perception of age
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 111,882
Likes: 2,034
From: SoCal
Something I have noticed more and more in recent years. There is this thing where people talk about how their bodies start hurting, how a day of hard work now takes them down for a whole day after, needing all this extra sleep suddenly, etc. And these people are saying this starts at THIRTY years old. This is kind of disturbing to me lol. I mean, not only would I have never even thought of these things at 30, I barely think them at 48 (well actually 49 as I have a birthday about to hit here). I mean I obviously notice that I dont have quite as much energy as I did at 30 of course, but it is not too far off. I still have a habit of staying up till 1am on weekends yet still get up at 7am, or if going to an autox, staying up till after midnight and getting up at 5am, and then doing it 2 days in a row. I dont feel beaten up when I do these things. I am not here trying to say I feel like I am in my 20's anymore, but I seem to feel better than how a lot of 30 year olds describe their lives!
Now I know we are all different and I can see how some feel worse at different ages based upon job type, health issues, etc. But this whole trend of acting like you are worn out and old at 30 is concerning. I just wonder how people doing that are going to feel when they actually hit 50, 60, etc. Is this just people trying to be funny and exaggerating, or is this a sign of peoples lifestyles and how they treat themselves? Cause at 30, there was no way in the world I was worried about feeling old!
Now I know we are all different and I can see how some feel worse at different ages based upon job type, health issues, etc. But this whole trend of acting like you are worn out and old at 30 is concerning. I just wonder how people doing that are going to feel when they actually hit 50, 60, etc. Is this just people trying to be funny and exaggerating, or is this a sign of peoples lifestyles and how they treat themselves? Cause at 30, there was no way in the world I was worried about feeling old!
I kept coming back seeing the other posts & all good input
I am now 69 and yeah I remember the turning 40 then 50
but seems silly now 
it beats the alternative although I don't myself feel I want to see 100 
my mom made it into her 70's Dad to 91 not even sure your parents death ages give you a definite on what yours will be
Like @zeroptzero mentioned when your time comes it comes so just enjoy life while your IN it
I was at the last Indy Car Race in Thermal Ca and while in the paddock area I see The Captain zipping around on a scooter
that man is 88 and when I approached him for a 
he was so sweet and you'd think he was in his 40's 
just mom's 2 cents as I really enjoyed reading all these posts
74 
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 1,333
From: Worthington, Ohio
My dad passed at 69. My mom at 81.
Sisters passed at 60, 72, and 73. (Remaining sister is 73 now.)
I am soon to be 79.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 37,304
Likes: 6,276
From: bolton
Attitude plays a big part of age interpretation, but so does the wheel of fortune starting with the ovarian lottery.
Some are born to wealth and healthy loving parents. They get intelligence and a safe environment to grow up in.
They aren't burdened with worry and get to live life on the sunny side of town learning healthy eating habits and play tennis at the club growing up.
Others live a tougher existence coming up. They work to help put food on the table and somehow find a way through college.
Or maybe they don't get to college, they work at a plant doing repetitive heavy physical labor.
My Dad never got past his GED he got in the Army. He drove bus and later tractor trailer for a battery company.
At stops he'd unload auto batteries. He smoked. He got a bad gene for high cholesterol. He died at 40. He never got to feel old.
My mom worked hard all her life. She was never graced with a petite pretty body, she had a big husky frame.
She always fought her weight. She had 3 kids. She had a bad back from several collapsed disk vertebra. She had a a gall bladder removed.
These health events wear you down over time.
As for me. a knee injury in high school soccer cast a very long shadow as I've aged. I drove a desk instead of a truck.
I'm not sure it was always a good thing to be doing, It certainly didn't improve my conditioning but I didn't ruin my back from heavy lifting either.
It's funny how little things can play such a big part. I got sinus polyps. sounds trivial but I spent years on and off of antibiotics. How does that affect how you feel?
I've have done a fair amount of reading following the gut Biome of late. This is all relatively new science.
Example: They recently have found that parkinson's patients may be helped dramatically by increasing vitamin B intake, that probably changes how you feel about life.
The deeper question becomes, do the patients have a mechanism which restricts B uptake? do the bacteria that make up the biome not break it down properly?
Folks with IBS likely feel a lot older since they can't trust their body very much.
Some are born to wealth and healthy loving parents. They get intelligence and a safe environment to grow up in.
They aren't burdened with worry and get to live life on the sunny side of town learning healthy eating habits and play tennis at the club growing up.
Others live a tougher existence coming up. They work to help put food on the table and somehow find a way through college.
Or maybe they don't get to college, they work at a plant doing repetitive heavy physical labor.
