Are you proud to be your age?

[zanana1]

I've been seeing alot of "don't look old" ads on TV and I think it's so silly. Millions of dollars are spent on useless creams and ointments that promise to reverse the effects of aging.

Old age is not a disease or a character flaw. I'm 63 and I look 63. I'm proud of my gray hair and my wrinkles. I earned it.

Only lucky people manage to get old, by the way.

I'm still growing intellectually and emotionally. I'm curious about life and I suspect that I'll be "googling" until the day I die.

How many people here agree that getting older is a good thing?

[pinboy3niner]

1. As they say, it beats the alternative. :)

[DFW]

2. I'm 63, too

Though not for much longer. My wife is my age. We accept it, along with the medical crap that does turn up over time. Heart issues with me, cancer with my wife. So far, we have them in check, though you never know for how long. My wife has the maddening tendency to look 20 years younger than I do, but at our age, I let her friends worry about it. I sure as hell don't!

Ages 32, 30, 63, 63 and 61 (from left: our daughters, me, my wife and my brother)

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You are what you are. It's easier to deal with it than to deny it or worry about it.

[Wolf Frankula]

3. What's the alternative?

Wolf

[progressoid]

10. Exactly.

I've known people who didn't get old. I prefer getting old.

[OrwellwasRight]

4. Studies show

that in the US ageism is the strongest "ism." People hate old people more than they hate based on race, gender, etc. Even old people hate old people and don't want to be considered old.

So the ads are preying on that.

I'm not sure I like my life more than I did 10 years ago, but I don't think that has to do with me being 10 years older. It is more about how I am choosing to spend my time. But now I have to think about that.

[dixiegrrrrl]

7. Women tend to become invisible past a certain age

I take advantage of it.

Also, since I live in a town with manners, it is fun to let the whippersnappers carry my groceries to the car and help me.
There is a rule here that if an older person asks for help, ya gotta say yes or you will go to hell.
I milk it to the max.

Best part of being "a certain age"....no alarm clocks, no "having to" get dressed up, retirement is super.

everyday is Saturday, has not grown stale at all.

[OrwellwasRight]

8. Keep enjoying it!

Sounds like you are having a great time!

[steve2470]

5. I'm guess I'm "proud" that I've survived this long, somehow

A lot of good forture and yes, taking care of myself. I'm learning to value getting older more as I grow.

[Downwinder]

6. I wouldn't mind swimming in that cocoon pool.

[Grey]

9. 73 and lovin' it.

It's mind over matter,
If you don't mind it don't matter.

[RebelOne]

22. I am a few years ahead of you.

I am 77 years old and happy to still be alive.

[HeiressofBickworth]

11. Not sure "proud" is the word

After the awful health crisis I had 2 years ago, I'm just happy to wake up every day. I've been retired 6.5 years and now rarely even think about the days I worked. Some days I have things to do but other days, I lay in bed for a while going over in my mine what my options for the day are. And then I decide to make a pot of tea, turn on a movie and just softly cruise through the day. Some day's I'm still in my jammies. Who cares? I'm not having tea with the Queen.

[Jamaal510]

12. I can't control

my age, so it would be pointless to be proud of that, but I do feel lucky about still being young and healthy (aside from my asthma).

[MrMickeysMom]

13. I'm proud at my timing...

I've been able to learn by the experience of what went on in the 60's when I was too young to appreciate the full message of Bobby Kennedy, much less JFK. But, I have these memories that carry me over with MM's dad leading me to say, "we live in interesting times... We've seen so much together in this life... We still have TIME to make a difference...

I'd say I'm right where I should be, so, yeah, I'm proud because I've never decided I'm through life.

[TeeYiYi]

14. No.

TYY

[BlueJazz]

15. I'm proud to be grouped with DU and it's wonderful people.

[applegrove]

16. My eyebrows fell when I was about 37. I laughed and

laughed because it would not matter to me or anyone else else in the world. And I thought how lucky I was to have built a life where looks did not matter - as I aged. I like lots of things about getting old. The aches and pains haven't really started yet. That i am not looking forward to.

