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Is 40 old or not?
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Anonymous
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When I turned forty, I was in much better physical shape than when I turned thirty. I'm fifty one now and can do yoga positions I couldn't do at forty. Physically, I think I'm in better shape now than when I was young. Emotionally, you do gain a wisdom and patience with the passing years. That said, I do feel old some days and wish the circles under my eyes would go away!!
So many young people are in terrible shape, both physically and emotionally - so I think age is what you make of it. |
Anonymous
Well, what is good about being young? Aside from reproducing, there isn't much that's dependent on your age. But if you're spending your life focusing on the important things, you will have developed a lot of strengths in your time on earth, and you will be proud of yourself as you get older. |
Anonymous
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What's good about being old:
having many decades of experience to share with the people around you collecting friends, acquaintances, colleagues, and admirers over a lifetime getting to mentor people who are going through what you did long ago losing the self-consciousness of youth seeing the fruits of a lifetime of labor and family building This question reminds me both of my 96-year-old grandmother and the news coverage after Senator Kennedy's death. A long life can be a rich and interesting and something to be proud of. At 30 my grandmother was a nice person with two kids who hadn't been anywhere or done much but been a nice person with two kids. At 96 she's an incredible source of humor, memory, wisdom, and inspiration. Kennedy wasn't so much at 30. At 77 he was a human monument to American history and had authored hundreds of laws that affected the entire country. If you assume that a person is living well and doing good each day, then more days = more good. I love old people. At 38, I'm not one. But I'm glad that I live between two very chatty septuagenarians. They're the life of any neighborhood party. |
Anonymous
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Here is what I miss about being young - ability to sleep late and deep, energy level, being carefree, feeling that your whole life is ahead of you and there are many possible paths ahead, excitement about what could happen, being excited about having a birthday, falling in love for the first time, feeling like I am HOT, seeing the world with fresh eyes (versus feeling like been there, done that). Shall I go on?
I appreciate the comments about what is good about being old, I really do! |
Anonymous
| p.s. I am 39 8) |
Anonymous
Being called a 'cougar'. 
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Anonymous
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I agree there are some great things about aging, getting older, and even getting old.
But what depresses me is that the body does start to wear and tear. I am fit, healthy (knock on wood), I eat well, I am physically active, I do yoga, I prioritize sleep and do something I enjoy every day, I have a family and friends and career that invigorates me - but the fact is my cells are getting older, my body is getting older. I can stave off a lot with lifestyle, but unfortunately years of wear and tear, working out, periods of stress, being on the computer, long car rides, etc. - they start to show on your joints, your back, etc. |
Anonymous
so agreed. at the gym today...a young college student was telling her trainer how she gained 15 lbs and she just stopped drinking every night...and he asked her 'seriously- every night?' and she said ' yes. a couple of bottles of wine a night'...at that point the trainer and I busted out laughing...and he said 'bottles???"....ahhhh youth! She was in horrible shape....I'm not catty but a beer belly Homer Simpson would be proud of. I am 4o and after 2 kids now have a 6-pack---something I didn't have in college either. I gained the 'sophomore 20!'. Tehre are a lot of young depressed college girls at my gym. I hear them upset about the boys, the school, this and that-no job. I had a rough patch post-college emotionally, etc. What I was hearing from them was a reminder that all youth is not great. We romanticize the past but forget about the not so good parts. |
Anonymous
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40 is SO, SO, SO much better than 20!!!!! At 20, I had no body at all - like a boy. Now it's va-voom (according to men, not me). I'll take it!!!! "Rich 50 is like poor 30" - paraphrasing 30 Rock. How true ! 40 is amazing, and it just gets better. 40 is only old if you are 10! Cheers! |
Anonymous
| Having so much richness in my life...I didn't have my husband, my kids, or some of my best friends when I was younger. I didn't recognize the true value in people and was caught up in petty HSish relationships at work and in my personal life. I'm so much more at peace with myself now than in my 20's. All that's worth a few grey hairs and wrinkles! |
Anonymous
| 40 is old until you actually hit 40. Then you realize it isn't so bad, and in some ways, better than being younger. I am 42 and although I miss my silky, non gray hair and ability to party everynight and still finction the next day, I love how confident I have become and am thrilled to have taken advantage of so many opportunities in my youth that have opened up so many more opportunities in my middle age. One other bad thing about being 40 is my worries are more valid and serious than the crap I used to worry about back in my youth. I wish i didn't worry so much. One thing that has managed to remain the same for the past 20 years....the cellulite on my thighs. had it when I was 20 and weighed 100 pounds and still have it at 42 weighing 120 pounds. Somew things just don't care how old you are! |
Anonymous
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I'm 31. 40 SOUNDS old to me, but I have a ton of friends who are 40 and none of them SEEM old to me.
Huff... 31 actually SOUNDS old to me considering I still feel 19. |
Anonymous
Not being dead. |
Anonymous
Maturity and perspective. Heck - this board is a perfect example - the average age is probably low 30's and the predominance of self centered, entitled comments reflects that. |
Anonymous
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Some people are old at 40, while others aren't. There is huge difference between how people look at 40. Some look old and decrepit, while others still seem young and vibrant.
Let's hope I'll be the latter! |