Age

KosmosKitten
KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
So I hear the phrases "I'm so old" or "I feel old" bantered around a lot by people my age and it mostly just causes me to roll my eyes.

So my question is: At what age are you considered to be "old"?

Mark Twain once was quoted as saying "Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, then it doesn't matter."

Is that true? Or is there an age where "old" is a real possibility?

For myself, being in my thirties: I feel old emotionally/psychologically, but nowhere near old physically. Does that make me old? Or more just an "old soul"?

And I look at people who are years ahead of me in age and they still don't feel "old" in my mind, even if they feel that way about themselves.

So what makes a person "old"? Are we all young until we hit say.. 80? Is there a specific age or no?
«1

Replies

  • TheWorstOne
    TheWorstOne Posts: 61 Member
    It’s a relative man.
  • AwesomeOpossum74
    AwesomeOpossum74 Posts: 106 Member
    Old happens when you let it.

    I'm 44. My body doesn't work as well as it did a few years ago; aches and pains have crept in; I have to be a little more careful; I don't recover from injury as quickly. But I don't feel old mentally or emotionally. I want to play and tell dirty jokes. I want to enjoy the outdoors with my family. I want to throw ball with the kids. I have a strong libido.

    I recognize my physical age, but when I think about how I feel, I'm still young.
  • This content has been removed.
  • 4legsRbetterthan2
    4legsRbetterthan2 Posts: 19,590 MFP Moderator
    I think alot of it has to do with how active you are with both your body and mind, so I say you are old when you quit moving and engaging in activities.

    That said, of the folks I have known that stayed pretty on top of it well into their golden years, seems like something happens (accident or injury of some sort) in the 80-85 range that caused them to really slow down.
  • Pour_Decisions
    Pour_Decisions Posts: 1,053 Member
    It all depends. I'm old for certain things but I'm young for others. It's all relative I suppose.

    I also roll my eyes when 'young' (30's and 40's) people refer to themselves as old. Especially if they are younger than I am. I'm like 'WTF you must think I'm older than dirt and I don't feel that way AT ALL'.
  • covetthycarbs
    covetthycarbs Posts: 300 Member
    When music sucks and movies become ridiculous because teenagers obviously are too young to actually save the world.
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    Old is fifteen years ahead of whatever I am.

    That being said there comes a point where you spend more on maintenance with the vintage models. Don’t ignore the signs of bigger problems. You may have a chronic condition and have to take pills. Goes with the territory.

    I say fifteen year olds are the oldest people on the planet. Lifting an arm is hard work, and keeping up on social conventions is exhausting. By comparison those of us in middle age can pretty well do whatever we want. We can dress inappropriately, and take vacation any time of the year. What they gonna do? Fire us? Disinherit us? Yes, please.
  • AwesomeOpossum74
    AwesomeOpossum74 Posts: 106 Member
    When music sucks and movies become ridiculous because teenagers obviously are too young to actually save the world.
    When Snoop Dogg says modern hiphop/rap sucks, you know there's a problem in the industry. I'll stick with my classic rock, most of which is still older than me. ;)
  • Riffraft1960
    Riffraft1960 Posts: 1,984 Member
    Well I am closer to 60 than to 50 and I don't feel old and don't consider myself old. No doubt the body isn't what it use to be, but it is nowhere near the tail end of its existence.
  • covetthycarbs
    covetthycarbs Posts: 300 Member
    When music sucks and movies become ridiculous because teenagers obviously are too young to actually save the world.
    When Snoop Dogg says modern hiphop/rap sucks, you know there's a problem in the industry. I'll stick with my classic rock, most of which is still older than me. ;)

    When you hear the kids calling 80’s rock classic rock
  • SwannySez
    SwannySez Posts: 5,860 Member
    When music sucks and movies become ridiculous because teenagers obviously are too young to actually save the world.
    When Snoop Dogg says modern hiphop/rap sucks, you know there's a problem in the industry. I'll stick with my classic rock, most of which is still older than me. ;)

