Tell Me What's Awesome About Being Your Age

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I turn 42 in a week and a half, and I'll finally be the same age as 1) Jackie Robinson's number, and 2) the Ultimate Answer to Life, the Universe and Everything.

srsly though, I have my health, so I have no problem with getting older. Any age where you have your health is awesome.

 

[Trekker4747]

At 33... I'm less than half way to death? As a man I'm still decades away from having to pay a doctor to stick his fingers in my ass once a year?

 

[auntiehill]

I also have reached the Ultimate Answer to Everything (42). I suppose the only really noticeable thing---other than having weird pains in places I never did before---is that I just really don't give a crap anymore. Fads? New music groups? Celebrities? Don't care. Really, really don't care. I do what I want, know that right is right and wrong is wrong, and if I think someone is an idiot, I no longer feel the need to listen to their opinion for fear that they might not like me if I didn't.

I don't care about Facebook, I don't care what my neighbors are doing, I don't care about not having or getting "the latest thing." I do what I want, I say what I want, wear what I want.

In my twenties, I cared. I felt bad all the time because I was so out of it. I was ugly, dressed badly because I wanted to cover up my weight, wasn't popular, and was SO not cool. Now I look people in the eye and say, "I'm a nerd, a total geek. I don't drink, I don't like sports, I don't believe in God. I like Star Trek and Doctor Who and board gaming. I wear what I think looks good on me and what's comfortable."

The opinions of the rest of the world, frankly, mean fuck all. I can laugh at my own stupidity (so I laugh A LOT), and have no problem just walking away from people who bring me down. That lesson took me a long, LONG time to learn. I'm OK being alone and I'm OK being with other people. I wish I had learned that much sooner.

 

[Amaris]

At 32, I'm finally starting to focus all of my energy into credible, achievable goals. My interests aren't as scattershot as they once were, and I can begin working toward real progress in what I have set my mind upon to accomplish.

 

[Holdfast]

Lots of what I could say is great about being my age isn't actually about my age, it's more about my mindset. Things like feeling more or less in control of one's own destiny, knowing what I want out of life, being generally comfortable within myself, etc, etc, etc. These things are only very tangentially related to age.

However, one thing that is much more tightly correlated with age is net asset value, because of the triple threat of rising income, saving money and compounding gains. That goes quite some way to insulating me from some of the worst aspects of life, for which I am deeply grateful and hope it continues.

I realise such a mercenary and unspiritual answer isn't really what the thread's looking for, but for me personally, that's what's more tightly linked to my current age than the personality/life-perspective stuff which I've felt for a longer period of time, and hope to continue to do when I grow old too.

 

[Spot's Meow]

Nothing. Ages 24-26 have been the absolute shittiest. Worst stage of life ever. Don't identify with the college kids anymore, but don't have a stable career or established home yet. Just struggling to get by in a small apartment without any of the fun of college.

Lame.

 

[auntiehill]

^Yes it is. The post-college years sucked ASS for me, too. But it gets better.

 

[Methos]

i'm 30 now and i'm quite happy at this stage in life...

i've done college, university... got a good job, a loving girlfriend... all in all, i'm pretty happy all around... can't really complain about many things lol

M

 

[Kestra]

I'm 38 and I am going through a very painful divorce (is there any other kind)?

There is nothing good about my age.

At 33... I'm less than half way to death? As a man I'm still decades away from having to pay a doctor to stick his fingers in my ass once a year?

Nothing. Ages 24-26 have been the absolute shittiest. Worst stage of life ever. Don't identify with the college kids anymore, but don't have a stable career or established home yet. Just struggling to get by in a small apartment without any of the fun of college.

Lame.

I get that you guys are each dealing with a lot right now, and I hope things pick up for you. I've set my settings on TBBS to receive private messages again so I'm around if anyone wants to talk. Chaos, I'm sorry to hear about the divorce. I don't know if that's something you want to discuss but there are people on the board who have been through similar struggles and I'm sure you'll find a lot of support here. We all wish you the best. Trekker, I hope your situation improves. Spot's Meow, I know that the struggle to establish yourself can be incredibly frustrating, especially when you're adult enough to have a lot of responsibility without all the supposed benefits. But this is probably a transitory phase for you.

There are bad things no matter what stage of life you are at, but I'd ideally like this thread to be about focusing on the positive. The negative always commands attention, you know? Why not look for something good?

I realise such a mercenary and unspiritual answer isn't really what the thread's looking for, but for me personally, that's what's more tightly linked to my current age than the personality/life-perspective stuff which I've felt for a longer period of time, and hope to continue to do when I grow old too.

Don't worry my dear, I expect no less from you. If it makes you happy, that's all that matters!

 

[RandyS]

I also have reached the Ultimate Answer to Everything (42). I suppose the only really noticeable thing---other than having weird pains in places I never did before---is that I just really don't give a crap anymore. Fads? New music groups? Celebrities? Don't care. Really, really don't care. I do what I want, know that right is right and wrong is wrong, and if I think someone is an idiot, I no longer feel the need to listen to their opinion for fear that they might not like me if I didn't.

