Thoughts on age?

Question

To assist me with my art brief, i would like the public's thoughts on age please..... like how does the thought of getting old make you feel? Do younger people actually take a look at old people and acknowledge them for who they are, and the fact that they know far more than young people and have experienced so much of life. Cheers!

Answer 1

I so often look at old women, like 70 and think my god once upon a time you would have been beautiful, and had a sexual quality that men wanted. I think of Marilyn Monroe and if she was alive what would she be like? she was perfect and we never saw her decline. When I think of wartime women and how strong they were with hunky war time pilots coming home for them(hopefully) then i think, what a shame they have aged and people dont see the "real" them. I know i wouldnt want to be judged by the way i look when i am old.

Answer 2

This is an interesting one and every answer you get will be different. In fact I can give you several different answers myself.
My attitude towards older people hasn't changed as I've aged myself. They may have lived longer but that doesn't necessarily make them more experienced or wiser. People who live very narrow lives, whatever their age, will have less experience than those who have been able to expand their opportunities more. This doesn't necessarily mean they have to travel or do anything exciting but that they have to be open to ideas.
I don't think age changes people much apart from externally; a kind and compassionate young person will become wiser and more experienced as they age while a selfish and mean person may have as much experience without benefiting from it.
I'm 52, I don't feel older now than I did 30 years ago. Some of this is because I've never felt quite grown up despite having 3 children and a responsible job. Part of it is the way other people treat me; because I'm small, I look younger because I have a round 'baby' face and I sound younger because i have a soft voice and a slight lisp and stammer people treat me as younger. Women younger than me will warn me about talking to strange men as if I'm their daughter.

Answer 3

What is age? In itself nothing, growing old is not a desirable thing, nevertheless it happens. If we are not truly stupid we learn from experience as we age, experience is desirable, many older people have said "I wish I were young again and know what I know now".
We can't turn back the clock of age, but we can make use of the wealth of experience that life has brought us. You will learn this as you go through life, you will also learn that older people feel much the same as they did when young. Don't let it trouble you, enjoy what you get on the way.
Young people always make mistakes in life, the wise learn.
Good luck with your project, I suggest you include a time element, have look at Salvidor Dahli, time is always slipping away.

Answer 4

I am both excited and scared about the concept of getting older. I know that as I get older, I realize that my clock is ticking and I'm running out of time to do anything and everything that I want to (physically). But I am intrigued with the idea of gaining the wisdom that comes with old age. Young people can't just pick that up in a book. Young people today definitely do NOT respect and appreciate old folks like they should. Which is funny because old people run this whole d#@n country. AARP anyone?

Answer 5

I'm 33 and i don't know were the last 20 years have gone. I've got 2 young children and i remember being their age looking up to my dad who's age i now am (did that make sense?).

It literally seems like 2 mins ago that i was a kid and i'm now my dads age (from when i remember being a kid). My Dad is now 60 and i suppose it won't take long (ok so technically 27 yrs) to get to his age.

I respect my elders because thats how i was brought up (70's child). I have total respect for over 80's because they ultimately gave me the freedom i have today.

My Boss is 1yr older than me, he has a few more qualifications than me - i respect him! Don't get me wrong, i'm not a push-over or a wimp, i just feel you need to get the balance right between personal arrogance and respect.

...nuff said.......yours in art.

Answer 6

My view is that younger people don't have the breadth of experience to understand what older people experience. That doesn't mean that all younger people fail to try... they just usually don't have a reason to think about it too much.

But I also think that sometimes older people re-orient themselves to the age they are experiencing at the moment and "forget" how it was like to be younger.

I find myself occassionally surprised that I'm not 21 any more- and that was a good long time ago!

I treasure both younger and older friends. It makes for a rich life to have friends of a wide range of ages.

Answer 7

Age is more a frame of mind. Resolve to experience each new decade as the next step in a lifetime adventure. Learn new things along the way.Never be afraid to be yourself at any age.
There is a saying that is so true:
When you are very old and look back you probably will not regret the things you did but you will regret the things you did not do.

Answer 8

I fear getting old, i really do. I look at old people in the street and it scares me to think that one day i'll be like that. I'm scared that i'll still feel the same way as i do mentally right now, but the rest of me will be gone, ie- arthritis and health problems. I want to be young forever. I'm 30 now and i hate it. Physical restrictions must be the worst thing ever. What if you haven't done all the things you want to do, and it's too late?? It's my one big fear, and to be alone at an elderly age is something i really don't think i could cope with.

Answer 9

When I was a Teen in the 60's we thought old people were "crusty old duffers" but we respected them for being older and wiser. I had many friends twice my age.

In my 20's --It's hard being 20-- I was hell bent on doing things myself and older people were just annoying butt-in-skis

30's -- Was Cool - and I found myself asking and accepting advice from my folks and other older person's. My teenage kids and I had a great rapore eith one another

40's ---The best time in life -- I started to join the club and give advice when it was asked and I came to respect the teens and young folks I worked with for their opinions and knowledge.

50's - I am one of those old and crusty people who see way more disrespectful young people then I want too. I can't understand what changed.

Answer 10

Personally I feel very compassionate towards old people as they have lived so long and been through so much. Now they may be getting weaker and more vulnerable and they need help and kindness. It means a lot for them to get this from people. It's the little things that mean a lot.

About myself getting old, I hope that I am cared for and not alone, or at least by then very peaceful so much so that I can give to those around me just by being there.