[3catwoman3]

17. I have long said that it is the first...

...birthday I don't get to have that is the one I am not looking forward to. That said, I find I did not take it well when I went on line last week to enroll in Medicare ahead of my 65th birthday which is in April. Can't quite explain it, but I'm not happy about it. Not so much the 65 number - the Medicare thing. It just sounds ancient.

[femmocrat]

18. No, not at all.

I can't believe I am this old. I can't believe my kids are as old as they are. I wish I could have frozen time to when we were a young family with everything ahead of us.

[mopinko]

19. happy to be a free woman at last at 61.

spent most of my life taking care of others. now i am divorced, well healed, as they say.
feel like i have a license to do pretty much whatever the fuck i feel like doing.

i tell people- never underestimate an old woman. you never know what she learned along the way to becoming one.

[panader0]

21. You're a younger woman to me....

[panader0]

20. I never thought I'd make it to be 65

I abused myself in the 60's and 70's, and still smoke (4 cigs a day) and drink.
I think it was the years of hard physical labor that kept me in good shape.
At this age the only thing I'm getting better at is playing guitar and
being compassionate. Now it's time to load up the beer cooler, roll a fattie
and head to our regular Sunday jam session.

[LWolf]

23. I'm fine with who I am at any age.

Right now I'm 55.

[malthaussen]

24. What the hell is there to be proud of?

If you pile up the years, you get to be older. It's not like it's something you did on your own merits. I really do not understand the idea of people being "proud" of something that lies completely outside of their control.

If by "proud" you mean "not ashamed," then the same answer applies. People shouldn't feel shame about things outside of their control either.

-- Mal

[IrishEyes]

25. I don't think about my age.

It really is just a number. The only time I think of it is when I have to fill out a form at the dentist or something. Personally, I think I look great. I have had a lot of fun and adventures in my life and I intend to have many more. I do think it is funny when people say that someone can't do something past a certain age like learn a language, a sport, go back to school or change careers.

[Pakhet]

26. I'm 51 and no gray hair yet

I'm eagerly awaiting the proof that I have as many miles on the odometer as I do. That said, my mom is 71 and still has no gray and my grandfather died at 102 with a little salt in his black hair but by no means very gray at all.

[OriginalGeek]

27. More surprised really

I did some stupid stuff in my yute.

[bigwillq]

28. Yes (nt)

[Arugula Latte]

29. Not proud. I just feel lucky I've made it this far, especially with good heatlh.

I try to do my part, to reasonable degree. I don't smoke and I exercise and eat lots of fruits and veggies and lean proteins and I stay out of direct sun. On the other hand I could cut down on the white wine, which I'm trying to do.

But a lot of people do everything right and still wind up dying of cancer in their 20s or 30s or 40s. Genetics and environmental toxins probably play a huge role. So, that's just luck. Bad luck.

[Blue_In_AK]

30. Hell, yeah.

I'll be 70 this year and feel great, only have a few white hairs, look about 15 years younger than I am. I've raised three great daughters and am finally married to a good man. What's not to be happy about?

[lunatica]

31. When I tell people I'm 68 this year I'm basically bragging

I can out think 99% of them any day. Plus I have all that memory experience! And I know I'm far wiser that I was when I was young.

I'm very proud of my age.

[GuardianOne]

32. jgvno

I onlee 3.
ok maybee 4.
kan i have cookie now



What?
I only hate my age when things I did in my youth in ten seconds now take ten years. I do like shaking my cane at young whippersnappers invading the lawn I don't have. Otherwise yes, I survived and that's what matters.

[UTUSN]

33. Uh, as Jack BENNY said, "I'm *thinking* - I'm *THINKING*!1" n/t

[Duppers]

34. Yep.

When my mother "turned" 70, my younger aunt gave her a huuuge outdoor b.d. party with a big sign congratulating her on becoming 70.

She was furious, simply furious that the aunt had the audacity to broadcast her age.
I admonished my vain mother for being so damn silly. "Well, just wait until you're 70 and see if you want it broadcast."

I'm not there yet but I'll gladly, gladly tell folks I'm 70. I despise my 90yo mother's type of vanity. Besides, I don't look my age. Heh heh.