topic Re: Is It Hormonal in Community Chat

Is It Hormonal

Puzzle Piece — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:16:37 GMT

I'm just not into jewelry (gave or sold most all of it), handbags (donated most all), shoes (same fate) and clothing too.

What's wrong? Cosmetics don't interest me at all either and I think it a chore to wear it.

Didn't used to be this way. Could this be something hormonal or what?

Re: Is It Hormonal

Kachina624 — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:27:55 GMT

@Puzzle Piece. Is it possible that your social life has changed, that you've lost friends and no longer have places to go where you dress up, wear your nice clothes and jewelry, so have no incentive to use them?

I don't think hormones have anything to do with it. It's more likely the result of your circumstances or state of mind. Maybe something to discuss with your doctor?

Re: Is It Hormonal

reiki604 — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:31:30 GMT

It might lbe that you've realized what is important in life and material things are not it.

Re: Is It Hormonal

geezerette — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:40:42 GMT

@reiki604 wrote:
It might lbe that you've realized what is important in life and material things are not it.

I would agree. As we go through life our priorities change.

Re: Is It Hormonal

ThinkingOutLoud — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:42:58 GMT

I don't think it's hormones. It's natural to lose interest in things as we age. It's part of the process of moving on.

Re: Is It Hormonal

RedTop — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:45:34 GMT

@Puzzle Piece

I could've written your post word for word; the only difference is that I know exactly why I feel this way.

I have never "needed" or been interested in having a lot of personal stuff. Now that I'm retired and live a very quiet, rural life, I need less stuff and continue to purge things left and right.

After cleaning out my grandmothers, aunts, MILs houses and facing the clean out of my mothers house in the near future, I want as much of my unused/unnecessary stuff gone before I leave this world. I am one simple person; how much stuff do I really need? Not much is my answer.

Re: Is It Hormonal

On It — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:52:04 GMT

@Puzzle Piece I am right there with you. I can still pull it together when I need to, but at my age I don't have to.

Re: Is It Hormonal

BirkiLady — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:53:27 GMT

Once we retire, who needs all that stuff? Didn't dream I'd ever have a life without it, but I do. And I'm much happier without wearing the trimmings.

Less glam means a humble lifestyle. I now devote much of my time to volunteer work and would feel out of place in my previous clothes, shoes, and jewelry. It simply doesn't fit my desire to work with the less fortunate rather than in a corporate setting. Working for money and benefits required I dress the part; volunteering does not! Yet I've enjoyed both challenges and feel as effective in both places by devoting myself 100%; just more comfortable in slacks now.

Re: Is It Hormonal

Othereeeen — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 22:01:44 GMT

Too soon old, too late smart.

Re: Is It Hormonal

rockygems123 — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 22:12:36 GMT

@RedTop wrote:
@Puzzle Piece
I could've written your post word for word; the only difference is that I know exactly why I feel this way.

I have never "needed" or been interested in having a lot of personal stuff. Now that I'm retired and live a very quiet, rural life, I need less stuff and continue to purge things left and right.

After cleaning out my grandmothers, aunts, MILs houses and facing the clean out of my mothers house in the near future, I want as much of my unused/unnecessary stuff gone before I leave this world. I am one simple person; how much stuff do I really need? Not much is my answer.

@RedTop I undestand how you feel about cleaning out others' houses, that is a lot of work.

Since I go to a lot of estate sales it makes me reflect on personal household and as you say, not wanting to leave behind unnecessary and unused stuff.

Re: Is It Hormonal

Puzzle Piece — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 22:28:17 GMT

Thanks to all. Guess moving away from my other house into a city with many retirees has me living life differently. I do volunteer work when I can and stay abreast of things at my fellowship center.

I just don't want things like I did in the past. Had to clean out the in-aws affects and tht was a doozey. I won't burden others with my stuff when I'm gone. Never ever did I think I'd have this outlook or attitude.

Re: Is It Hormonal

SilleeMee — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 22:30:36 GMT

As I grow older my interests are shifting away from the material world. What I find more important are things I can do to improve my health, for instance eating healthy, staying fit and being safe in my environment. How you feel on the inside will be reflected in how you look on the outside.

Re: Is It Hormonal

Kalli — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 22:58:50 GMT

@Puzzle Piece I feel the same. Never was a big fan of

designer clothes or expensive handbags but I always loved nice jewelry especially the one-of-a-kind creations of the town goldsmith. Now in my retirement I find I seldom wear any of it. Weather permitting I go trailriding with my friends.

