I feel apprehensive about getting older. I eat healthy food (in general) and exercise regularly. I am thin and in good health but my A1c is trending up. My parents did not have diabetes but one of my sister does. Will I have Alzheimer’s like my dad did?
I am an older mom. I feel the same way @ChoatieMom does re. not being around when my daughter is in her 60’s (or even 50’). I hope my husband will be as he has good genetic makeup.
I feel very fortunate to also get a somewhat “new” experience work wise at my age and part time. As a side note, I’ve NEVER made a lot of $$ at work, but I liked the work, it worked perfect with our family and raising our kids and hopefully, I’ve made an impact for children/families in our community.
My mom worked part time until she was 83 or 84 - her work place (a local YMCA) was like a second family to her.
Seems like you are getting more exercise than a lot people while just doing your daily activity.
I’m fortunate that I enjoy the work I do and have a client who will give me as much as I can handle. I can work weird hours and take off a day or even a couple of weeks when I want to. I hope to keep working when DH retires. I feel too young to stop now.
Both my parents had dementia, but not until their 70s (Dad) and 80s (Mom). But my dh’s father had an event in his 50s and was a bit off the whole time I knew him. Too affable. He read the paper every day, but never seemed to be able to discuss it in any substantive way. I used to wonder how he’d passed the Foreign Service exam. His mother was sharp as nails until her mid 60s when she developed some sort of early on-set dementia. She lost her job, became prey to all sorts of scams and became a major hoarder. It was awful. My husband of course does everything that one should, and some things (like getting a lot of scans) that may not be necessary in the hopes of staying healthy and catching any issues early.
We watched a TV documentary about people who die suddenly from coronary events. It has happened to a few people I know who were so healthy they ran marathons frequently. The show mentioned getting a calcium blockage test. Since DH’s father had two heart attacks and passed away at 73, DH had the test. It’s a few hundred dollars and insurance doesn’t pay for it. A good score is below 100, and DH was a zero. 
It gave him peace of mind. We have a healthy acquaintance in his mid-60s who had a heart attack just last week. He had a lot of blockages.
A FB friend posted this today, and I thought of this thread.
I think this can be true - especially emotionally. But often the mental and physical aspects become less of what we used to/want to be.
I feel it all over my body. But keep trucking anyway. I’ve gotten to where I use it to my advantage – “I’m old and tired. I don’t want to do that. Please wait on me. Bring me ice cream. My bones are creaky (that part is true).” OR I say “Who you calling old ?!!” " YES, I want to go do (whatever sounds fun.)"
I’m much more confident the older I get. I quit worrying about what others think about me (they don’t think about me at all I learned.)
Gotta relate a story–I was at a restaurant the other day with my family (H, son and DIL) and a couple of girls came in dressed in what we couldn’t determine was a costume or regular garb these days. One was in all black with a black veil covering her face the other in a velvet dress. When someone else showed up in a corset (across the room) I figured it must be a costume but not sure (young crowd). I declared I was going to just ASK them and my family was “NO, You can’t do that! (all gonna die of embarrassment)” I bided my time, went to the BR and on my way back to my table I stopped by their table–“I LOVE your outfits (true) and just had to ask if there is a story behind them?”. They were so happy! It was Edwardian dress from an event they had just attended and told me all about it. Fun encounter.
My family’s reaction was really funny. They said every ear in the place was tuned into me asking them-- willing me to talk louder–they all had the same question and I was only one willing to ask.
Sometimes being the “old lady” gets you ignored, but you can also get away with stuff (like asking strangers about their outfits).
Nah, anyone could’ve asked. The “don’t ask!” from my family had me think about the right approach to ask though. But if you can get away with stuff then might as well enjoy your new super power! Old age oughta have at least a few perks!
I have had four friends pass away this fall, two in their mid 50’s (my age) so I am trying to appreciate the daily aches and pains more and to be thankful for still being able to do just about everything, albeit not quite as quickly as I was a few years ago.
As a man with almost waist length hair, I am lucky that I still have most of it and I like to say that it is turning silver rather than going grey…that is what I tell myself 
Can you PM with any alternatives you have found useful? I have been on Singular for years and while it works wonders, I wold love to find something without some of the side effects.
I’m 63 and mindful that my mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer when she was 66 and died when she was 67. My father died much younger than that. So even though I am physically strong, take no medications, get regular exercise and eat healthily, I know it can all change very quickly. Plus there’s the sobering reminder when I see my mother’s face in a passing mirror and realize that lady with wrinkles and crazy hair is me . . . .
I’m lucky that I have work that I love and can continue doing until I choose to stop – probably around 68-70. I always worry about money but, objectively, it’s fine and I shouldn’t spend so much of my mental energy worrying about finances.