    When you hear the kids calling 80’s rock classic rock

    When you figure that a 13 year-old kid today listening to Zeppelin II would be the equivalent of you at that age having been grooving to Cole Porter and Glenn Miller.
  • This content has been removed.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I think of old age as the last decade or so of your lifespan so maybe 70's and 80's is where is starts for most people. Old does not mean you are not valuable or active to me but there is generally a change.
  • ChaelAZ
    ChaelAZ Posts: 2,240 Member
    the last year I have physically felt older.
    Mentally I am still, like, 17.
  • SwannySez
    SwannySez Posts: 5,860 Member
    LMNOP55 wrote: »
    @SwannySez wrote: »
    When music sucks and movies become ridiculous because teenagers obviously are too young to actually save the world.
    When Snoop Dogg says modern hiphop/rap sucks, you know there's a problem in the industry. I'll stick with my classic rock, most of which is still older than me. ;)

    When you hear the kids calling 80’s rock classic rock

    When you figure that a 13 year-old kid today listening to Zeppelin II would be the equivalent of you at that age having been grooving to Cole Porter and Glenn Miller.

    I do that with movies and TV shows. Teens watching the first season of Seinfeld would be like teen me watching Texaco Star Theater or the Jack Benny show.

    WHICH WERE BOTH CLASSICS!
  • This content has been removed.
  • covetthycarbs
    covetthycarbs Posts: 300 Member
    LMNOP55 wrote: »
    @SwannySez wrote: »
    When music sucks and movies become ridiculous because teenagers obviously are too young to actually save the world.
    When Snoop Dogg says modern hiphop/rap sucks, you know there's a problem in the industry. I'll stick with my classic rock, most of which is still older than me. ;)

    When you hear the kids calling 80’s rock classic rock

    When you figure that a 13 year-old kid today listening to Zeppelin II would be the equivalent of you at that age having been grooving to Cole Porter and Glenn Miller.

    I do that with movies and TV shows. Teens watching the first season of Seinfeld would be like teen me watching Texaco Star Theater or the Jack Benny show.
    LMNOP55 wrote: »
    SwannySez wrote: »
    LMNOP55 wrote: »
    @SwannySez wrote: »
    When music sucks and movies become ridiculous because teenagers obviously are too young to actually save the world.
    When Snoop Dogg says modern hiphop/rap sucks, you know there's a problem in the industry. I'll stick with my classic rock, most of which is still older than me. ;)

    When you hear the kids calling 80’s rock classic rock

    When you figure that a 13 year-old kid today listening to Zeppelin II would be the equivalent of you at that age having been grooving to Cole Porter and Glenn Miller.

    I do that with movies and TV shows. Teens watching the first season of Seinfeld would be like teen me watching Texaco Star Theater or the Jack Benny show.

    WHICH WERE BOTH CLASSICS!

    Teens today watching The Breakfast Club would be like teen me watching Gone With the Wind.

    Teens today don’t even know what those movies and shows are
  • SwannySez
    SwannySez Posts: 5,860 Member
    LMNOP55 wrote: »
    SwannySez wrote: »
    LMNOP55 wrote: »
    @SwannySez wrote: »
    When music sucks and movies become ridiculous because teenagers obviously are too young to actually save the world.
    When Snoop Dogg says modern hiphop/rap sucks, you know there's a problem in the industry. I'll stick with my classic rock, most of which is still older than me. ;)

    When you hear the kids calling 80’s rock classic rock

    When you figure that a 13 year-old kid today listening to Zeppelin II would be the equivalent of you at that age having been grooving to Cole Porter and Glenn Miller.

    I do that with movies and TV shows. Teens watching the first season of Seinfeld would be like teen me watching Texaco Star Theater or the Jack Benny show.

    WHICH WERE BOTH CLASSICS!

