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I think my mom will be younger at 70 than my grandma was at 50.
There is definitely a difference of what is considered or perceived to be old among various generations. I am sure many here are familiar with the movie Sunset Blvd., about Norma Desmond (played by Gloria Swanson), a demented, old washed-up silent screen actress who has become a recluse in her mansion.
How old do you think "Norma" is supposed to be? Late 60s? 70s? Older?
Would you be surprised to learn that she was only 50?! (Coincidentally, Gloria Swanson was 50 as well, when she made the movie.) That's what was considered old in 1950. Don't believe me? Watch this scene:
I think your physical health determines your age. If you can get around and do what you want then to me I'm still good.
When I get to point I can't travel or golf, or play with Grandkids then I will be old.
A thread in the Philosophy forum, and a wonderful post there, made me think of how important this is in our Retirement Forum. Significant enough, in my opinion, to merit its own thread here. (And yes I know, the discussion topic is not entirely new to us.)
A knowledgeable poster wrote the following:
"I'm a family medicine provider and I see all ages every workday, from birth to the very, very old. It never ceases to amaze me how differently people can appear (and function) within the same chronological age range.
I have noticed people tend to get old when they believe they are old. They then begin acting old and making old decisions, reinforcing their "old" belief.
Genetics play a big role but so does lifestyle and attitude. You cant run from genetics, but you can change your lifestyle and attitude."
While I have no credentials like the above, this is exactly what I have always felt about the matter. Discussion?
simply a state of mind so at what age to become "old" when YOU decide to be OLD!!!
LOL
I have a woman friend who I decided I had lost interest in dating her because at the age of 56 she keeps telling me how old she is. She makes no attempt to slow the visible aging process, I do not mind grey hair; it looks great with long dark hair really, but jeez if your glasses are old looking and have a cracked frame and you make no effort not look old and you walk around focusing on how old you are then you are really, really "old!!!"
It is purely a state of mind. Supposedly if you believe DR. Alexander and what he claims to have seen while visiting heaven everyone in heaven looks whatever age they want to be so must people think of themselves as young because their favorite memories of their appearance was as a youthful looking person. This is why Dr. Alexander said he at first did not recognize most of his relatives because they all looked so young and he only remembered many of them as older looking people!
Last edited by SailCT; 04-05-2017 at 08:33 AM..
Reason: typos
YOU think she looks 45 & that's nice but she can't be "younger at 70 than your grandmother was..." she'll still be 70. Not "younger".
We can move til the day we die...doesn't stop the clock. Why can't people accept this?
Yes, if you want to be so ridiculously literal. I am well aware the every day that passes means that we are another day older. I have a degree in physics. I understand the concept of time very well. But I still stand by my statement. "Younger" isn't just a matter of how many days have passed since you were born. It is absolutely a measure of your health, attitude and appearance as well. So say that someone is a "younger" 50 than someone else, is a perfectly legitimate means of measurement, that non-pedantic people recognize for exactly what is intended.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Escort Rider
I think you know very well what that poster meant by "younger", therefore you are playing word games.
But in case you really didn't know, she meant younger in appearance, functioning, spirit, attitude, energy, outlook, and zest for living.
A thread in the Philosophy forum, and a wonderful post there, made me think of how important this is in our Retirement Forum. Significant enough, in my opinion, to merit its own thread here. (And yes I know, the discussion topic is not entirely new to us.)
A knowledgeable poster wrote the following:
"I'm a family medicine provider and I see all ages every workday, from birth to the very, very old. It never ceases to amaze me how differently people can appear (and function) within the same chronological age range.
I have noticed people tend to get old when they believe they are old. They then begin acting old and making old decisions, reinforcing their "old" belief.
Genetics play a big role but so does lifestyle and attitude. You cant run from genetics, but you can change your lifestyle and attitude."
While I have no credentials like the above, this is exactly what I have always felt about the matter. Discussion?
Today is my birthday, I'm 59, and I'm definitely not old! In fact, I joke that I can't figure out how I have gray hair and 8 grandchildren because I don't feel near that old.
I come from a long family line of people that don't retire, so I've never had any magical future age where I thought I may be old and need to stop working. Even grandma was babysitting the old man upstairs when she was 89. My mother in law is 90 and takes the other old folks from church to their doctor appointments. My mom is 79 and just told me she got the wheel on the riding mower fixed (although I'm not happy about that). My other grandma lived to 103.
My husband and I are pretty adamant about staying healthy and off meds. We stay active, I love hiking in the mountains and we have lots of friends of all ages. We need to be able to be healthy enough to run with the grandkids and care for our moms if and when that time comes. Many of our friends have retired, we doubt that we'll be able to any time soon since we have our own business.
We know we're not invincible, but we are not going to act old yet.
Yes, stress suppresses the immune system and allows things like cancer to get going.
Clearly you are not a cancer expert. The most recent data indicates that more than half of cancers are due to "bad luck" in the form of gene mutations. Others might be due to inherited traits, smoking or other environmental factors. Stress might have a very small impact on the immune system and that might have a small impact on possible death from cancer.
Again, stress has little or nothing to do with the major natural causes of death.
Re-reading some of Jeff Cooper's Commentaries, written from 1993 to 2006 (Uncle Jeff was born in 1920) - he was still 100% mentally sharp right up into his early 80's - but the last couple of years, just reading what he wrote - I can feel him slowing down in those last couple of years.
Linus Pauling lived into his 90's, but he was pretty frail the last few years.
I'll throw out the number 85 as an age where *most* people are getting "old". Some manage to soldier on beyond that, partly by genetics, partly by good health practices, partly (probably mostly) by sheer cussedness.
If you want to do heroic things in your retirement, probably best to get them done before you are 85.
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