Discussion Are there certain things you feel too old for?

[Forever Sleep]

I'm 46 for starters. I feel like I'm too old for TikTok! Probably not true but, I just feel of a different and slower generation. But then, I'll happily watch shorts on YouTube. I think chat sites don't appeal either. Even here. Too fast moving for me. Lol.

There are things in life I would like to have done- canoed around a beautiful coastline, scuba dived or snorkled somewhere beautiful. But my fitness is appaling now. As is my figure and I don't have the resolve to put in the effort to shift the weight and get fitter now. Plus of course- the cost of all that.

I'm also far more lethargic when it comes to work and finding work. I used to be panicking when I was younger- even just a few years back- when I had quieter periods with work. I don't have the finances to support my lazy attitude now but also- I don't care enough. I've changed career directions so many times in life. I feel like I've put myself through so much- considering how afraid I was. I've just reached the stage I'm more tired and sulking from it all.

Plus, I suppose there's this hope I can just tread water now, until I'm able to exit. Life feels as if it's winding down. Which is a relief if I can in fact sustain that. Although, it's going to be so hard to fight against if I end up needing to.

I find I'm not as brave as I used to be. Not that I was all that brave before but, things I used to take a little more in my stride get to me now.

In other ways, I'm hugely immature. I don't care about liking childish things or even behaving immaturely sometimes.

How about you? I suppose mostly for the older members here. Do you feel like you're over the hill with regards to certain things or, is age just a number?

 

[MyLifeisHell]

Living

Yet here I am

 

[Electrohero777]

This site kinda? haha

 

[cait_sith]

Everything

 

[The Blackangel]

I'm more or less in the same boat as you. I'm 44 and still think like a child. My life more or less revolves around video games. Sure games are made for all ages. But there are other things in this world than that. I used to do so many things that now feel like I should have put in the closet years ago. When I sit down and look back, it was clearly a wasted life. I'm autistic and have advanced muscular dystrophy. On top of that, I'm transgender. I also have a whole host of other psychological issues. But that doesn't mean I didn't waste my life. I've been on disability for almost 30 years. Which means that for the last 26+ years, I have had nothing but empty time. Not counting my wife, I lost the love of my life 3 years ago. She was my dog, and I worshiped her. When I lost her I wanted to go with her. And I tried. if it wasn't for my wife intervening, I would have caught the same bus that my baby had.

I make YouTube videos, I play on my iPad. I get out and go for a drive when I need to clear my head. I do own my dream car. Which I dreamed about owning for 35 years. It's a 1987 Chevy Camaro Iroc-Z with T tops. She needs a new starter, so I have to get her hauled to town. But the few things I do seem childish. I feel like a lost cause. There was a lifetime of abuse until I was 18 when my sperm donor (AKA father) finally died. My uncle even tried to kill me when I was a toddler. I can post the story if anyone wants to hear. But it's probably severely triggering for a lot of people here. It's definitely NSFW.

 

[Arvayn]

Not really, but I do have a story to tell that's somewhat related, since the post reminded me of it.

I used to frequent this small park within a local housing district, and I was using the swings, since they're quite fun. This very little girl comes up to me, and she has the ANGRIEST expression on her face. She dramatically points at me and yells, "You're too old for that!!!", so I stop and I ask her: "Is that so?". Confidently, she tells me that yes, it is so. I told her that "I see", and asked her if she'd like to swing instead (of course she did).
Her legs were too short to really make momentum, so I pushed her and we talked about random cartoons she watched. She REALLY liked Elsa from Frozen. Then, she proceeds to violate a cardinal sin, and take candy from a stranger (me). I had a milk chocolate bar and a white chocolate bar, and she chose the white one, because she said that the milk one is colored like poop, and it's gross.

Anyway, she eventually got bored and ran off... I hope that child is doing well.

 

[CatLvr]

Yep. Jumping off the top step on my porch, for one. Riding a bike -- my gosh, it's been probably close to 50 years since I did that. I did slide down a slide at the park last summer -- did pretty good til I got to the end. Lol This thread makes me want to start a list. Just to see what I can do and what I need to leave FIRMLY in the past.

 

[Angst Filled Fuck Up]

Not so much in terms of hobbies. I've always been fairly childish with regards to liking video games and music/movies from the past. But I am more sensible now. I move more slowly (on purpose) and think of the future more. Whether it's being cautious walking over a patch of ice or investing my money, there are definite changes from the me 10 years ago. So I would say if anything, it's more of a subtle mentality shift. More being aware of the potential dangers that lie in wait, and like you said, being a bit less brave too, which I think is a byproduct of increased awareness.

 

[idontknowwhatiam]

I'm 46 for starters. I feel like I'm too old for TikTok! Probably not true but, I just feel of a different and slower generation. But then, I'll happily watch shorts on YouTube. I think chat sites don't appeal either. Even here. Too fast moving for me. Lol.

There are things in life I would like to have done- canoed around a beautiful coastline, scuba dived or snorkled somewhere beautiful. But my fitness is appaling now. As is my figure and I don't have the resolve to put in the effort to shift the weight and get fitter now. Plus of course- the cost of all that.

