Do you feel old?

[Bunk Moreland]

Just a general question for people on here, probably for those over 30. Do you feel “old”, and if so, when did it begin?

Just sparked by a few chats I’ve had with mates lately. We’re all turning 30 over the next year or so, and a few (not all) of them are remarking that they feel old.

Things like they kind of feel their lives are now a bit mapped out... they’re in relationships they think they’ll be in for good, they’re working careers that they believe they’ll stick with (through a combination of convenience and necessity).

It seems the major theme is they’ve lost that “spirit” you have when you don’t know exactly where you’ll be in five or ten years. Or they’ve lost that feeling that they can do whatever they like (if only in their own heads). That, to me, is the essence of being “young”, and physical age doesn’t have a whole lot to do with it.

Being honest, do you feel old? When did it begin? Or when and how did it happen to others you know?

 

[Gough]

I'm 39, and I honestly believe that at this age, each year gets better. You're have enough experience to (mostly) make the right choices and young enough to still be physically able to do anything. It's a good time of life, don't, and nor should I feel the least bit old.

 

[Miqar_Baqfhied]

Im 29, still feel optimistic and excited about the future and am at an age I believe where I can still direct my life the way I want it. Can change career if I want, move state do whatever without it having major impliactions. But physically I hit about 27 and I think I went over the crest of athletic ability in what felt overnight. Since then my legs feel heavier, pace has dropped, injuries and wounds take a little longer to recover from and weight is harder to shift. And drinking - hangovers last for days. Definetly feel more mortal.

 

[CrippsonBlue]

I'm 27, and I think I'm starting to feel it. The realisation that I'm approaching 30 is what I think has triggered it - it's not so much that I give a shit about being 30, more to the point that in my mind it was not that long ago that I was a teen, and you start to think where has my life gone.

 

[Username_lost]

Have felt old since I read the OP and realised how stagnant I feel during footy season. Like I'm just waiting for it to end so I can get on with... waiting for next season.

No seriously, I have a stable career and relationship and no ambitions to change that. So yes, I feel old at 32 (or is it 33 now?)

 

[Northworth]

34 and very comfortable with my age/experience
on here though you do feel a bit old amongst the young'uns

 

[moistie]

I turn 40 the end of this year and I don't feel old but I do notice the signs. I lost 15kg last year and it was bloody hard work, unlike when I was in my 20's and could drop 5kg just in a couple of weeks exercise while still eating whatever I please. I do get the odd ache and pain but that's because I exercise six or seven days a week and my body doesn't recover like it used to.

But I love my age, I've got a career, got my life sorted out and my head together unlike when I was younger. I'm going travelling for 8 weeks of annual leave next year, staying in all manner of awesome accommodation and getting paid a handy wage the whole time.

I believe mentally I'll always be young, it's my natural outlook on life. I just want to make sure I stay fit so my body can keep up as I get older.

 

[Jmac2225]

Only 22 but feeling pretty old. Work 45 hours a week have a 3 year old + 1 (love my family) on the way so fair to say i've got the life of a 30+ year old lol

Plus since busting my shoulder and taking up weekend work a couple years ago I haven't played footy or done anything much in terms of exercise for two years and have gained weight as a result which physically is making me feel older.

Looking to start a health a fitness regime soon and get back to playing footy next year so hopefully that will help a bit.

 

[Stratton_Gun]

Im nearly 20 and I'm starting to feel old..........

 

[Poseidon]

I'm 21 and I'm perfectly content to spend my weekends knitting and watching TV with my cat.

 

[Ed_Gein]

I'm 31 and i reckon i feel as though i'm getting on a bit.

But i think that it's probably down to the fact that i feel as though there are a lot of things i should have done when i was in my 20's. I'm trying to get through them now (like studying and travelling) so i feel as though i am constantly trying to play 'catch up'.

It doesn't help when you stay in a hostel and there are late-teens, early-20 year olds backpacking etc and i think, "gee, i wish i had the foresight to do the same after i finished high school/uni." (Which is what a lot of them do).

I think the people that are more content with their life and don't feel as though they are getting old are the ones that have a family, have a career and are happy with how they see themselves in the next 5-10 years or so.

 

[MisterMarcus]

Only early 30s, but I work at a university so you do feel like an Old Fart among the kiddies there.....

 

[Dazb86]

25. Mentally no. In fact I'm probably far too immature for my age. The body is losing shape though. Hangovers are much worse. I can't play sport any more due to an ankle injury and recurring gout.

Have noticed my friends are winding down on the partying a lot. Something which I haven't done yet.

 

[Catfish Alley]

I'm 32. Still like to party and have fun but it's probably better now to be honest. You know what you like, you don't put up with crap and you form closer relationships as you go through things in life together like weddings, buying a house, developing careers, starting a family etc. I've got more money do to things I want now and I do think it's important to keep trying new things and not having your life complately planned out like the op said. I do feel old in a sense that I often look at younger people and think wtf! Things were better in my day etc

 

[Silent Alarm]

Hi. My name is Silent Alarm. I'm 18 and I feel old.

