What is “old” and when does it start?
When I was a kid, 20 seemed old. When my best friend’s mom turned 40, that seemed ancient. When I became a teen, 21 was the magical age where everyone seemed so cool and free to do as they pleased.
After that though, I think I wised up enough to know that “old” can happen at any age because it’s a state of mind more than anything else. I know someone who is “old” at 25 and someone who is still quite young at 80.
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I didn’t bat an eye turning 30 although someone at work made sure to tell me I was now “old”. Really? I was too far up to my eyeballs in diapers to ponder where I fit on the age spectrum when I hit 40. People however reminded me I was “no spring chicken” and told me I “could be a grandma by now”. What?
After a certain age, we’re told what we should and shouldn’t do. No capris after 40, no eye shadow, no face powder to sink into our wrinkles. But honestly? Who cares?
50 wasn’t the end of the world either. Although it does seem to be the cutoff for running and fitness brand opportunities in cases (fitfluential) where they inquire about one’s age. Sure I whip out the reading glasses more often now and maybe I’m not the fastest puma in the pen anymore, but I’ve got plenty to be over the moon happy about too. There will always be people who are quick to tell me how someone as “old” I am should behave, but guess what? Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed to anyone of any age. If I sat here ashamed of my wrinkles or worried about how I appear to others what a waste of time that would be. I’ll bet my future 90 yr. old self would be pretty ticked off if I struggled with age at the half century mark. I’m the youngest I’m ever going to be again so why not embrace that?
Rather than agonizing over ways to turn back the clock, I find the following qualities far more effective in making a person ageless:
- Living with an intention of kindness
- A wicked sense of humor
- A joyful, generous spirit
- Intellectual curiosity
- A sense of adventure
How do you define “old”? What qualities embody agelessness to you?
I’m linking up with Deb for the Wednesday Word.
…and I’m Thinking Out Loud with Amanda too. Join us!
You know I have talked to you as lt abut how I have been passed up so often – age & honestly – the looks thing. I just wrote that post about after 50 that was on my blog today… different from yours But YES, we can keep on doing things & 50 or 58 is not what it used to be! I will wear capris & short shorts as long as I want too! SMOOCH!!!!
I’m really glad I have you in my life to share this journey with! We’ll keep each other young!
I think you’re right – a wicked sense of humor is key! There are days when I think my 95 year old grandmother acts younger than some of my friends! It’s definitely a state of mind. 🙂
Well said Marcia. I’m loving who I am now and that is my focus. That’s more important than any age. xoxo
Great post and so true! At just 31, people are already telling me I’m too old to try new things and what I should be doing instead at this age…. Why do we as a society feel the need to put rules out there as to what we “should be” doing at certain ages? Life is just too short for that mindset, and I agree age is all about attitude. I used to joke with friends who are 5 years younger than me that they were “old” – they had just lost their sense of adventure and curiosity already in their 20’s. Keep on enjoying life and trying new things, and you will always be young!
I think remaining engaged in the world and curious about things keeps you young!
“I’m the youngest I’m ever going to be again so why not embrace that?” – LOVE that attitude!!
This post is so true. I remember all of the “old” people I knew growing up who were younger than me now. All relative and a youthful spirit keeps us young.
Great post! I just recently started thinking about age when I turned 35 I realized how fast life was passing. This makes me just want to live even more.
I completely agree. Age is just a number. It’s all about how you feel. And how you treat your body.
I don’t think I’ve ever heard the “no capris after 40” rule. Why?!? That’s so odd!
Age is nothing but a number. I fully believe it is how you feel. If you feel great in your capris (when did anyone say you couldn’t wear them over 40 anyway?) then by all means, like Nike, Just DO IT! It’s what we have inside that matters. I love your qualities for staying ageless and I’d only add to stay true to yourself. There are plenty of people trying to be someone else. Great post Marcia!
NO capris? What? I don’t get the brand opportunities age cut-off either. Older people would have more disposable income than their younger counterparts, I would think. No? I love your quote “I’m the youngest I’ll ever be again”. So true!
FANTASTIC post, lady! My theory is that if I’m still moving, I’m still young!<3
I love your quote “I’m the youngest I’ll ever be again”
Great post.
When my mom was 37, I thought she was old. But then again she aged old. She dressed old. We “oldies” can do whatever want. Age is just a number.
*acted old
Awesome post Marcia! You are right on! Love the qualities you listed in making a person ageless!
I am in your AG too so this resonates with me in a very profound way. I am finding that the opportunities are fewer and my desire to PR dwindling away. I am perfectly fine with both because my knowledge and understanding of myself has filled me with a far greater sense of fulfillment than either one of those every did. I am calm, peaceful and powerful, when the world around me is frantically trying to, “keep up with the Jone’s.” I find it funny that the opportunities are fading when I have more to offer the world than I ever did when I was younger. I say all of this not in a judging or spiteful way, but a peaceful and powerful way, there is not better feeling that truly being okay with the world around you. The reason I keep coming back over and over to read your blog is that you have all of the qualities you listed and more. Love you Ms. Marcia!
