Can you imagine yourself being old?

Question

Or, if you are already old, could you have imagined yourself being or looking the way you do?

I just can't imagine myself being old. I mean, it feels so akward even thinkg about being old.

I am not insulting old people, but I am asking this question from a psychological point of view.

Answer 1

We're not really old, just well seasoned.

Old is a figment of the mind, that the body uses to try to keep you cognizant of it's own aging process. And, as with everything in this life, things wear out with aging.

Life is a learning process. We do it with every heartbeat that we have, every breath that we take. By the time you get to what outward society considers old, you have learned a multitude of things, become proficient in many and continue to learn other new things. Just because we age does not mean that we cease to learn. This is why the aged population is looked upon as being well experienced and wise, it's because we've lived those things, and lived through them!

I don't look or act my age, 60, and I am gainfully self-employed. I have fun, act up and act out, have my moments of peace and quiet, learn daily and have a serious religious concern. I also have the aches and pains that accompany this age, however, far less than others.

I would not trade anything I have done, or will do, to be young again. It's been truly worth the trip to get where I am today.

One bit of wisdom: don't try to imagine being old, you're currently on the trip. You don't realize it, but you've been on this trip since your moment of conception.

Good Luck and have a great life!

Answer 2

I dont know how old you are, but when I was 20 something it didnt seem possible, 30 something, still didnt seem possible. When you are you young you dont realize how fast time passes and how soon you WILL be looking in the mirror at a face with crows feet and laugh lines and realize the time to make the most of your life, career wise, financially, etc has in most cases come and gone.

When this happens you reap what you sow - most 20 something people dont give much thought to that, I know I didnt. I went from job to job, never finished my degree and saw life as a really long road stretching ahead of me --- as if it would never end. I would never become a senior.

I frittered away opportunities and quit jobs that would have worked into something really good and solid for me - I was too interested in doing too many things --

Now I look in the mirror and think okay whoever did this to me, it isnt funny ! I am only 56, but also disabled and I didnt plan that either, it just happened. Yes dear you will grow old, we all do.

It will be SO much easier on you if you establish a good career now, plan for your retirement years now - nothing huge, start investing $50 a month in a mutual fund. Believe me having financial security makes all the difference once you hit the senior mark.

I just received a 10 day eviction notice because I couldnt pay my rent so the next stop for me is living in my car, until I can get enough money to go back to China where I can work part time and afford rent AND food.

It means being 10,000 miles away from my children, but they have their own lives anyhow and I rarely see them.

You WILL grow old, so here is my advise, drink in moderation, it ages the skin. Dont smoke, it ages the skin and causes cataracts. Use sun screen and you will age beautifully and start TODAY to put at least $50 a month into a good mutual fund - and growing older wont be so scary for you after all. But dont forget to love, laugh and enjoy the journey - being a senior doesnt mean the fun is over BTW.

Me I worry about being 90 and where I will be then -

Answer 3

I don't even remember getting old. I am now 65 and I certainly don't feel old, but I look old. Not wrinkled or anything, just tired kind of old.

There was a time a few years back, when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I didn't think I would get much older, but with surgery, I not only survived, I am now thriving.

I never was very active, even as a child, so I haven't exactly what you would call slowed down. I do needlepoint and answer questions on Yahoo!Answers, and enjoy what days I do have left. Some are predicting that most of us will live 20 or more years beyond what we expected. All my relatives lived well into their late 80's and even their 90's.

Answer 4

Your question has two answers :

To imagine : is one thing - and imagination is a big lot of unknown - " I don't know - I imagine - I imagine because I have no other choice "

To experience : that is the other aspect of your question - and this you don't know as I for instance DO - I am 58, which is not that old but already advanced on the way to death -

Just a tip - as long as I was young - I had dreams and goals - I realized them all - this is a good reason to be happy - I am happy because now I feel quiet, quiet as I could not be when I was thirty -

my conclusion is when I was young, I was afraid of my un-accomplishment - now I am older and happier than ever - I wish you the same very simple thing

Answer 5

First of all honey ,you need to change your avatar to one with a smile Nothing ages someone faster than walking around with a frown on your face. There's an old saying," laugh and the world laughs with you, cry, and you cry alone." When we are young we think we are never going to get old but here's a news flash! Just our bodies age and our inner self stays the same and that's a good thing to know isn't it? We also get smarter, wiser and self confident in how we look because honestly we aren't as concerned about how others see us like when we are young. Age is only a state of mind. It's how you feel that is important and you need to take care of your body and what you do to it because we only get one per customer. All the best honey let's see you smile and come and visit us on the senior site and let us know how you are doing OK? We care. I find when I'm feeling down, I listen to the music of my youth and I feel young again.

Answer 6

I'm 49, and I still can't imagine myself being this old! What really surprised me most of all was the weight gain. I never really thought it was true that you get thicker around the middle as you get older. I was alway thin and in shape. I still exercise daily and I'm still in shape, but my shape keeps changing! And, that has been very hard to accept.

I've also had a hard time accepting the aches and pains and the fact that I can't do some of the physical things I used to do.

But, overall, if you stay healthy and take care of yourself, aging isn't so bad.

Answer 7

"Honey".....whether you know it or not, you've been visited by a number of people from the Senior Citizen section of Yahoo answers. One of them remarked on your question......and look at how many came over to talk to you and answer your question! They just showed you what it means to grow older....to drop things and lend a hand....to try to help out a young person like yourself and offer reassurance....to simply care about the worries of someone they don't know.

They gave you wonderful advice and I hope you can take everything they said to heart. There's something to be said for every stage of life, and being "old" can be a really fun place as long as you have the right attitude.

Blessings, Gracie

Answer 8

Well, I don't really don't think I'm in bad shape for the shape I'm in (would like to have more hair though). It's truly not awkward to be old, although there is a bit of "looking back" from time-to-time, you really don't feel remorseful on the inside. In all there seems to be a more peaceful and joyous inner being than you knew you had. More patience, understanding and a better outlook on life. You really don't take yourself or others too seriously. I'm finding it to be a pretty laid back experience.

If you'll excuse me, the wife and I have a Polka party tonight and plan on tearing up a few rugs.

Answer 9

No....it's not what I imagined. I expected it to come more gradually and I figured I would handle it better than I have. Looks wise atleast. I was not prepared to have my body have a mind of it's own inspite of what I did to keep it from going that way. Some of the normal changes weren't as bad as I had imagined. Really...menopause was a walk in the park compared to PMS. I looked forward to it really. Just wasn't ready for the heavy middle and all. It bothers me but at the same time so much pressure is off. I really have the attitude if you don't like it...don't look. Having to look perfect all the time was a pain. Feeling like you constantly have to impress or compete.....keep someone interested...blah, blah, blah. It's given me more time to concentrate on more important things. More freedom in alot of ways.

It wasn't what I imagined but at the same time you couldn't pay me to be young again.

Answer 10

No, when I was younger I never gave a thought to what being older would be like, nor how I would look. I had good role models. The women in my family aged beautifully, were active, vital, sexy and engaged in LIVING....

I still turn a head or two these days at 65..and although gray hair mixed with black; less toned skin and muscle; and a bit of 'gravity' have visited me, I am still recognizable even by those who have not seen me in 40 yrs!

Nothing to feel awkward about - it happens so gradually you will not notice it much....what IS important is HOW you grow, mentally, socially, spiritually - hopefully you will do so as wonderfully as most of us do! :-)