My Dad never got past his GED he got in the Army. He drove bus and later tractor trailer for a battery company.
At stops he'd unload auto batteries. He smoked. He got a bad gene for high cholesterol. He died at 40. He never got to feel old.
My mom worked hard all her life. She was never graced with a petite pretty body, she had a big husky frame.
She always fought her weight. She had 3 kids. She had a bad back from several collapsed disk vertebra. She had a a gall bladder removed.
These health events wear you down over time.
As for me. a knee injury in high school soccer cast a very long shadow as I've aged. I drove a desk instead of a truck.
I'm not sure it was always a good thing to be doing, It certainly didn't improve my conditioning but I didn't ruin my back from heavy lifting either.
It's funny how little things can play such a big part. I got sinus polyps. sounds trivial but I spent years on and off of antibiotics. How does that affect how you feel?
I've have done a fair amount of reading following the gut Biome of late. This is all relatively new science.
Example: They recently have found that parkinson's patients may be helped dramatically by increasing vitamin B intake, that probably changes how you feel about life.
The deeper question becomes, do the patients have a mechanism which restricts B uptake? do the bacteria that make up the biome not break it down properly?
Folks with IBS likely feel a lot older since they can't trust their body very much.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 45,699
Likes: 8,217
From: Mish-she-gan
Engineer: I honestly don't know any 30 somethings. I wished I did but when you reach my age you don't have a lot of opportunity to meet them. They would all be younger than my own grown up kids, who don't act like they are worn out. I find the statement "this whole trend of acting like you are worn out and old at 30 is concerning." very odd.
Jerry: I agree completely with the first part of your opening statement "Attitude plays a big part of age interpretation".
Ken: I agree completely with your comment "Aches and pains? Yeah, everybody has them, not a big deal."
Cos: I agree completely with your comment "Don't let the old man in."
I only feel old when I look in a mirror (I can't avoid that). Constantly having bruises on the tops of my hands (I can't avoid thin skin). Having too many metal parts in the body (I'm stuck with them) so I can no longer dance, walk fast, or get up off the floor without grabbing something.
But, having said all that, finding ways too enjoy life and friendships, avoiding stress whenever possible or at least not letting it consume you are all ways to feel young and stay young. I've been blessed with a lady who doesn't want hear my complaining and constantly tells me to get off my ass.
Being a little older, I am very fortunate to have someone call and check on me every day. He is from India and is very concerned about my car warranty. One thing no one ever talks about, when it comes to being an older adult, is how much time we devote to keeping a cardboard box because it is, you know, a really good box (that's why I love Amazon Prime). I also think hobbies are one thing that really keeps you young (S2000s, MGAs, art, etc.) I hate it when people act all intellectual and talk about Mozart, when they've never even seen one of his paintings.
Until you throw your back out on the toilet, you can consider yourself young.
Jerry: I agree completely with the first part of your opening statement "Attitude plays a big part of age interpretation".
Ken: I agree completely with your comment "Aches and pains? Yeah, everybody has them, not a big deal."
Cos: I agree completely with your comment "Don't let the old man in."
I only feel old when I look in a mirror (I can't avoid that). Constantly having bruises on the tops of my hands (I can't avoid thin skin). Having too many metal parts in the body (I'm stuck with them) so I can no longer dance, walk fast, or get up off the floor without grabbing something.
But, having said all that, finding ways too enjoy life and friendships, avoiding stress whenever possible or at least not letting it consume you are all ways to feel young and stay young. I've been blessed with a lady who doesn't want hear my complaining and constantly tells me to get off my ass.
Being a little older, I am very fortunate to have someone call and check on me every day. He is from India and is very concerned about my car warranty. One thing no one ever talks about, when it comes to being an older adult, is how much time we devote to keeping a cardboard box because it is, you know, a really good box (that's why I love Amazon Prime). I also think hobbies are one thing that really keeps you young (S2000s, MGAs, art, etc.) I hate it when people act all intellectual and talk about Mozart, when they've never even seen one of his paintings.
Until you throw your back out on the toilet, you can consider yourself young.
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 45,839
Likes: 5,374
From: Loveland, CO
Attitude plays a big part of age interpretation, but so does the wheel of fortune starting with the ovarian lottery.
Some are born to wealth and healthy loving parents. They get intelligence and a safe environment to grow up in.
They aren't burdened with worry and get to live life on the sunny side of town learning healthy eating habits and play tennis at the club growing up.
Others live a tougher existence coming up. They work to help put food on the table and somehow find a way through college.
Or maybe they don't get to college, they work at a plant doing repetitive heavy physical labor.
My Dad never got past his GED he got in the Army. He drove bus and later tractor trailer for a battery company.
