This is a question I’ve often liked to ask or talk about.
There’s your actual age and there is the age you “feel” or think of yourself as.
What is your “how old would you be if you didn’t know how old you actually are” age???
I’m going to average myself out at age 42 - that would be about 20 years younger than I actually am.
That’s an age where I was done having children but still parenting. I still feel I could be actively parenting. I feel in better physical shape now than at actual age 42. Do I want to hang out with people 42? Also I like even numbers best and 4 and 2 are both even.
I still think of myself as in my late 30s or early 40s. It bothers me when I have to fill in my age on forms and realize I’m not.
Then too, when I look at all the college kids or even workers now and see how young they are.
And when I go back to my hometown coming across my classmates and see how much older they look (sigh).
When I was quite young and probably made some sort of nasty comment my grandmother admonished me saying, “You look at me like I’m an old lady. I just want you to know inside - in my mind - I’m still young. It’s only the body that ages and looks old.”
I probably scoffed at it then, but I still recall the exact place (her living room) when she told me that, so it made an impression.
Love this question. I’ve had a theory for years that we all have an age. One age that our minds operate at no matter how old we actually are. I’ve felt 35 (or what I thought 35 was) since I was a kid and I feel 35 now that I’m long past it.
My oldest son has been 40 since he was born, is 40 now as a college student and will eventually catch up to his age.
My youngest is a good, solid 23. With all that implies
Interesting thought, esp considering what we saw at Hardees this morning when we went for breakfast. Two trucks were “racing” for a parking space. There were 5 available in the line - all next to each other - and the “winner” of “the” desired space backed into it after looking like they were choosing another, 3 spots away. They just quickly went on an angle to get the spot the other truck was aiming for. The “losing” truck angrily backed up a little - then took off. Didn’t even pick another place - just left.
I expected to see teens or 20s getting out of the first truck, but nope. Three senior citizen men all laughing and practically high fiving each other.
I have no idea who was in the other truck or if they knew each other, had issues out on the road coming in or what. Just glad guns weren’t involved.
People tell me I look young - like 10 years younger than I am.
But last night, I was walking the neighborhood and a dad/son were playing catch and of course the 5 year old through errantly. So as the ball came by my, I bent down to pick it up - and oh, the knees, the flexibility - just not there.
@fendrock that’s a really interesting comment. What are you responding to? I feel sure I didn’t associate any emotions with my post. Simply stated how my brain seems to work. I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad thing that I’ve always thought of myself as 35. It just is what it is.
@fendrock I imagine comments here could run the gamut - from feeling younger than our actual age, to “right about the same” as actual age, to “am I still kickin?” !!!
I think the point for me is age ISN’T just related to a number. You can feel one age physically or another age mentally. Or you can feel one age in terms of aware or non-aware of trends.
Some people will say that not being techy makes them feel old.
Some people say working keeps them young. Or retirement has made them feel fresher (like when younger).
That said, FOR MYSELF, I do have a need/desire/mindset to stay young. I do associate “old age” with not a lot of positive things. But that’s NOT when I’m looking at a number but a lifestyle - chosen or not.
I see nothing here in this thread that says “ashamed”.
In many ways, I still have that mindset. My social group runs from about 10 years younger so that helps. But I do have to work harder now to feel that healthy and physically fit.
I like that @DramaMama2021. I think I’m going to say 38 also, but it’s an imaginary 38 where my kids are still 20 and 17 and I’m not chasing a 2 yr old.
In the interest of the spirit of this thread, one reason I really loved my late 30s was because I felt I was old enough to be taken seriously in a way I was not in my late 20s, but young enough to be happy with how I looked and felt without a lot of effort. I was a parent and my elementary kid kept me busy running around. I did some part-time consulting to keep my toe in the professional world, but I had complete flexibility to put parenting first.
The timing of this thread is interesting to me because I recently had a conversation with friends about this and how one of my “empty nest” goals was to find that balance I loved about my 38 year old self. The details will be different but I think it’s a fun goal to have.
I had covid in November. I’m a long hauler. Now have scarred lungs, heart arrhythmia, and a leg neuropathy. Used to be a regular slightly chubby mom who exercised a few days a week. Now gained 30 lbs and don’t have great lung capacity and stamina yet. Diet and slowly getting back into exercise is a work in progress.
