Anyone else much older in reality than in their head?

[Anonymous]

In my head I’m maybe 32. But I’m 46! What is wrong with me?
I’m always surprised when I see a photo of myself that in fact I am old when I’m my head I am not.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't everyone think this? My husband is 63, but says he still feels like 38! I'm 51, but feel around mid-30s. Maybe it's because we still have kids at home.

[Anonymous]

Definitely. Feel like I’m 40 but I’m 53!

[Anonymous]

Yep just turned 50 look 35. People keep asking when I’m giving my son a sibling. I feel 35

[Anonymous]

That's normal, ask any old person.

[Anonymous]

I felt 35 when I was 21 and I still feel 35 when I'm 41. That goes with being the oldest sibling

[Anonymous]

Opposite here, I’ve always felt older than my actual age. I think I look about my age, though. Early 50s now.

[Anonymous]

90% of DCUM. They think they look 10-20 years younger too.

"50 isn't old, I still look like I'm 30! I get mistake for my daughter's sister all the time."

[Anonymous]

For a very long time I was always 27 in my head. All through my 30s I was 27 in my head.

Then when I turned 40 I went through a period of realizing I could not possibly be 27, even if just in my head.

Now I'm 43 in the world and in my head. Maybe this is maturity? Maybe it's a midlife crisis. Maybe they are one and the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That's normal, ask any old person.

Agree. That’s how it works!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:90% of DCUM. They think they look 10-20 years younger too.

"50 isn't old, I still look like I'm 30! I get mistake for my daughter's sister all the time."

Well I just posted that I'm 43 in my head and in reality, but I know that pretty objectively I look no older than 35 because people are always stunned to find out my actual age. My boss even flipped out when I mentioned my age recently and had to go back and look at my resume and do the math because she couldn't believe that I am just a few years younger than she is -- she thought I was at least a decade younger.

I don't necessarily find this to be an unequivocal compliment. I don't think people always think I'm young looking because I'm more attractive. I think I just have youthful features. I do dye my hair though, I think if I let the grays grow in, people would more accurately assess my age.

[Anonymous]

This was true for me. Now at 54, I am feeling much closer to my real age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:90% of DCUM. They think they look 10-20 years younger too.

"50 isn't old, I still look like I'm 30! I get mistake for my daughter's sister all the time."

Must we get into the tedious attack on the DCUMers who think they look younger? This isn't what this thread is about.

I get it, OP. I'm 57. I FEEL as if I'm in my early 40s. I know the wold thinks of me as old, and I know my kids think I'm practically elderly. But I still listen to current music, and I keep up with most pop culture happenings. My parents never did those things, so maybe that colors my opinion of how old I act. I occasionally wake up in the morning with random aches and pains but am still physically active so hop to working those kinks out.

My contemporaries agree about this not feeling old thing. The whole question reminds me of the closing lines of Color Purple:

“I feel a little peculiar around the children. For one thing, they grown. And I see they think me and Nettie and Shug and Albert and Samuel and Harpo and Sofia and Jack and Odessa real old and don't know much what going on. But I don't think us feel old at all. And us so happy. Matter of fact, I think this the youngest us ever felt.”

[Anonymous]

I’m 40 but feel 27. That was the age when I met my DH and I feel like I just sort of feel like the same person since I’ve met him. That was when my life fell into place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:90% of DCUM. They think they look 10-20 years younger too.

"50 isn't old, I still look like I'm 30! I get mistake for my daughter's sister all the time."

Yeah sure Jan