At stops he'd unload auto batteries. He smoked. He got a bad gene for high cholesterol. He died at 40. He never got to feel old.
My mom worked hard all her life. She was never graced with a petite pretty body, she had a big husky frame.
She always fought her weight. She had 3 kids. She had a bad back from several collapsed disk vertebra. She had a a gall bladder removed.
These health events wear you down over time.
As for me. a knee injury in high school soccer cast a very long shadow as I've aged. I drove a desk instead of a truck.
I'm not sure it was always a good thing to be doing, It certainly didn't improve my conditioning but I didn't ruin my back from heavy lifting either.
It's funny how little things can play such a big part. I got sinus polyps. sounds trivial but I spent years on and off of antibiotics. How does that affect how you feel?
I've have done a fair amount of reading following the gut Biome of late. This is all relatively new science.
Example: They recently have found that parkinson's patients may be helped dramatically by increasing vitamin B intake, that probably changes how you feel about life.
The deeper question becomes, do the patients have a mechanism which restricts B uptake? do the bacteria that make up the biome not break it down properly?
Folks with IBS likely feel a lot older since they can't trust their body very much.
Some are born to wealth and healthy loving parents. They get intelligence and a safe environment to grow up in.
They aren't burdened with worry and get to live life on the sunny side of town learning healthy eating habits and play tennis at the club growing up.
Others live a tougher existence coming up. They work to help put food on the table and somehow find a way through college.
Or maybe they don't get to college, they work at a plant doing repetitive heavy physical labor.
My Dad never got past his GED he got in the Army. He drove bus and later tractor trailer for a battery company.
At stops he'd unload auto batteries. He smoked. He got a bad gene for high cholesterol. He died at 40. He never got to feel old.
My mom worked hard all her life. She was never graced with a petite pretty body, she had a big husky frame.
She always fought her weight. She had 3 kids. She had a bad back from several collapsed disk vertebra. She had a a gall bladder removed.
These health events wear you down over time.
As for me. a knee injury in high school soccer cast a very long shadow as I've aged. I drove a desk instead of a truck.
I'm not sure it was always a good thing to be doing, It certainly didn't improve my conditioning but I didn't ruin my back from heavy lifting either.
It's funny how little things can play such a big part. I got sinus polyps. sounds trivial but I spent years on and off of antibiotics. How does that affect how you feel?
I've have done a fair amount of reading following the gut Biome of late. This is all relatively new science.
Example: They recently have found that parkinson's patients may be helped dramatically by increasing vitamin B intake, that probably changes how you feel about life.
The deeper question becomes, do the patients have a mechanism which restricts B uptake? do the bacteria that make up the biome not break it down properly?
Folks with IBS likely feel a lot older since they can't trust their body very much.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 37,304
Likes: 6,276
From: bolton
My Dad died in the spring of my senior year. There was some insurance money so I was able to go to WPI.
I joke I got drunk, tried to get laid and flunked out. All of which is true but the reality was I had no idea why I was there other than I should be.
Without a specific goal set, one doesn't get through WPI.
The next fall I went to the local state college.
I got drunk, got laid and flunked out. same basic scenario but it took me 3 semesters this time. Between semesters 2 and 3 I met a girl named Barbara.
She went away for 4 years of college then we got married. Meanwhile I went into the real world and worked.
First in a hospital cleaning the morgue, among other things. After a year I started selling HIFi equipment.
Did well, A few years later Barb graduated and we got married. Barb gets fulltime Biotech job.
Did even better, became store manager. Started working 60-80 hours a week.
I was managing the MIT ( little school, you may have heard of it)
While working with MIT staff we were analyzing if an amp could do the job.
That was the ah-hah eureka moment. " hey I could do this" The missing focus of what I should do crystallized.
The lease on our apartment was expiring, ( In the beginning of the condo conversion craze) very few apartments available.
In-laws suggested we stay with them "for a few weeks"
We do.
A few more weeks go by, as if by magic, I bump into Mrs Hart ( not the TV show) She is secretary to director of admissions at local state college.
Her Husband was also a Vice Principal at my former high school, although not for my class. Somehow, I gained them as guardian angels.
Two weeks later I quit work, I'm magically enrolled as fulltime student. 7 weeks after that I'm also enrolled in WPI as a "special student" fulltime curriculum access as part time student.
We wound up staying with my in-laws for a fewweeks years. Barb worked full-time while I went to school fulltime.
Going back to school after being in the down and gritty, real world provided a unique perspective. Being married my social life was stable. School was now easy.
It's one thing to tell Mom, "I ****ed up." it is totally another to tell your wife that.
