How Do You Feel About Ageing?

[kinvolk]

I am 40 but most people say that I look between 25 and 30. Its a combination of healthy living, ( I know a few tricks on how to stay young!) and the Lord Yahweh keeping me young and strong so as I can do His dirty work for him when he gives me my marching orders. Phineas Priests, (at least the few that I have known) almost always look younger than thier years.

[Mrs. Lyfing]

Its something that will happen to everyone of us, if it hasn't already. I find pros and cons to aging, the biggest con would of coarse be death. I am wondering for the older ones, how have you handled aging? Do you think of death more at a later age? For the younger crowd...can you imagine yourself at 50?

What age would you like to live to see?

[ladybright]

I hope to be old but not bent. I want wrinkles like my mother and grandmother. I hope that my joints and muscles do not hurt much more than they already do. I believe in strong old women (and men). I want to see my husband when he is old and grey.00000:Growing old beats the option.

I hope to never again see an advertisement for botox at an OB/GYN's office.

I want to see my great grandchildren one day. As I have been told by an Old Indian "May you braid your grandchildren's hair"

[The Horned God]

It's an excellent question, I'm looking forward to an answer myself.

I want to be like Julius Caesar when I'm 50,() he didn't get his act together till he was in his 30's either...

I found the fountainhead by Ayn Rand to be quite a useful vision on how to age well, and how not to, certainly for a man.
According to her philosophy (to put it very simply) you essentially have to face your future honestly, honesty is the key ingredient. You and only you can decide for yourself what you want to get out of your time on earth (just achieving the level of maturity needed to make that decision is no mean feat by itself imho).

Your purpose chosen, you set some goals, and then start about achieving them with as much of your energy as you can muster, preferably all of it. As an example, the hero of the novel, whose name I forget, decides at age 20 to be an architect who won't comprise on his artistic vision even if that means never actually building anything.

Rand paints a picture of a life shaped essentially by the will of the owner; accordingly, your life should feel like a plan taking shape and so when you're at the end of it, you can look back on your life as something to be proud of, because you chose to shape it.

There are it must be said, considerable mental and emotional sacrifices inherent in this approach to living. I got the feeling after reading The Fountainhead that if I really faced life as the book suggested, while I would certainly achieve something to be proud of in my life, (if nothing else I could surely be proud of the attempt to live so uncompromisingly for so long), on my deathbed, as I closed my eyes for the last time, I think a large part of part of me would be rather looking forward to my eternal rest...

[Gorm the Old]

I have often said "I'd say 'Don't get old' except that the alternative is no better." I've heard it said that getting old isn't for sissies. I can second that. I have often reflected (of late) that the infirmities of old age may have a purpose: to resign us to the prospect of death.

"Live fast, die young, and have a good-looking corpse" [Rick Moranis in "Knock on any Door"]. Well, I didn't take advantage of any of these options.

I, the user of this body, do not feel old. The sensations of the body are those of old age, but I sometimes wonder :How did a young fellow like me end up in such a decrepit old body ?" Despite my limitations, I am enjoying life and am in no hurry to take my departure from it.

On the other hand, I recognise the folly of making long-range plans at my age. I do not fear death as I did when I was young, knowing that it cannot be very far off in any case. I do not dwell on it , though. There is no point in spoiling my enjoyment of whatever time I have left.

I have no idea what, if anything lies ahead. If I ever get around to it, I'd like to have the following epitaph chiselled on my tombstone: "Now, perhaps, I shall know the truth."

[Æmeric]

I've become more health conscious as I've gotten older. I worry about my blood sugar (diabetes runs in my family) cholesterol & blood pressure. I'm paying more attention to my diet. I'm not so concerned with my hair thinning or going gray around the edges. But I'm really not that old. At nearly 46 I'm just pass the medium for Euro-Americans which is nearly 40. There are plenty of people out there older then me.

[The Horned God]

At nearly 46 I'm just pass the medium for Euro-Americans which is nearly 40.

Do you smoke cigarettes? If you do your life expectancy may be ten years less than the average.

[Æmeric]

No, never took up smoking. Never liked the smell. And I rarely drink. I've never liked the taste of alcohol. Some people find those reasons odd for some reason.

[Blood_Axis]

I am not sure but I would certainly have a shorter yet full life than a long and boring one :p

Anyways. My dad's part of the family usually reaches their 90's or more (one aunt of mine died 103), while my mother has cancer in her family history. Given that I gave up meat and smoking, I guess the odds are in favor now

[Nachtengel]

I'm not exactly a teen or young adult anymore, and yet I feel young and lively. Many people say I look and act younger than my actual age, and I couldn't really disagree. I am not worrying about aging yet, I'll start worrying about it when I turn 50 or something. But there are women who look great at that age too.

What age would you like to live to see?

Normally, I'd like a short & sweet life, but as I have a child to care for, as long as possible, as long as he needs me.