I don't care about Facebook, I don't care what my neighbors are doing, I don't care about not having or getting "the latest thing." I do what I want, I say what I want, wear what I want.

In my twenties, I cared. I felt bad all the time because I was so out of it. I was ugly, dressed badly because I wanted to cover up my weight, wasn't popular, and was SO not cool. Now I look people in the eye and say, "I'm a nerd, a total geek. I don't drink, I don't like sports, I don't believe in God. I like Star Trek and Doctor Who and board gaming. I wear what I think looks good on me and what's comfortable."

The opinions of the rest of the world, frankly, mean fuck all. I can laugh at my own stupidity (so I laugh A LOT), and have no problem just walking away from people who bring me down. That lesson took me a long, LONG time to learn. I'm OK being alone and I'm OK being with other people. I wish I had learned that much sooner.

Completely agreed. Although, and this is a secret you understand, That "42" was a red herring on Deep Thought's part. The REAL "Ultimate Answer" is......

Is.....


142.

 

[Trekker4747]

Why not look for something good?

Because there isn't any.

 

[ed629]

At my age, I can sum it up in one word. And I was asked almost the same question a couple of weeks ago, my answer was still the same.

"Fun!" to quote someone.

 

[Kestra]

Why not look for something good?

Because there isn't any.

Then please post about that in another thread. Or don't post about it at all.

 

[Balrog]

Why not look for something good?

Because there isn't any.

"Life's hard. Get a cup." - Dennis Miller

42 is awesome. Old enough to know better. Young enough to enjoy it.

 

[Amaris]

This really is a good idea for a thread, Kestra. Sometimes I get the feeling that being 32 is on the doorstep to retirement, where nothing good can work in my favor this day forward, but seeing people who are older than me (sometimes quite a bit older) and talking about the fun and freedom of it, it gives me a lot of hope that I still have a full life ahead.

 

[ed629]

At 38, I look like I'm 30-32, sometimes even younger. Act like I'm 20, and love everyday and enjoy it the best I can. Sure I have bad days, but I try to make the best of them. Hell, just spent 2 weeks in New Orleans, while getting paid to do so. So yeah, life can be great.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

There are bad things no matter what stage of life you are at, but I'd ideally like this thread to be about focusing on the positive. The negative always commands attention, you know? Why not look for something good?

Allowing people a voice to honestly answer a question IS good.

 

[An Officer]

I am in far greater awe of God than I used to be.
I have a better understanding of how free will can work in conjunction with destiny.
I'm better off physically, mentally, and spiritually.
I am more independent.
I call a spade a spade now, in a respectful way, without upsetting people.
I am able to take responsibility for others.
Through my own suffering, I have learned to become more compassionate.
I see the bigger picture far more often than I used to.
I have much better impulse control, sort of!
I think and behave in more subtle ways, I am able to plan my steps better.
For a while, I missed the resilience of my younger years, but then I realised that resilience came from ignorant bliss, now I suffer things a little more, because I think more deeply about them, but I am able to overcome problems through knowledge rather than blind ignorance more often now.
I have learned to try to help those around me, rather than criticise them.
I have learned that at times, the wiser thing is to ask for help.
I have learned my time is better spent building bridges rather than breaking them.
I am more gentle with myself than I used to be in some ways... I more aware of my inner dialogue and try not to dwell on self-defeating thoughts.

I would not be a day younger for anything... I have learned so much almost daily... youth really is wasted on the young. I'm looking forward to the next phase!

 

[Kestra]

There are bad things no matter what stage of life you are at, but I'd ideally like this thread to be about focusing on the positive. The negative always commands attention, you know? Why not look for something good?

Allowing people a voice to honestly answer a question IS good.

I didn't say anything about being dishonest.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

This really is a good idea for a thread, Kestra. Sometimes I get the feeling that being 32 is on the doorstep to retirement, where nothing good can work in my favor this day forward, but seeing people who are older than me (sometimes quite a bit older) and talking about the fun and freedom of it, it gives me a lot of hope that I still have a full life ahead.

Doorstep of retirement?! You'll laugh at this when you're 50 J.

At 32 you still have the time to do just about anything. Okay it's too late to be a pro-sports person or a ballet dancer but just about anything else is still open to you. Plenty of people abandon whatever they did in their 20's and start over in their 30's so it's not even a weird thing these days.

The fun and freedom is really true, and it's a mindset. I guess most of us go through the years of trying to fit in and please people and then we just get to the end of that (Auntiehill said it eloquently in this thread). I am quite at peace with myself. I feel like I have achieved a great deal in my life though I have achieved absolutely nothing on paper. I no longer feel required to achieve "stuff".

Holdfast's comments ring true too.. I've been quite poor in my life but now have financial stability and actual assets.

A few years back I made a New Year's resolutions list (the first ever) and the main thing on it was to pursue my core interests in life and to drop anything I was doing out of some social or gender generated obligation. This completely changed my focus, has had a hugely positive influence on my family and freed me up from a whole lot of tedium. I stopped going to church which improved my life greatly (that's a whole 'nother topic, but connects to doing what you want and not what you feel obliged to do).

So really everything does improve in my experience.