I joke I got drunk, tried to get laid and flunked out. All of which is true but the reality was I had no idea why I was there other than I should be.
Without a specific goal set, one doesn't get through WPI.
The next fall I went to the local state college.
I got drunk, got laid and flunked out. same basic scenario but it took me 3 semesters this time. Between semesters 2 and 3 I met a girl named Barbara.
She went away for 4 years of college then we got married. Meanwhile I went into the real world and worked.
First in a hospital cleaning the morgue, among other things. After a year I started selling HIFi equipment.
Did well, A few years later Barb graduated and we got married. Barb gets fulltime Biotech job.
Did even better, became store manager. Started working 60-80 hours a week.
I was managing the MIT ( little school, you may have heard of it)
While working with MIT staff we were analyzing if an amp could do the job.
That was the ah-hah eureka moment. " hey I could do this" The missing focus of what I should do crystallized.
The lease on our apartment was expiring, ( In the beginning of the condo conversion craze) very few apartments available.
In-laws suggested we stay with them "for a few weeks"
We do. A few more weeks go by, as if by magic, I bump into Mrs Hart ( not the TV show) She is secretary to director of admissions at local state college.
Her Husband was also a Vice Principal at my former high school, although not for my class. Somehow, I gained them as guardian angels.
Two weeks later I quit work, I'm magically enrolled as fulltime student. 7 weeks after that I'm also enrolled in WPI as a "special student" fulltime curriculum access as part time student.
We wound up staying with my in-laws for a few
Going back to school after being in the down and gritty, real world provided a unique perspective. Being married my social life was stable. School was now easy.
It's one thing to tell Mom, "I ****ed up." it is totally another to tell your wife that.
Thread Starter
Moderator
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 7,873
Likes: 2,456
Engineer: I honestly don't know any 30 somethings. I wished I did but when you reach my age you don't have a lot of opportunity to meet them. They would all be younger than my own grown up kids, who don't act like they are worn out. I find the statement "this whole trend of acting like you are worn out and old at 30 is concerning." very odd.
Jerry: I agree completely with the first part of your opening statement "Attitude plays a big part of age interpretation".
Ken: I agree completely with your comment "Aches and pains? Yeah, everybody has them, not a big deal."
Cos: I agree completely with your comment "Don't let the old man in."
I only feel old when I look in a mirror (I can't avoid that). Constantly having bruises on the tops of my hands (I can't avoid thin skin). Having too many metal parts in the body (I'm stuck with them) so I can no longer dance, walk fast, or get up off the floor without grabbing something.
But, having said all that, finding ways too enjoy life and friendships, avoiding stress whenever possible or at least not letting it consume you are all ways to feel young and stay young. I've been blessed with a lady who doesn't want hear my complaining and constantly tells me to get off my ass.
Being a little older, I am very fortunate to have someone call and check on me every day. He is from India and is very concerned about my car warranty. One thing no one ever talks about, when it comes to being an older adult, is how much time we devote to keeping a cardboard box because it is, you know, a really good box (that's why I love Amazon Prime). I also think hobbies are one thing that really keeps you young (S2000s, MGAs, art, etc.) I hate it when people act all intellectual and talk about Mozart, when they've never even seen one of his paintings.
Until you throw your back out on the toilet, you can consider yourself young.
Jerry: I agree completely with the first part of your opening statement "Attitude plays a big part of age interpretation".
Ken: I agree completely with your comment "Aches and pains? Yeah, everybody has them, not a big deal."
Cos: I agree completely with your comment "Don't let the old man in."
I only feel old when I look in a mirror (I can't avoid that). Constantly having bruises on the tops of my hands (I can't avoid thin skin). Having too many metal parts in the body (I'm stuck with them) so I can no longer dance, walk fast, or get up off the floor without grabbing something.
But, having said all that, finding ways too enjoy life and friendships, avoiding stress whenever possible or at least not letting it consume you are all ways to feel young and stay young. I've been blessed with a lady who doesn't want hear my complaining and constantly tells me to get off my ass.
Being a little older, I am very fortunate to have someone call and check on me every day. He is from India and is very concerned about my car warranty. One thing no one ever talks about, when it comes to being an older adult, is how much time we devote to keeping a cardboard box because it is, you know, a really good box (that's why I love Amazon Prime). I also think hobbies are one thing that really keeps you young (S2000s, MGAs, art, etc.) I hate it when people act all intellectual and talk about Mozart, when they've never even seen one of his paintings.
Until you throw your back out on the toilet, you can consider yourself young.
My closer friends in their 30's dont do it as much but I still hear them talk about being in their late 30's and thus their body aches, etc now and then.