Welp, I don’t know when from the memory is, but I do vividly remember thinking about how damn old those 14/15 year old 9th graders are. Could be 1st grade.
Basically as if the life ended at 20, and they were soon to retire.
Oh yeah. There were these 2 older neighbours 2 grades above me in primary school who once protected me from bullying in school. They were practically adults in my head, but actually I was 6-7 and they were 8-9.
I remember fearing high school kids. I wasn’t even sure how old they were, just that high school was a jungle and any kid who went to high school was dangerous.
Cause as you get older, you realize that a lot of the hype about people being “old” is manufactured. I’m closing in on 30 and I’m squarely in a zone I thought was “old” when I was 18. But I feel like I still have my whole life ahead of me. And despite a lot of fear mongering, I still feel healthy and ready for anything.
And although I definitely feel like 45 is pretty old, I know that when my parents were that age they were scoffing and telling me “45 is not that old”. I’m sure when I’m 60 I’ll be looking at retirement and think about how it’s actually not too bad to be 60 and it’s the 80 year olds that are really old.
around 30 is the first time I felt like an adult. a person of my own. gave me great confidence to realize hey, I’m 30, I don’t have to deal with bullshit anymore. it’s a huge weight off my shoulders.
I think 60 is the point when you realize you are actually starting to get old. You begin to realize that you really can’t do the things you used to do. And the things you still do - you do slower and for not as long. Your hair is grey or starts falling out quite noticeably. Your body actually hurts just getting up in the morning. You go to bed earlier. Maybe you fall down because your balance wasn’t as good anymore. Possibly a friend or peer dies from a heat attack. A Grandchild or two happens. AARP, (American Association of Retired People), starts sending you letters.
With one parent who turned 80 this year and the second in their late 70s, I’ve realized there’s a difference between “elderly” and “old.” A lot of people equate the two. I think “old” always started in one’s 70s to me, even as a kid. “Elderly,” however, is not based on a number but on a physical state of being.
My dad is elderly. He’s frail and struggling to move around much. It’s hard to watch and it’s been going on and worsening for a few years now. My mom, despite being only 3 years younger, is not at all elderly. She has more energy and vivacity than many people over 20 years her junior (hell I’m in my 30s and she can do loops around me, but I got the chronic illness genes that she didn’t have). Technically, she’s old. But no one who knows her would think of her as “elderly.”
i honestly feel like a lot of people just have this idea of “old = elderly” so ingrained in their minds that when they reach 50 they simply give up, they’re supposed to be getting elderly so they can’t try to stay active any longer.
A given person’s definition of “old” is usually about 15 years older than they are. My boss is 65 and calls 70 year olds “young”.
When I started using dating apps I found 24 year olds too old. I still have that impression memorized but it’s wild.
Welp, I don’t know when from the memory is, but I do vividly remember thinking about how damn old those 14/15 year old 9th graders are. Could be 1st grade.
Basically as if the life ended at 20, and they were soon to retire.
Oh yeah. There were these 2 older neighbours 2 grades above me in primary school who once protected me from bullying in school. They were practically adults in my head, but actually I was 6-7 and they were 8-9.
I remember fearing high school kids. I wasn’t even sure how old they were, just that high school was a jungle and any kid who went to high school was dangerous.
Somehow it really ended…
Used to be a rule of thumb that the lower limit for dating was half your age + 7. Dunno if that’s still a thing.
Cause as you get older, you realize that a lot of the hype about people being “old” is manufactured. I’m closing in on 30 and I’m squarely in a zone I thought was “old” when I was 18. But I feel like I still have my whole life ahead of me. And despite a lot of fear mongering, I still feel healthy and ready for anything.
And although I definitely feel like 45 is pretty old, I know that when my parents were that age they were scoffing and telling me “45 is not that old”. I’m sure when I’m 60 I’ll be looking at retirement and think about how it’s actually not too bad to be 60 and it’s the 80 year olds that are really old.
around 30 is the first time I felt like an adult. a person of my own. gave me great confidence to realize hey, I’m 30, I don’t have to deal with bullshit anymore. it’s a huge weight off my shoulders.
I think 60 is the point when you realize you are actually starting to get old. You begin to realize that you really can’t do the things you used to do. And the things you still do - you do slower and for not as long. Your hair is grey or starts falling out quite noticeably. Your body actually hurts just getting up in the morning. You go to bed earlier. Maybe you fall down because your balance wasn’t as good anymore. Possibly a friend or peer dies from a heat attack. A Grandchild or two happens. AARP, (American Association of Retired People), starts sending you letters.
You are now truly and officially old.
i mean my parents are 50 at this point and they don’t feel that old, they’re starting to get grey hairs but other than that? meh
we live in an era where people are still working and feeling fairly energetic at 70, it’s kind of insane to think about
Being 30 myself all I can say is: you poor fool
With one parent who turned 80 this year and the second in their late 70s, I’ve realized there’s a difference between “elderly” and “old.” A lot of people equate the two. I think “old” always started in one’s 70s to me, even as a kid. “Elderly,” however, is not based on a number but on a physical state of being.
My dad is elderly. He’s frail and struggling to move around much. It’s hard to watch and it’s been going on and worsening for a few years now. My mom, despite being only 3 years younger, is not at all elderly. She has more energy and vivacity than many people over 20 years her junior (hell I’m in my 30s and she can do loops around me, but I got the chronic illness genes that she didn’t have). Technically, she’s old. But no one who knows her would think of her as “elderly.”
i honestly feel like a lot of people just have this idea of “old = elderly” so ingrained in their minds that when they reach 50 they simply give up, they’re supposed to be getting elderly so they can’t try to stay active any longer.
Yeah sure, everybody has different definitions and all but calling 70 year olds as young is straight up lunatic.