I agree with those who've said that their lives have changed. I finally have the time to do whatever I want and I choose to dress comfortably and to spend my time outside with my animals.

Re: Is It Hormonal

Carmie — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 02:47:56 GMT

I recently read a piece written by a woman in her 60's.

Her words really got to me...so true.

She wrote how freeing is has been to be older. Men don't bother her anymore, she doesn't have to impress anyone or dress and wear make-up to fit in.

She can finally be herself and not worry about how others see her.

I feel the same way. I too have stopped buying jewelry, handbags and clothing just because I wanted it.

I realized those items don't really bring me any happiness. I am still working on clearing out material stuff and I refuse to buy things that aren't really needed.

I never thought I'd feel this way, but I do. Maybe it's part of growing up and being mature. I doubt it is hormone related.

I wish I felt this way 30 years ago.

Re: Is It Hormonal

Goodie2shoes — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 03:35:19 GMT

Great Post ! made me think about how much "stuff" I really need. I use to travel, go to big gatherings/parties a few years ago before covid but most of the time now my big outing is to church every Sunday which I do enjoy. My closet is full and tops are double hung and I've run out of hangers. My expensive handbags are packed away and I only carry a small crossbody (Baggalini or INKWIP) because they have the RFID protected card slots and I just don't carry much other than hand sanitizer, hand lotion. insurance card, drivers license and a credit card or 2. I've been retired since 2016 so I really don't need so many clothes. I've already given a lot of clothes to Goodwill and I have found some new places to make donations because something has to go. Just no more room and I have to start thinking less is better at this stage of my life. I will say this though, I am a skin care junkie so I have just about every Sunday Riley skin care product and use them daily. I get many compliments on my skin and have heard that I don't look 73 so I do enjoy those compliments

Re: Is It Hormonal

Queen of shop — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 03:35:21 GMT

@Puzzle Piece If you can, google "Swedish Death Cleaning". It's an interesting concept to me that people in Sweden purposely start purging at 65-ish. Makes sense. Maybe, that is what you are going through and feeling. I dunno. Just something to think about.

I know I talk here a lot about my dear mom who almost lived to 100. Till the day she passed she was wearing makeup, all her lovely bright color clothes, getting her nails done and monthly haircuts. She loved using her good china and crystal too. She really enjoyed her "stuff". Go figure. LOL. I guess everyone is different. But I will say that I don't think it is hormonal.

Best Wishes

Re: Is It Hormonal

jlkz — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 12:14:33 GMT

@Kachina624

You said it succinctly and elegantly.

Just a few minutes ago, showed DH the 50th birthday gift he had given me: an 18k gold Etruscan-design necklace. I told him I am either selling it for scrap gold or having a simple bracelet made from the carved squares.

Facing 79, I really don't need it and wore it only a few times. It would be perfect for a TV news anchorwoman !

Over time, I have given away more clothes and jewelry...and each time, it feels freeing !

Times change; circumstances change, so why wouldn't I: it is natural / normal and definitely not hormonal.

Re: Is It Hormonal

wagirl — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 13:58:10 GMT

I just don't need all that much anymore---just the stage of life I am in, I think. Plus things are so stupid expensive too. Maybe your stress hormone has settled down??? My main volcanic level of stress has been gone for 1 1/2 years now---was divorced in March of 2021. It''s been great!!! Stress is a nasty beast. Used to stress shop all the time--now--not so much

Re: Is It Hormonal

CANDLEQUEEN — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 15:03:09 GMT

I think its quite natural. My sister who is retired and older than I am was just saying how she isn't interested in shopping and buying that much anymore-she is 74.

She said when you are retired you lead a different lifestyle, or at least she does, and its very casual and she has enough clothes, shoes and purses.

She has never been into makeup, so that isn't an issue, but she also isn't htat interested in buying things for her home, unless its a necessity.

At first I thought she must be depressed, but I just think its that stage of life for her, and that is probably what it is for you as well.

Re: Is It Hormonal

Jk9 — Tue, 26 Sep 2023 16:41:12 GMT

I agree with others that we are in a different stage of life now and things change. i was thinking about this recently as I was going through some jewelry and seeing what I tend to wear now. I was in a conservative work setting that required a certain level of dressing in addition to your work performance.

I think we also realize that we are at a different age and deal with different life issues. We think more about health and living than working and how we look. So changing how you look at material things is just part of aging to me. We just evolve throughout our lives.