I'm also far more lethargic when it comes to work and finding work. I used to be panicking when I was younger- even just a few years back- when I had quieter periods with work. I don't have the finances to support my lazy attitude now but also- I don't care enough. I've changed career directions so many times in life. I feel like I've put myself through so much- considering how afraid I was. I've just reached the stage I'm more tired and sulking from it all.

Plus, I suppose there's this hope I can just tread water now, until I'm able to exit. Life feels as if it's winding down. Which is a relief if I can in fact sustain that. Although, it's going to be so hard to fight against if I end up needing to.

I find I'm not as brave as I used to be. Not that I was all that brave before but, things I used to take a little more in my stride get to me now.

In other ways, I'm hugely immature. I don't care about liking childish things or even behaving immaturely sometimes.

How about you? I suppose mostly for the older members here. Do you feel like you're over the hill with regards to certain things or, is age just a number?

I'm too old for everything. I'm 60. Hitting 60 hit me hard mentally. I'm "that guy" now. Divorced.... Forget about dating. The apps are a cesspool of untreated trauma, (mine included), unrealistic expectations and just plain old crazy people.

 

[Forever Sleep]

Yep. Jumping off the top step on my porch, for one. Riding a bike -- my gosh, it's been probably close to 50 years since I did that. I did slide down a slide at the park last summer -- did pretty good til I got to the end. Lol This thread makes me want to start a list. Just to see what I can do and what I need to leave FIRMLY in the past.

I found out I was too old for slides the hard way too... I queued with my God son and hoped to climb back down the stairs but that was blocked with lots of children- predictably. Same deal- it seemed more ok at the start. By the end, I was regretting it.

 

[CatLvr]

I'm too old for everything. I'm 60. Hitting 60 hit me hard mentally. I'm "that guy" now. Divorced.... Forget about dating. The apps are a cesspool of untreated trauma, (mine included), unrealistic expectations and just plain old crazy people.

I've never even been on a dating app but your description of them doesn't surprise me one bit. I was over dating and being "attached" before I met my late husband. Funny, that hasn't changed any. I'm okay with being that crazy cat lady who lives by herself and never goes out.

I'm a little bit older than you but it hasn't been MY age that has thrown me for a loop nearly as much as my children hitting those milestone birthdays. Because like every other mom on the planet, where everyone else sees a grown-ass man I see a kid taking his first sled ride down a snowy hill. Or a teen-ager who thinks he's way smoother than he actually is and is absolutely AGHAST that I can tell he is drunk. Or high. Or finally got past second base with his girlfriend. Lord, I'm just retraumatizing myself all over again.
Lol I'm gonna go pour myself a scotch.

 

[Forveleth]

No, we create a lot of artificial limits for absolutely no reason. I play with toys. I eat gummy bears. I watch cartoons. I wear undies with dinosaurs on them. None of these things affect my ability to be a productive member of society, or affect my relationships, therefore they do not matter.

 

[Seneca65AD]

60 here. As I'm working on myself and trying to dig deep, I realize I always had a "too old" mentality even when I was in my late teens and early 20's. Too old for sports, too old to change my major in university. Too old to get into law school. Too old for kids, etc. But even though I had those feelings I somehow stumbled through life and now I'm 60 with 30 years of practising law under my belt. I have a mid-teens daughter and a wife of almost 20 years (married almost 20 - she's 58).

For me, there is a direct correlation between my energy level and my mental health issues. When I work out, I don't feel too old; I feel like I might get my private pilot's license, or get admitted to the bar in another jurisdiction. However, when I feel like life has beaten the crap out of me and I skip the workouts or don't force myself out of bed, then things appear hopeless for me - and I'm lucky if I leave the house even once in a week.

Because of my wife and daughter's particular sport, they can be gone for up to 6 weeks at a time. It's those times when I don't have to get out of bed or have a list of things to do besides work that tend to lay traps for my emotional health. So, I try to keep busy. If I can set a routine, I can usually keep the black thoughts at bay. But Forveleth is correct, we create a lot of artificial limits for absolutely no reason.

For those that feel too old at any time in their life, the one truth in which I firmly believe, success in "life", however you measure it, does not go to the smartest, youngest, fastest, prettiest, etc. One can win in life by simply moving forward - even if by the merest of progress - and by gawd, if I had any undies with dinosaurs on them, I'd be wearing them too!!

 

[Dejected 55]

In a larger general sense, I don't think you ever have to be too old for anything you genuinely enjoy. The only caveat to that, which I think is obvious, is it is kind of creepy for older dudes to hang out where teenagers hang out... not even when it is sexual... just... if it isn't your family, it's a little weird because people with large age gaps just don't have enough in common to make that make sense usually. You might connect with an individual person, that can happen sometimes... but if you're 60 and specifically hang-out where 18-20 year-olds hang out... that just seems odd to most people, whether that is "fair" or not.

But if you have hobbies or interests or whatever... I don't think you have to be judged by others. I was always a big kid, big for my age... nearly 6' tall when I was 13... I don't remember the age, but I remember the last year I went trick-or-treating as a proper kid, I was so tall I caught all the shit that night... people telling me I was too old, even though I was younger than most of the kids in the area, just they were physically smaller than I was. I was shamed for a thing I was doing that I liked and made to feel like I shouldn't like it, even though there was no legitimate reason to not like it. That feeling kind of stuck with me and I try really hard not to let it bother me for other things or use it against others even if I don't enjoy what they do.