Is there any way to see old age as anything other than a mostly negative experience?

Yes, I get that it is positive to leave beautiful children behind, and that if we made a difference in our lives, we can approach the end satisfied.

But I just have to say that getting old, wrinkles spreading, looking way less good than you used to, hips hurting, sleep harder to find, just plane sucks. This process is way too slow. Dogs and cats decline over several years. We decline over several decades.

Old age is a negative experience. It sucks.

Well, I guess considering the only current alternative to aging is death — it still beats the alternative.

a reply to: droid56

A lot of wisdom can be had through old age. Sure the physical body declines, but think about the experience that a human being gains when they get old! It's absolutely invaluable. Earth is a great school. Even for simple life lessons.

Well, there are Grand kids to spoil and hand back to the parents when your done.

There is no longer a need to belong to the rat race.

You can travel if you have the bent. No need to wait for your holidays.

Sleep in whenever you want. Be cantankerous at will.

Yea, it sucks sometimes, but it is part of life. What else do you want to do. You always knew it was a coming. It was always on the horizon waiting to jump your frail bones.

You have it better than than previous generations. All those nice living aides, motorized three wheel go carts, even if you don't really need them and of course there is Viagra.

It is not as bad as it used to be.

P

Its not bad .. keep in shape by practicing taiji ..practice iajutsu.. eat a proper healthy diet not the damn gmo crap and junkfood ..study learn new things .. spoil grandchildren .. age is only a number and irrelevant .. at 71 am still in better shape than kids half my age ..

Someone been reading catcher in the rye?

Hmm. Well, I would suggest video games...not like solitare or something, but proper highly immersive roleplaying video games with great graphics and such. you will be surprised how in depth you can get into the characters on screen, and by extension, live a virtual life as some young warrior or whatnot..

Virtual worlds, like second life, is also a second chance at youth...design a good looking alterego and go dancing at clubs, chat up people and go on dates, bump uglys, etc...when the body wants to simply sit down, that doesn't mean you can't let your mind go on great adventures.

When I was like 10 years old, I promised myself to always be interested in technological entertainment, specifically games and such...back then it was because I simply enjoyed them, but it truly does keep a link to your inner child and lets you be whatever age you want.

And it feeds your brain. Gaming forces you to think, problem solve, etc..keeps you nice and sharp..add that with playing with others and you got a great way to keep "in". Seriously...check in on it...(I recommend getting a screaming computer, but lots of people find consoles to be more their style.

You just have to do one thing, and that's enjoy the present moment.

You do that, you'll be good.

a reply to: droid56

Existential
In reference to what brazenalderpadrescorpio said: Value is incredibly subjective... Did you do a lot of great things in your life? What constitutes a great thing? Did you learn a lot? Is it quantity or quality of learning? Were you a good person? What constitutes a bad person? As far as "life lessons", what good are lessons when you've perished? What was the point of all that learning in the first place? If history has taught us anything, it's that humanity doesn't learn, which is why it continues to perpetuate the same mistakes over and over. The same hubris, the same biases, the same cyclical system of materialism, power, and greed.

All of those ambiguous identifiers all depend on our own perception of life. I don't think we can ever answer axiomatically, toward any of those questions but we know what we feel. I believe it's good enough to feel that you've succeeded, rather if you actually knew you did.

Physically
I totally agree. Getting old is defeatism incarnate. Because it's not you who's giving up, it's something you can't even control.

Metaphysically
If you believe in a God or deity, it's much easier to accept death, because death is not the end. It is only a means to a new beginning. For those of us fortunate enough to have such a view, death is tantamount to paradise.

My hope is that all of us, have something to hold onto as our bodies inevitably fall out of favor, with our will.

To quote my tough-as-nails 82 year old uncle:
"Getting old isn't for sissies."

If you have your health and enough money to meet your needs, including medical, you're all set. If you have disabilities, are in constant pain and suffering financially, life can be pretty rough.

a reply to: Aedaeum

I enjoyed reading your post.

M only regret is that I am having trouble with my hips and waiting for a replacement which is painful, but I believe that being content is one of the greatest lessons old age can give one. I don't mean to be snug, we have been through the hoop of life for a number of years now and at last things are getting back to what I call normality.

It gives me time to really enjoy having a read when I want which is heaven as I have literally a library on books I have bought over the years intending to read 'when I have the time' and now I do; except we are moving hopefully for the last time at the end of the month and the packing is rearing its ugly head, with the usual decisions of what to keep and throw away.

I can't wait til old age in the aspect in I will be able to get away with more stuff
A cheeky old man with a cane and a monocle I will be pinching support workers bums (when Iam in an old folks home) and not caring what I say .
Oh the fun times ahead Mahahahahahahaha

As an old man trapped in a young man's body, I can strangely relate to your feelings.

A thought just came to me right now: "Old age is the Soul trying to escape the body!"

Answer: Not in the USA.

Other countries, maybe.

One factor is if you're rich or poor.
Another is genes.
There just isn't any way of knowing until you just do it. Always keep a connection to your inner child/teenager, no matter what. Some old people probably feel very accomplished, wise, comfortable with themselves. Just be happy and young at heart. That would help. I don't think looks are as important at all. I can't see some 80yo trying to be sexy unless they do it unintentionally.

Probably as an opposite to Dark Ghost just a small question for you. Truthfully. How old do you think you are in your head? Not how old your body is. I turn 65 in a couple of months, have arthritis in my lower spine which gives me constant pain, But still can imagine being 30 in my head. A lot is just a state of mind. All my friends are around my age and I keep telling them that you are the same person you were when you were 16. Think what you wanted to do and did do when you were 16. You are the same person but a lot older. Ok you hurt but when you retire the only constrain you will have is the amount of money you want to do what you want. There are loads of things that you can do without spending a lot of money. Think positive, think of something you always wanted to do and do it. Apart from money the only real hurdle you have to climb is if whatever you choose to do(if it's a young persons pursuit) you will be called an old duffer and to grow up. Take no notice what anyone says, you do what you want to do.

Well,everyone will have a different attitude towards growing older and attitude will dictate your experience,either positive or negative. The past few years I myself have really changed and embraced my middle age and enjoyed becoming a grandparent. My focus has shifted to my health,spirituality and quality of life. As another member posted,I have definitely become more cantankerous. Why just yesterday my daughter made a remark about she pictured I will be in 20 years. She said, "Mom I picture you sitting on the front porch of a tiny little house rocking away in a rocking chair,with a shot gun at your side ready to shoot any stranger that dares set foot on your property." I had to laugh,because the funny thing is that she's probably right. Salesmen beware!

a reply to: droid56

It's only a negative if you think negatively about aging.

So the eye-sight starts going after 40, butt cheeks also disappear (for males), and hair begins to hint at the weird places it will start growing over the next decade. Sleep changes, your energy levels change and something happens in the brain so that you begin to forget the next word in your sentence.

After 50 the eye-sight starts barreling downhill along with your skin and muscles, wrinkles grow like crazy, sleep changes further and that memory thing is getting far worse now. And to top it off the fingers become dyslexic on the keyboard and that hair does grow in weird places now, thick and strong.

You can think of it all as a negative.

I think every day I wake up is a Bonus.

I giggle at my own brain fades and use it to my advantage as a little something to laugh about each day.

I know the wrinkled face that looks at me from my bathroom mirror is the same one that was always there, only now he is getting old.. poor fella. The person inside that reflection is still only 25, but the body has aged more.

Age is something to be enjoyed. You did all the tough yards as a youngster, raised the family, lived with a mad women for half the time, and, survived it all to smile another day.. what's not to celebrate.

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