*hi Silent Alarm*

 

[Silent Alarm]

Honestly though...

Yes. To an extent. But that's because I have a lot of free time on my hands and I'm one of these unlucky bastards who over think everything.

I dunno. I guess it started when three kids I played colts were picked up in the last draft. There's this shattering realisation. I am not going to play AFL. I won't play for Arsenal. I'll never be some inspiring artist. And I'll never be of any relative interest to the absolute majority of people. It's a weird experience, but it's undeniably necessary.

Sometimes you hear about someone and it's like, jesus, they're that old? Or you find out a record you like is five years old...

I dunno, then sometimes I just realise how young I am – it's been barely six months since I bought my first legal beer. There's a lot of living to be done... but I can realise the process of ageing, and the process of being no one special.

 

[Matera92]

Strangely enough I turned 27 this year and feel the youngest I have since I was about 21/22. Physically I'm in the best shape of my life, ran an 11 second 100m sprint two weeks ago which I haven't done since I was 18 which has put me on a massive high. Works great, my wife is amazing and I'm playing both Bball and footy weekly with guys younger than me who I out compete more often than not.

Weird but very happy with things right now.

 

[Ed_Gein]

Any chance of you getting another 2 seconds off that 100m time so we can have a look at you at the next Olympics?

 

[Matera92]

Any chance of you getting another 2 seconds off that 100m time so we can have a look at you at the next Olympics?

Maybe If ya get me the super juice!

 

[Ed_Gein]

Maybe If ya get me the super juice!

Haha. Is it high or low 11's you're running? Don't know much about it to be honest, but how difficult would it be to shave a bit more at a time off that? Bloody quick anyway.

 

[Andre]

I'm turning 39 later this year and sometimes I definitely feel old and sometimes definitely not.

Mentally I still pinch myself and think 'WTF? Is it twenty years since I was doing university, where the hell did that go, I still feel 19' and don't feel old. Then other times I look at the fact I've got two kids and think 'I'm my parents' and am glad I'm not that young anymore.

Physically yes and no. Yes in that I've got a slipped disc that aches most days, along with random aches starting and a receding hairline. No in that I still get out for a 5 or 6km run a couple of times a week, hit the weights and will never let the words 'middle aged spread' be associated with me. The fact I see so many lazy twenty year old fat arses who can barely waddle up to the KFC counter probably helps. If everyone kept themselves in shape then I'd probably feel older.

 

[JuddsABlue]

Haha. Is it high or low 11's you're running? Don't know much about it to be honest, but how difficult would it be to shave a bit more at a time off that? Bloody quick anyway.

bloody impossible I think

I remember reading its physically impossible for a runner to run 100m less than 9.6 or something, the runners calves would tear themselves apart

So I think for the runners who can constantly get down to high 9's are the .0000000001% who have that unique ability to get that fast, it wouldnt be about training (when you're past a certain age anyway)

Also read a white man would never win the 100m sprint again. I'm not a scientist but it seems that way.

 

[Miqar_Baqfhied]

Only 22 but feeling pretty old. Work 45 hours a week have a 3 year old + 1 (love my family) on the way so fair to say i've got the life of a 30+ year old lol

Plus since busting my shoulder and taking up weekend work a couple years ago I haven't played footy or done anything much in terms of exercise for two years and have gained weight as a result which physically is making me feel older.

Looking to start a health a fitness regime soon and get back to playing footy next year so hopefully that will help a bit.

22 with nearly two kids....why o why?

 

[Matera92]

Haha. Is it high or low 11's you're running? Don't know much about it to be honest, but how difficult would it be to shave a bit more at a time off that? Bloody quick anyway.

The time was 11 flat but you would have to allow a little leeway for a stop watch timer I would say. Was just psyched that I did something I thought impossible for me nowadays.

 

[Miqar_Baqfhied]

I hear lots of people saying that as they get old they are getting to many injuries to play sport anymore or cant play as much. Sometimes I question if its injury or mental strength?

I look at some people at my footy club, many of them still veru young. When everyone is busting a nut on the paddock, they just stand on the sidelines always injured, or just walk laps. They dont appear debiliated. Hell, they even do kick to kick. Or half way thorugh a session we do some running and theyll just walk to the sidelines saying "yeah gotta niggle". Shits me.

I know one guy in my team who whenever he has a bad game you know he'll "pull up sore" as an excuse for his performance or to not train and play the next week. Shits me to tears cos you know its all in the head. Talented player otherwise.

Think Im really lucky that soft tissue injuries have never been a problem. Or maybe soreness for some is another person's snapped hamstring? And even if i do feel sore, the feeling of not playing with my team and being viewed as soft by others keeps me going.