    Teens today watching The Breakfast Club would be like teen me watching Gone With the Wind.

    And they don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies!
  • This content has been removed.
  • KosmosKitten
    KosmosKitten Posts: 10,476 Member
    Y'all are a hoot. :lol:
  • RoxieDawn
    RoxieDawn Posts: 15,488 Member
    edited July 2018
    I joke about it a lot, but I am going through that female 50 stuff. Other than that, I truly don't feel old, mentally I am still quite young. Ask me this question 5 years ago before weight loss and increasing activities, I was tired, out of shape and felt like a slug most days, i.e. old. I don't have that now.
  • Unknown
    edited July 2018
    This content has been removed.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    I'm 43...I am young at heart for sure, but I'm starting to feel old in regards to more nagging aches and pains and I just don't recover the way I used to even just 3-5 years ago. Things like excessive heat also bother me a lot more than they used to...five years ago I would have thought nothing about taking a 20-30 mile bike ride in 100* temps...that *kitten* would probably kill me now.

    I've been balding for quite some time and have been shaving my head for years...but in the past year or so I've grayed considerably and it's been very fast. I used to wear a goatee...did for years and finally decided to shave it because it was full gray...I look a lot younger with it gone. I let my facial hair go from time to time and I walk past a mirror and sometimes do a double take like, "who the *kitten* is that old guy?" My wife even asked me when my chest hair grayed...it was like overnight.
  • kcs76
    kcs76 Posts: 244 Member
    edited July 2018
    It just depends on your definition of old. I'm 41. I'm sure to some that seems old, but to me I don't think that it is. Can I tell when it's going to rain by how badly my knees ache? Yes, but I've been doing that for ages. The additional skin care maintenance aging skin requires is an annoyance. I enjoy a night in with a movie, whiskey and my knitting, rather than going out, but I'm not about to start eating supper at 4pm.

    What I love about this age is the freedom I have found. Since my late 30's, and especially after the "big 40", the concerns I used to have about how other people felt about of how I lived my life have vanished. I am completely comfortable with giving zero *kitten* about the opinions of others. I live for me. I do what makes me happy, even if friends and family members don't "get it". It's a very powerful thing and I just love it. It would have been nice to have this zero *kitten* awareness when I was in my 20's instead of the crippling self doubt I struggled with. I wouldn't go back to my 20's for anything.

  • bojack5
    bojack5 Posts: 2,859 Member
    I'm old and just lay around most days waiting to die.......
  • This content has been removed.
  • funjen1972
    funjen1972 Posts: 949 Member
    I am 46 and far from old. I have met many people recently that are old at my age though (I was going to post about it!). I'm active, have a youthful appearance and mindset. It seems that others my age have given up on youth.

    I don't have any cosmetic work or wear a ton of makeup (most days go without). I dress appropriately (no daisy dukes or frumpy clothes). I have fun. I engage people. I try new things. I laugh a lot.

    I think it all comes down to attitude toward life. I can accept being experienced, or wise, or mature, but I refuse to be old!
  • DoubleUbea
    DoubleUbea Posts: 1,115 Member
    edited July 2018
    When you start calling people younger than you "kids"... I am looking at you @CoffeeAndContour
    When you realize a lot of things your parents told you were right,
    I think "I am so old" is a funny phrase used their "cool" things are out of date and the next generation's "cool" things start to take over.
    When you start complaining about the price of food compared to when you were young.
  • DoubleUbea
    DoubleUbea Posts: 1,115 Member
    I know, when you stop calling your friends by their nickname and start using their real name.
  • justkris_gettingfit
    justkris_gettingfit Posts: 239 Member
    I'll use it if I think something is ridiculous for someone my age to do, or if I wake up one day and it hurts to move. I'm just about 30 with a gimpy knee and ankle, and a questionable lower back (thanks child birth and mass weight gain) so yeah, I'd say I do feel pretty old sometimes, but it doesn't stop me *shrugs*