Boy have we drifted off topic. Back to how you feel bout getting older.
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Well it kinda sucks at 63.5 but I am looking forward to the next chapter. Just don’t know what that is yet. I know my genetics and I am some doing things to reduce some of the risks. Knowledge is power, I guess. I look forward to seeing my kids next chapters also. Just trying to be happy.
I will read these posts later.
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I back read a few posts. I had a friend who was the most healthiest person I know pass away after doing surgery changing out of his scrubs into his clothes minutes after doing surgery. No family history but don’t know his genetics. He was around 53
I think everyone needs to do what they feel is right for them. No question eating right and excersising has its benefits and I have done much better at both and it makes me feel better overall. I do know genetically there are certain things that I should be doing and things to stay away from. I am better at that.
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I lost a sibling to ALS. He was 47 and had always been very active. I learned a lot about ALS and unlike some diseases, diet and exercise have nothing to do with the risk.
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A horrible story related to this… One of my co-worker’s kids was born with some unusual issues. Recently, she had to make the decision whether to harvest/freeze some of her middle schooler’s eggs so that she may have the chance to have kids someday. She was discussing the insurance coverage with the rep who remarked “Why would she want to have kids? And just have another one like her?”
I was speechless.
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I don’t like it, mostly because I’m very close with my aunts and uncles, age 70-78, 85, and 88. I’m so sad within 10-15 years all of them, plus my parents, will probably be gone.
I’m also not overly fond of arthritis or the dismissive vibe of society, including doctors.
H was thin, had good cholesterol and BP, didn’t drink or smoke…had cardiac arrests at 59. My grandma was one of the early health food proponents in the 1960’s…endured too many years of Alzheimer’s and died at almost 93, still not on any other prescriptions.
Very grateful I’m still here to enjoy my adult children and grandchildren.
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Well because they have genetic testing on those embryos and we get to stop the disease.
And that’s very insensitive for someone who never had to make those choices.
I’d like to bring the focus onto less maudlin issues, it’s been a day
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Oh, the crepey upper thighs and knees! I despise that. I wore sunscreen religiously on my face, but nit my legs. Paying forit now. I hate wearing shorts
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I lived a pretty healthy and active life, never smoked and always lived in places with great air quality, yet was diagnosed at age 42 to have lungs similar to someone who had smoked a pack a day for 60 years.
One of the nurses I hired for health screenings was very lean and worked out regularly and was a vegetarian. He had his 2nd heart attack at 40 and recently had a 3rd!
I know we all do our best and get luck of the draw with genes and whatever happens with our bodies. It’s challenging and I hate people blaming when no one can tell me or my nurse friend how we could have done anything better.
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I feel pretty good, and I do (much of) what I can to help with the odds. I feel like I have more wrinkles than others my age, but my son recently told my I look much better than my friend who does lots of “stuff” to help her face (and he wasn’t just being nice - this friend has gone too far). My family dies early - my mom, the only parent I know, and 3 of her siblings died at 70ish, and mom had severe dementia. I am not perfect with my eating and exercise, but I try. I am hoping I will be around and able to care for my grandkids, when they (hopefully) arrive in the next couple of years. I am 62 and husband is 64, and we are still VERY active, and yet I do feel I’m not as able as I used to be. I’m choosing to celebrate the good and do what I can to prevent the bad, while still enjoying daily living.
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All we can do is try. I live by the mantra that I don’t want to say, “I should have done that” down the road if something goes awry.
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I look at lifestyle (execise/diet) improvements as beneficial in two way. 1) For some illnesses, it improves my odds of avoiding it. 2) In the case of unavoidable illnesses, it will hopefully makes me a bit more fit and thus able to better combat it.
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I agree with everyone else that getting old sucks… but I’ll qualify that for me it’s the physical aspects that suck. Vision is getting worse, physical aches and pains are getting worse, etc.
