topic Re: What surprised you most about getting older? in Among Friends

What surprised you most about getting older?

house_cat — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:21:06 GMT

I think for me it's the realization that I'm still the same person I was when i was 12, for good or bad - same likes and dislikes, same fears and insecurities.

Also, I thought if we had our kids when we were young, by now we'd be independent, enjoying our grown kids and grandkids. That wasn't in the cards for us. I guess it's time to reevaluate those expectations.

Did anything about aging catch you by surprise?

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

software — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:28:47 GMT

I'm not the same person I was when I was young, thank the good Lord! I've certainly matured. It wasn't easy, there were many bumps in the road but I survived & learned from them.

I always admired the wisdom of adults. I never thought I would have it but I do and I love it. I love feeling confident in my opinions. I don't need confirmation for who I am or what I do. I am very content in who I am. That has been a gift! So glad I lived long enough to enjoy it.

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

qualitygal — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:33:54 GMT

The mind is willing, and the body is slower to respond. Like the brain is the locomotive engine and the body is the caboose!! LOL

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

dex — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:34:39 GMT

I have more confidence but other than that I too believe I am still that twenty year old inside.When I pass a mirror in a store I am always shocked by the old lady I see.

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

2blonde — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:39:49 GMT

I definitely am not the same insecure person I was when I was young. I'm much more comfortable with myself now.....I can handle most situations with a lot less stress, and I value my friendships a lot more than I did during my partying days.

Yes, I'm still a kid at heart in many ways, but a much more educated and wiser one. I think the one thing that really surprises me about getting older is how quickly it happened! How in the heck did I get to be 68!

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

Winkk — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:39:50 GMT

I have to agree with @software. I am not the person I was at 12 and very thankful for that. I now feel like the mature person in the room and voice my opinion without hesitation.

Physcially, this arthritis I have caught me off guard. My parents never had it and it surprised me. Everyday something hurts. But, I do my best to work around it.

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

Winkk — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:42:35 GMT

@dex wrote:
I have more confidence but other than that I too believe I am still that twenty year old inside.When I pass a mirror in a store I am always shocked by the old lady I see.

@dex - this happens to me too. I'll quickly catch a glance of myself and I see my mother. Which is not a bad thing.

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

pattypeep — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:58:18 GMT

The aches and pains and joints giving out. Being so active and such a tom boy my whole life, it's really bumming me out that I can't do everything. My youngest son and I went out to dinner last night and I told him that I can still remember everything, it just takes me a little longer. LOL

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

Kardi — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 14:59:53 GMT

I think I was much more certain of some things when I was young. Now I realize many of those things aren't so clear to me. I also now realize most of the things that go on in the world are totally out of my control. I can only control how I react to them.

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

RinaRina — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:28:51 GMT

Well, I'm having a bad day today and, I've been thinking about this very subject for a while.

Surprise #1- I've been thru three bear markets and don't have as much money as I had 20 years ago. Surprise!!! Being afraid of outliving your money is a scary thing.

Surprise #2- Due to #1, I've been looking for PT work. My surprise? Employers don't like hiring "old people".

Surprise #3- Aches & pains. Surgeries! I never thought I'd see the day when I'd want to have a knee replacement.

Surprise #4- Jowls. No matter what I've done, I still have jowls. Fortunately, the NuFace mini helps.

Surprise #5- The amount of cosmetic surgery I've needed to keep my looks.

Surprise #6- I've outlived 90% of my friends.

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

QVCkitty1 — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:31:52 GMT

I think what surprised me the most, is that I don't mind it as much as I thought I would. I could do without the aches, creaky knees and my mother's neck, but I'm pretty happy all in all. I just avoid looking in mirrors a lot. 😂

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

fluffysmom — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:36:51 GMT

That it actually happens and is no fun. I have always worked with the elderly. Now I am one!

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

Trinity11 — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 15:46:42 GMT

I think what surprised me the most was how fast life went by. I don't think I have changed how I think all that much except when I was young I believed the world could change but now I am a realist and more guarded. Overall, I am happier because a lot of the drama queens are out of my life and things are calmer... My health..never expected to have cancer and heart disease but grateful I got through it learning to step back and smell the roses..

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

gmkb — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 16:02:38 GMT

1. The little time it took to get here. Seems like only last year I was turning 21.

2. Someone else touched on this, but how little there is over which we have control. We can only control our response to whatever is going on around us. Illness, family situations, death of friends/family, etc.

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

ALRATIBA — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 16:12:26 GMT

I think the biggest surprise has been that doing things like moving furniture or flipping mattresses is a lot more difficult than they were a couple of years ago. I still do it ... but it takes a lot more effort.

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

2blonde — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 16:19:37 GMT

@ALRATIBA wrote:
I think the biggest surprise has been that doing things like moving furniture or flipping mattresses is a lot more difficult than they were a couple of years ago. I still do it ... but it takes a lot more effort.

@ALRATIBA That's so true. I still lift weights and jog, so I'm doing all I can to stay strong, but I'm still pretty much a skinny person. The last time I decided to "flip" my mattress was a real eye opener. For a couple minutes I thought the thing might fall and squash me.......it was a huge step into reality. I may be just "turning" it from now on.

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

hckynut — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 16:51:49 GMT

(thread title)

Working around all men, mostly older than myself, that I perceived to be acting much older than their chronological age. It wasn't an act at all because they were physiologically as old or older than their chronological years.

Why? Because they chose to believe that the human body wears out as it chronologically ages, when the real fact is that the body rusts out because of it's lack of being used beyond a misconception and belief that discomfort is a bad thing.

With all the actual physical personal knowledge of health and physical fitness I attained over the years, it was very easy to conclude the following. How one chooses to take care of their body's health and physicality, was/is my determining factor that old, for most, is based solely only on chronological age, when in fact it should include:

Physiological age

Psychological age

Sociological age

My person amount of surprise? Zero.

hckynut(john)

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

colliegirls — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 17:02:09 GMT

I am surprised and scared about how fast the time goes.

No matter what the calendar says, I still feel about 30 years old inside.

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

cherry — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 17:03:53 GMT

How little it takes to be happy. My needs and wants run neck and neck. I enjoy every day to the fullest

Re: What surprised you most about getting older?

Shanus — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 17:09:47 GMT

Not as serious/thoughtful as other posters: On the good side, I noticed hair fell out or got thinner & I only have to shave my legs once a week. On the bad side, brows got thinner and hairs showed up on chin and places I didn't notice it before.