I thought about this when walking through a forest recently, looking back I didn't feel I would recognise the man I was in my 20s I was self absorbed always felt I was right and would argue black was white and vice versa the following day. Each decade I seem to have reinvented myself in many ways. Since turning 70 these changes seem to have escalated, I was very much into reading dark Nordic crime fiction, the likes of Jo Nesbo and Karin Fossum, and the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series. I can no longer read this kind of bloodthirsty crime, nor watch any movies with violence in them. I no longer argue and if possible avoid all areas of possible conflict in my life, such as politics or religion, they also no longer interest me either. Additionally somewhere during this decade I have become a poor partner in games, as I don't mind who wins. Reading what I have written above I seem to be withdrawing from life, though all I can say is I enjoy the funny peaceful way I seem to be living at this stage of my dotage Do you feel you have changed much or are still much the same person you always were?
..(apart from the dark Nordic crime thing) I was exactly the same, argue everything to the nth degree,,always right...a proper little madam. Always up for verbal fisticuffs to get my point across even if I was proved to be wrong...but I really can't be bothered any more, not for probably the last 10 years or more.. The truth is I never actually enjoyed it, but I was hard nosed and I would never back down ( a product mainly of my upbringing)... I have always...always been fiercely competitive, but again like you, although I still love the thrill of the game and enjoy the win, I no longer go out to win at all costs...it matter little to me comparatively, and I enjoy the game for what it is, and genuinely enjoy someone else winning just as much as if it were me ( although they rarely win against me ) >>hahaha!!
I've probably changed a few times but not in the basics of who I am, that has remained the same. I've always been kind, caring, generous and nurturing. My tastes in music, books, clothes, food, etc have changed with time. My politics though have been pretty much the same all my life. I've always been a moderate which is not bad because you can see both sides of an issue. It's just less stressful and I don't see my views changing in the future either. I've had a pretty decent life and can't complain and I wouldn't want to change places with anybody. Because of circumstances like my husband dying and back issues my life isn't as exciting as it could be but I was never that type of person anyway. I would like to have someone to share things with but I am quite happy alone also. In summary, the person that I've always been, I still am. The physical isnt as pretty or young and pain free but the mental hasn't changed.
I've mellowed as I get older, let things slide that I wouldn't have years ago. I realized a lot of things are really no big deal no need to stress or argue in the face of the bigger picture. Although try not to let regrets bother me too much, greater maturity has shown me how some of my mistakes were not little, didn't "go away" and caused hurt. For those, I do have deep regrets.
In many ways, I am not greatly different from the way I was in my early twenties. My beliefs have not changed and I remain an unapologetic Bolshie. I'm still a socialist, atheist and a vegetarian just as I was then. I don't see any of those things changing. I've certainly developed a love of travel, arts and culture over the years, but I don't think that today's me is a whole heap different from the 1980s me.
Well, let's see here: I still want to make sure my "point of view" is heard. My last boss called that arguing with him and threatened to fire me for it. He didn't fire me, but I did lighten up on my "point of view" with him. I'd let him say his word and then say "ok" and walk away. Mostly I'd adhere to what he told me, but sometimes I wouldn't. So, "confrontational", sometimes. Depends on the person I'd be that way towards. Nowadays "confrontation" can get a person shot/killed......and I do think about that. I have the same humorous side that I did years ago. Only thing is, I can sometimes be a little more (too much?) sarcastic and arrogant in my humor. Thank God my wife loves my humor. "Never a dull moment in our home" she will say. That is unless I'm sick, than that humor goes "right out the door" for awhile (LOL). Being loud (when I have to be) and outgoing: Yes, I have a mouth and use it. I can definitely talk over a running washer/dryer/dishwasher/AC or to have myself heard (again, LOL). Some call it "being mouthy", but I just call it "talking". Still have that "personality" trait from years ago. Hard to let go of a good thing like that......another LOL! I still love my Classic Rock, Country (not really old Country though) and Disco music, like I did years ago. Wife got me into Motown and some of the "Oldies" stuff. Wish that I could pound on a set of Ludwig drums, but "that was then and now is now." Again, let's see: General Outlook.......like many others, wish we had enough money that we could do/have what we really want. But, sometimes people just have to accept their lifestyle the way it is.