But aside from all of that…
For the past 30+ years we’ve saved about 25% of our combined gross income, and turned the corner from worrying about saving money to watching our money grow on its own. There’s huge fiscal benefits we’re reaping after years of saving - we’re taking amazing vacations and eating at fantastic restaurants without having to sweat the bills.
I’ll also admit that a lot of my rough edges have been sanded off by the passage of time. I’m less arrogant than I used to be. I’m willing to admit when I’m wrong. Heck, if I was OP in the relayed conversation and was positive that I was right, I’d actually be willing to admit that there’s a possibility my memory might be wrong. Because yeah, I have mis-remembered things before and been shocked that I remembered incorrectly. I’m more forgiving of others as I’ve realized that I myself have needed forgiveness. I’m definitely an easier partner to live with than when I was 25, although I do sometimes miss that brash confidence of youth.
So the physical part of aging sucks for sure. The wisdom and financial benefits are pretty solid though.
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I’ll try to get back to what I think was the intent of this thread.
I don’t feel old. When I was much younger I considered people 50 old. I’m now 64 and I don’t feel old. Sure my body isn’t as cooperative as it used to be. I had knee replacement and I can’t run like I used to but I can go to the gym, lift weights, do Pilates and just feel stronger.
What I do wish is I had taken better care of my skin. My hand’s definitely show my age. I tell my kids sunscreen your hands and arms, My hair is still thick and healthy with some grey that I religiously color every four weeks. I’m told I look younger than my age.
What I love is the time to do things like travel and spending time with my grandkids. I’m so glad to be past the HS /college years of worrying about my kids.
Both my parents died in their early 70’s. I can’t control genetics but I can try to be as healthy as I can be. My dad had type 1 diabetes and my Mom type 2. My Mom didn’t eat well even after her diagnosis. My A1C is edging up to pre diabetic so I’m on notice.
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Yes, actually quite the opposite. There is a large body of research pointing to strenuous exercise as a risk factor for the development of ALS.
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The older you get the older older gets.
My parents both died of unnatural causes 36 years ago. My mother was 63 and my dad 62, so they were never really old - especially given how I perceive myself as a 60-old now. The way they died doesn’t lend itself to projecting a disposition toward any particular disease or condition. They simply hadn’t encountered anything by their early 60s.
Thus far, I just don’t like how I am starting to look. Gravity is a b*tch. But, I’m trying to view aging as a privilege that my own parents were denied.
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I thought about this thread when I plopped down on the couch a few minutes ago. I did a lot over the past week, and I’m really tired. Thinking about it, ten years ago, I probably wouldn’t have been tired at all. I’m not complaining - just observing.
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Back at the OP: I am sympathetic to your problem of a husband who remembers things differently. I have that problem, too. I think he regrets some of his choices and so is rewriting history. For example, he worked too much when the kids were little and did not make them a priority.
I have the usual aches and pains from aging, and have had joints replaced, but I just keep on trucking. Now that the kids are out of the house, I can work more and volunteer more and travel more and generally catch up on the activities I did not have time for. My day to day life is very fulfilling.
My looks? Eh. My hair is not gray (really!), but my face is sagging.
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I don’t want to get this thread off-track, but for those interested in this area of research, I would review the material that can be found on the web and make your own judgements on the subject.
Last week at our weekly beer/dinner night with couples our age, there was an interesting discussion about aging. We all agreed that of course we don’t feel nearly as old as we recall our grandparents the same age.
One of the comments was that our generation seems intent to keep moving, stay healthy. I said yes…. but countered that there are now some advances to help. Here’s a list of things we discussed and more that I thought of later.
- ibuprofin, allergy meds, various modern prescription meds
- easy availability to have surgery for new knees, hips, shoulders
- easy cataract removal
- improved hearing aids
- better dental care
- cellphones with calendar, email, navigation apps etc
- fitness and nutrition findings, info on the web
- exercise classes
- cancer diagnosis methods and treatments
- adult disposable diapers and pull-ups
Not that growing old is any fun. But it made me thankful that there are some mitigations nowdays.
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