I’ve colored my hair for 20 years to hide the grey peaking out, though I’m getting grey-curious and would like to see what my natural color looks like these days. I’ve used the same (relatively) expensive skin care routine for 20 years and get compliments on my skin, but (see the “always worry about money” comment), I’m considering phasing out my expensive stuff in exchange for Cerave etc. The ingredients seem the same and I don’t need glass jars and soothing scents, just something which helps minimize the wrinkles and keeps my skin soft.
Emotionally, I’m less exhausted because my kids are launched, with work and partners they love. I can focus on my career and taking care of myself. So, bottom line, I love this stage of my life!
Thank you, that’s a great idea!
I think the only reason I could discontinue Singulair was that I relocated from the west to the east. I worked outdoors and attended lots of meetings throughout the U.S. I could get weeks long coughing episodes just by visiting certain areas. Phoenix was the worst ever - I broke capillaries in my eyes after I returned home from coughing so bad. I lived in NM and ID and sagebrush and juniper were the bane of my everyday existence. Singulair was a miracle for me.
After moving east, I haven’t had any severe coughing episodes from allergies. So I tested not taking meds and I’ve been fine. It’s odd, but I’m OK even visiting other areas now. Maybe as I’ve gotten older, my allergies have decreased?
But if my cough variant asthma returned with a vengeance, I’d most likely start taking Singulair again. No other meds worked for me and my symptoms were truly debilitating.
I have never colored my hair. Since so many do, people (like clerks at stores) treated me as if I was much older, in my 50’s. Now at 74 the look matches my age better.
I don’t mind getting older but like a couple of others here, my main source of sadness is that I had kids at 35, 40, and 42 and I won’t get to see what happens in their mid-life, and won’t be there for them. I have separation anxiety!
I had grade 3 breast cancer 10 years ago, so appreciate every year, every month, every day.
Someone mentioned the relative affluence of this group. I also notice how many are still married!
Well, I just made it through a video checkup with my PCP without increasing or adding any meds, so I consider that a success.
In general, I feel like I’m in maintenance mode on my body and health - if I can keep stuff from getting worse, and avoid anything major, I’m content. I’m not very good at doing everything I should. But thanks to arthritis pain and bone density results, I’m trying to keep up with PT and balance exercise, plus a bit of ongoing Tai Chi designed for senior balance. I still keep up some of the habits I developed on my big life style changes during the “Weight Loss for Dummies” thread here. Current weight is close to the lowest I’ve been in the last few decades and well below where I was a few years ago. No genetics in particular to be of concern; father lived to 81 and mother to 89.
In terms of looks, I get my hair colored every two or three months. I tried one of those apps that let see how you look with different hair colors and styles, and I did not like how I looked with silver hair - felt like my face disappeared. So likely I’ll keep being brunette.
Five years ago I finally did Invisalign and got my chipped tooth fixed, so happy to smile in photos. And early last year I had my eyelids done and a brow lift so I could see out of my eyes. It had the benefit of being a mini face lift. I would not have had surgery just for looks but it was great side benefit to supplement the genes I got from my mother and grandmother. They both stayed looking young later in life.
So with lower weight, nicer smile, and open eyes and smoother skin, I look better than I did a few years ago. More ongoing aches and pains but they don’t show.
Like others, one big concern is about son, who is mid-thirties and alone and likely to stay that way. I worry for how he’ll cope without me to lean on; I routinely encourage him to make changes that will create social interaction but that doesn’t go very far, unfortunately. At age 73 with no life threatening conditions I don’t anticipate this will be an immediate problem, but I do worry for the future.
My everyday life is comfortable; made the big move out of winter over nine years ago and enjoy my home and lifestyle. I’m getting husband to agree to some travel in the next year or so.
My H says he thinks I look like I’m in my 50s, which is 10 years younger than I am. I am fortunate not to have many wrinkles, no sagging skin or extra weight. I look pretty fit but have never run any distance and am unlikely ever to as running makes my legs swell and overheat. I don’t color my hair as I really try to have as few chemicals as possible in my body as I already have to take more drugs than I ever expected. I am also fortunate that usually I have no pain anywhere, and consider that a huge blessing.
I was more fine with my age until Saturday, when I found out someone I knew well died…and he was just a few months younger than I am.
I gave up hair color…but I’m actually happy with the results. Apparently there are people who pay a lot of money to have my hair color…who knew?
I’m not an exercise person either. But I do love my ballroom dance lessons. And I walk with my neighbors sometimes.
Frankly, I’m happy to be alive.
I prefer the term, “Arctic blondes,” over gray or silver.
I’ve never colored or bleached my hair. (I do perm it, which is already plenty of abuse for my fine/thin hair.) So at age 62, it’s about the same “dirty blond” color it’s been for decades. Not sure what I’ll do when grey hairs come. Possibly stop perms, start coloring. Or maybe not, since I’d not be keen on having to keep up on the expense and scheduling.