I absolutely adore this post, and I totally agree that age doesn’t matter so much as how you feel. I turned 30 this year, and I 100% do not feel it. Or act it, most likely. And those qualities you listed as ageless? Totally spot on!!
Well said. I think so much of age is our desire to put labels on things. If we can’t give something a category, we get frustrated and confused. Fat, skinny, healthy, fast, slow, old, young. It’s ridiculous. We are who we are right now. The end.
I think you are rather fabulous. Labels? Meh.
I couldn’t agree more! Life should be more about living with kindness, generosity and having many adventures rather than age! People get so hung up on a number.
The beauty of getting older is just not giving a s$#t about what people think of you any more. It’s just so liberating. And I’ve find that if you don’t act your age people don’t think that you can be that old so I hang out with younger people and run to my heart’s content. And I wear capris!
I dislike the word old as applied to people. Wise, mature, experienced – they have more positive connotations. It is definitely a mindset, though. I have to be forever young at heart – I am an adventurer. I also thought it was funny that my bike shop mechanic had to lecture me about not hopping curbs on my mountain bike when I had to take it in to get the bent rim fixed…seems like a conversation more likely to be had with a teenage boy than the mother of one…
“Old is a state of mind. I don’t live in that state.” — YES!! Love it!
Here here! As I’ve gotten older I’ve realized how useless of a number age is. Except when it comes to doing birthday burpees 😉 But really, I work with ladies in their late 60’s who are just crushing it in the gym because they stayed active all their lives. In contrast, I know women in their early 20’s who can barely walk up a flight of stairs without getting winded. It’s all about how you live your life and most importantly, how you perceive yourself.
LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS.
Ill be honest and say I never felt old until 46 🙂 but Ive realized I dont feel old at all—Im just seeing fewer weddings and babies and more funerals.
:/
I love your attitude and totally see that you live it! Keep it up lady!
Great post! I believe being “old” is a state of mind! You are as old as you feel.
So true. It is funny because I feel more vibrant now at 41 than I did at 30. Yes, I forget things are there are moments where my body takes longer to recover – but our attitude and desire to explore and try goes beyond what year we were born.
Great post! “Old” is certainly a state of mind – I completely agree.
I remember my grandmother telling the 16 year-old me that once I turned 21, the years would start flying by. Her words are so true. Although, I will say that I feel older with each milestone that I hit. I felt older when I received my masters, when I got married, when I had my daughter, and now when my daughter reminds me that I am “old”. Yet, each year, I feel more and more myself and am learning to truly enjoy the moments along the way. Here’s to aging!
I love that quote of yours! We are the youngest we are ever going to be – embrace it! I think I have never had a problem looking my age because I own my age and everything that comes with it. Kids. Grandkids. Better health than I’ve ever had. etc. I didn’t have any of this when I was 20. Those days were wonderful. Being young and in love, first getting married, raising kids – all of it was wonderful but this 2nd half of life is just as wonderful if not more! I also love what you said about how your 90 year old self would think of you complaining at this stage in your life. I do that with weight! I complained 10 years ago when I was 10 pounds lighter…now I just want to go back to that time and I would not have wasted so much time complaining! lol.
Love your mind frame towards aging! I feel most of age is determined by outer characteristics by society, how old you are and what you look like. But I think we shouldn’t be stopped or slowed by a number and what others feel we should be like at whatever age we are. Age can be a mental thing, just like running. We cannot be stopped by our body because sometimes it gives up before we really need to. Even if you are aged in body and limited to do things like you once were I feel you can still be young at heart and mind with like you said a sense of humor and the way you go about things.
I am in the best shape of my life and it just keeps getting better… and I am older than you! I just refuse to surrender.
I totally agree with you on age not mattering. I have always been one of those girls that doesn’t care about age. I know it is just a number. For instance, I am 34 with a body of a 60yr lol I am achy and tired all the time! hehe But really, I was so happy to get into my thirties, the 20’s were just so fast paced and no one takes you seriously. I had 2 kids by 21 and people always treated me like I had no business being young married or with kids, meanwhile my husband deployed and I ran a large coffee shop of 15 employees. I have never let people tell me what I could or couldn’t do. That’s the stubborn girl in me, but that girl gets stuff done! I think you are only as young or old as you feel!
I grew up hearing that women over 40 shouldn’t wear their hair below their jaw line. That was fine when those horrendous bouffants were in style, but today that screams REALLY OLD lady. My hair has to be long enough for a ponytail for when I’m running and working out.
I’ve heard about the no face powder after 40 to sink into our wrinkles, but haven’t heard about the no capris. What’s a runner girl to wear when the temps are in the mid-thirties? 🙂
I absolutely love this, “I’m the youngest I’m ever going to be again so why not embrace that?” Well said and something we should always remember!