so my kids will have that future.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

I lose ground in some aspects, gain ground in others. I see no reason to think about it. You either age or you die. Seems like an easy choice.

 

[gamzultovah]

If I had some Makers Mark right now, I would wax poetically on my life and future vision. I don't, and I have to work tomorrow. So the abridged version. I fear my mortality, due to my responsibilities to others.

Same here. I own a small business and have employees who rely on me and family too. I’m about to turn 56 and while I’m still as strong as a bull and healthy as a horse, I feel a slight ennui that’s it’s all coming closer to an end.

 

[warren]

I'm looking forward to more time. My body isn't what is was but, my brain is as sharp and I've learned so much over the years. I hope to continue my quest for knowledge for sometime to come. But, I could be eating the dirt sandwich tomorrow for all I know about the future. Life is a crap shoot and then you die, no way around it.

 

[magicpiper]

I’m in my early 40’s now. I had a blast in my 20’s but my 30’s went by like a flash. It’s true that you need to look up every once in a while and watch what’s going by. I’m proud of what I have accomplished but know there’s a lot more hard work ahead. My sense of humor is a lot better these days. My body is a lot less forgiving as well. I occasionally have to remind myself I am not 25 anymore when I wake up with an ache or pain. Would I go back and do things differently? I don’t think I would. I’ve been very fortunate and blessed thus far.

 

[danimalia]

Interesting thread. Im 38, and kind of in a weird spot. I started off in my early 20s doing pretty well, but fell apart pretty completely in my late 20s and early 30s. Just made an absolute shit show out of my life. Since then, I've sobered up, and recently got into shape. So things are trending in the right direction, but I feel way behind in terms of not having much of a career or much in the way of financial assets or property. I am kind of getting a fresh start, but I am impatient in wanting things to happen faster than they are. Looking forward to the second half of my life and hope I can contribute something positive with it.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I’m too mean to die. Well... I hope. I mean, I try my best to be mean, low down, bitter, and stupid, but.... ok... it’s really hard. I try, but sometimes I slip up and do something nice... dammit! it’s hard! Leave me alone.
ok... stop looking at me!

 

[captainsousie]

As a little kid, I remember telling my mom when she turned 40 and said that she was "entering middle age" that she had actually passed middle age. At the time the average life expectancy in the US was about 75 so I reasoned that middle age was actually about 38 years old.

Well, I recently passed 40 and brought that up to my mom and we had a good laugh.

So, let's see what the future brings.

 

[Chasing Embers]

middle age

It's now defined as the span between 45 and 65. Considering none of my immediate family surpassed 66, I'm well past the beginning of it.

 

[anotherbob]

the biggest difference I've noticed is that it takes longer to figure out why something hurts. In your 20's it's because of what just happened, at 40 you have to think about what you did in your 20s to figure out why you shoulder aches or your knees are stiff. Otherwise it's not as different as I was lead to believe.

 

[Grangerous]

It's now defined as the span between 45 and 65. Considering none of my immediate family surpassed 66, I'm well past the beginning of it.

I’m one year older than my Grandfather Vic was when he passed. It’s a sobering thought. But getting older is not the problem. It’s when we stop getting older. My other Grandfather kept his humor at his end. He said, with a shrug and I quote, “That’s the way it goes, first your money, then your clothes.”