Anticipating that a lot of the answers are likely to be related to health, I am asking this in this part of the forum but your answer doesn't have to be a health or wellness issue. When did you first realize you were growing old? For me, it was when I locked myself out of my house. Knowing that the bathroom window was open, I figured I could simply go in that way. But, although the window wasn't particularly high, just above my head, and I could reach it easily enough, I found that I couldn't pull myself up to it. Before then, it hadn't dawned on me that I wouldn't be able to do a pull-up, which is about all that that would be involved in pulling myself up to the window. Of course, growing fat might have had something to do with it, also. Until I was in my mid-to-late-30s, it didn't seem to matter what I ate or did, my weight remained within a few pounds of 140. It wouldn't matter if I went to an all-you-can-eat pizza place two days in a row, my weight wouldn't change appreciably. Before I reached 40, all that changed, so perhaps that should have clued me in earlier. Since then, of course, there have been some other things. Stuff hurts now, and injuries don't heal as quickly. My wife keeps telling me I'm old, so there's that too.
I don't recall exactly how old I was, but I do know I happened to look in the mirror and got the shock of my life.
I think that for me, it was in my late 50’s when my heart collapsed and I ended up with the a-fib and heart failure. Before that, I rode my horse several times a week, worked a full-time job, walked 3-4 miles at night after work , with my dog, and went fishing and kayaking with my friend, Pat. She and I had a lot of fun together, and we both loved gardening and horses and traveling. I lived out in the country, and for several years had no running water, so I had to haul water in the back of my truck, and shovel snow for water in the winter time. I had horses and other livestock to take care of, so it seemed like I was always busy. Almost overnight, I was not even able to walk out my driveway to the mailbox, my feet were swollen like little logs, and I walked stiff-legged like Frankenstein’s monster, At that point, my whole life changed, and I realized that it was never going back, and that “old” was catching up to me. I had to sell my horses, gave away the llama, and had a big yard sale to sell all of my horse tack, pony cart, saddles, and my kayak. I had a camper van, and that went to my son, because I could barely even get in and out of a vehicle by then. Now, I am better, and do my best to take care of myself, and eat healthy foods; but not being old is never going to happen to me again, at least not in this life. Nevertheless, I am much better than I was for many years, and I am grateful for that.
When customers tended to reject me for not being young enough. When people I had to deal with on business and elsewhere tended to be younger than I. When new colleages referred to me as senior. When doctors and dentists never forgot to mention "at your age". When I noticed that younger colleagues tended to be smarter and quicker on the uptake. I then noticed that I was losing appreciation and reputation among them. I just couldn't cope with them any more. And, finally, when health issues hit me and my twin brother more severely, there was not the slightest doubt any more.
I was going to say when the cop who pulled me over for speeding looked like he hadn't graduated from high school yet.
That sounds terrible @Yvonne Smith. My ringing of the 'old' bell was two years ago when I was diagnosed with borderline Diabetes 2. Shock was an understatement as over the two previous years I had become more health conscious..as it eventuated.. nowhere near sufficiently tho to ward off diabetes. It was then I had needed to dump white sugar, reduce my salt, saturated fat and carbohydrate intake not wait an additional two years for when my doctor broke the D2 news. Luckily I have strong will power..first borne out in my late 40s when I quit cigarettes in two weeks.. immediately going on a strict low calorie and fat diet. I found this hard as I have always had a 'sweet tooth'. But the idea of having to inject myself with insulin for the rest of my life drove me. Also I had in the back of my mind that my father contracted D2 and I may be next in line.
I have always been 'old' to my now 13 year old grandson so it's nothing new to me though I never felt old during those years when he began asking me my age. With that said I have always planned for when that time of age would come after I read the adages 'Grow old gracefully.' and 'You're only as old as you feel.' To me that meant accepting and adjusting to the changes as they take hold - the gray hairs, physical limitations, and to appreciate the time that wasn't there before.
I had to think about it for a minute. I guess when I was talking with a neighbor the other day about someone we both know and his propensity toward partying, using drugs, frequent visiting hookers and such and my neighbor said, “he’s just a kid and he’ll learn as he gets older”. The thing is, that “kid” we were talking about is 42 years old ad I accepted my neighbor’s statement. As I thought about it later on in the day, by accepting that a 42 year old is a kid then by default I am old. That said, sans a daily nap that I never took before, I really do not feel that old. Used and abused maybe. Busted disgusted and can’t be trusted just like most folks, sure. Face more wrinkled than a crumpled up t-shirt found under the bed, yeah. Used to go 8 hours at work and only pee once but now I pee 8 times in an hour, uh, okay. My feet used to run and my nose smelled but now my feet smell and my nose runs, just the pollen, I think. Never thought Vick’s vapo-rub smelled particularly good but now I find it as one of my favorite scents............ Shoot, I gotta quit because now I’m starting to feel old.
In my head I'm still 35, so don't give me this old stuff, however I saved all my photo driver's licenses from years past which renew every 4 years, and aging is very, too very evident.
I take after my parents, who looked young even when they died in their early '80's. I have arthritis in my lower back, but other than that, I feel great! My favorite decade in my life was during my '60's, when I was retired and active in lots of things, including Ballroom Dancing with my Wife, Motorcycles, Astronomy, Shooting, 'n' stuff. I've still got a big Model Railroad layout to play with! Hal
When I was going to my new pcp doctor, (after mine retired), they asked me as I was coming through the entrance: "Do you need a wheelchair, sir?" I said: "No ma'am, but do you mind if I leave my bicycle here temporarily, because its very expensive?" Riding on my bike keeps me in pretty good shape, and the office was only about a mile from my house, so I just biked my way to them. But they didn't ask me that anymore.