Yeah, I have gotten to that point also. It takes too much energy to get worked up over most things anymore. I save it for major issues and problems. And ... regrets, I've had a few, like Frank Sinatra's song goes .. True that..
I've learned so much over the years from life's lessons about myself, about others, and about what my priorities are…and have grown from it. My health is better, my mental awareness is more acute (do I hear laughing), I'm more positive, and less self-absorbed. I grow more grateful everyday. Sometimes I feel so grateful I cry. No, things aren't perfect and could be better but those things grow less important to me now. I know that God is watching me and others. I know he knows my heart. So I don't need to defend myself to anyone anymore. He sees, He knows, and that's what matters to me. That relieves so much stress. I don't have to prove myself. I don't have to have the last word or win an argument. I do have opinions that I share but if someone doesn't agree or doesn't want to hear it I move on quickly. I'm much more focused on the big picture. I just do my best and try to please God in all things. I show love to others more. I say, "I love you" more. I smile sincere smiles. If I fall,and I do, I know it's okay because He knows my heart. He knows I'm sorry, and He delights when I learn from it and grow.
I've noticed that my body has changed a lot. I got aches that I never had when I was young. When I was younger I felt I had all the time in the world. Not now though, at my age now, I feel that days go by so fast and time is running out. When I was young I had a very wonderful family that met every Sunday for a nice luncheon. Today everyone is gone and it's so lonely without them. It feels so empty without many in life now that when I was young I felt they'd always be there. Everyone I counted on is gone in life. When I was young I was more a creature of habit. Now I'm more exploring new things in life like learning the computers...got computer literate 2004. When I first learned to drive and got my license I thought I'd drive forever even in heaven. I relinquished my license and bus, me and bus were never in the same sentence when I was young. When I was young I depended on everyone now I'm more self-reliant. As I grew older I grew more hopeful, guess it's better than being sad or frustrated. Life has more meaning as I would notice birds that I'd never noticed before and became a bird watcher, little things like this make me appreciative of life more now. Yes I've changed from when I was young.
The one thing noticeable in me is my taste. I used to love fruits when I was young. Whenever my mother would buy bananas, I would go bananas over those bananas on the table. During summer, I remember the joy I get when eating sweet watermelon and cantaloupe. But now although the fruits still have appeal to me, the appeal is not that strong anymore. And with the dishes, I don't like vegetables before but now I appreciate those green thing whether it is a salad or a vegetable stew.
When I was still younger I eat everything that satisfied me but now my preference for eating had changed and I am more conscious to what I am eating. I had been living a healthy lifestyle because at this point in our life we have to take care of our health. If before I am only concentrating on my present life now I am more focused on my future. Because it is something that we should be preparing ourselves to be physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually ready for growing old.
Doing a quick check and jumping to conclusions, it appears that most men say they haven't changed much during their lives whereas most women report varying degrees and some major ones. I feel most of my changes took place during the last decade, and are mainly due to hormones. I asked for a testosterone level test several years ago which came out at 5.1 nmol/l the normal range is 6.7 to 25 nmol/l, though I discussed it with the doctor he advised not having treatment if I was ok with the symptoms, as the replacement therapy has side effects like all prescription drugs. My symptoms are mainly weak muscles loss of drive in general and an intolerance of aggression and competitive behaviour. I feel generally in a state of intense peace and passivity, and lacking in ego which I seem to have mislaid somewhere along the way. In tribal times I am sure I would have had a spear driven through me or been boiled down for glue or something more useful. A passive warrior who is unable to even lift a spear is the last thing a tribe would want. I feel in a way I have experienced similar symptoms to women going through menopause, which may account for why women experience more changes in life generally than men do, its all down to hormones.