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Do you worry about getting old?

3.8K views 70 replies 60 participants last post by  kevin920415  
#1 · (Edited)
As the title states, do you worry about getting old? It just suddenly struck me that I'm getting older, that I won't always have a healthy, youthful body, that I really am mortal (duh). I don't have any wrinkles yet, thank goodness, because I'm not a sun-worshipper. And being Asian probably helps since we tend to look younger than we really are. Getting old gracefully is okay, but I'm scared of not being able to take care of myself at some time in the future. You know those old people who need to be fed, bathed, basically almost if not helpless. Now I know growing old is inevitable and most will say its nonsense to worry about something we cant control but I am human and its in my nature so it is what it is. Parkinsons, Alzheimers, etc. all those bad things. I do my best to eat right and exercise, but the worry/fear is there. I wouldnt mind being 80 if I am still rowing through the gears in my Miata/whatever sports car at that time I will be driving. Living independently, daily grind, etc. What are your thoughts? Discuss.

25 years here.
 
#4 ·
I definitely think about this, but for me it's not so much a worry of becoming physically feeble - I think if you do maintain your fitness/diet/health as best as you can you have a good chance of living out your days pretty independently, but for me it's just the looming sense that eventually one's time will be up...
While that is an idea that right now doesn't sit well with me, I was thinking about this while running yesterday - and I think that this thought is a young person's mentality, and as you grow older, eventually just through the amount of time spent in the world, your perspective changes. Maybe you just end up jaded, I hope not, but I fast forward in my mind and I feel like when I'm old I'll be thinking "No, I need more time, I'm not done yet, there's still so much left to do", but maybe that mentality just changes... I sure as hell want to be sure I've crossed a load of things off my bucket list by then.
 
#8 ·
#7 ·
lolz no... i Just turned 36.. have 2 kids (8 & 4). N Awesome wife that puts up with all my derp, and recently picked up a Ducati 1098. Meh some weight tacked on, and bald as a baby's butt to make Picard proud. You start to learn to take better care of yourself, and realize growing up isn't about growing old... So learn to have fun with the road that's in front of you. Take things TO serious, and you'll wind up just haggering yourself, regardless of age.

In short, have fun.. but don't be an idiot.. dbag? sure, but doing something with disregard to risk once you move out of your parents house is just looking to get on the 'Darwin Meme'. Not saying don't take risks, just man up and recognize that you fuc*ed up and take responsibility for it when things don't go as planned, adjust and move forward... ... to that off to go for a run (damn you Dicks!)


Cliff-Note edition:
.. i feel old... (Pop in Initial D) Jesus.. ep1 came out in 1997... alright i can be Bunta.. my kid will be Takumi... :phillyb:
 
#9 ·
I do, I've recently quit smoking because of it, I've been cutting down red meat to once a week as well. I looked up to my dad alot growing up. He spent 8 years in the navy, and was a decent amateur boxer during that time. When he settled down, he became a life insurance salesman for fortune 500 company, broke many sales records and became first taiwanese partner in the company's history. Despite being in a competitive corporate environment, he managed to be on top, while doing personal property investment/management on the side. Not bad for an immigrant who showed up in nyc with nothing but a naval school visa, a suitcase of clothes, and money he got from pawning a watch he got for graduation.

For the past 3 years he came down with a really bad case of rheumatoid, and has been moving and walking like a crippled old man. He now has handicapped parking, and is refusing to use any walking aids though he obviously could use one. He's turning 57 this year.

On another note, my grandma is 83, and a hypochondriac. She's always complaining about something with her health being wrong. But when's motivated she can run a set of stairs faster than some of my friends in their 20s (**** you not).
 
#11 ·
I just turned 40 and I more crazy and hyper than ever. The trick to me is to live one day at a time but make it meaningful everyday. That means, i no longer waste my time watching TV, or browsing the web or being a couch potato.

Make each day of your life like the last one and your own life will make sense at least for that day. That means work on your dreams always thinking your time is running out so that you achieve them. My miata project will always be there but I am really into my health more than anything. and my beautiful son of course and women. I love to meet new women, the more the better.
 
#12 ·
Im a nursing student and this week I took care of a patient that was in a accident, he's 16 and a tetraplegic and has to be fed and bathed and basically has no ability to do anything on his own.
Anyways after that day I faced my own mortality and realized that I need to take advantage of my young adulthood (23). I've always been conscious of how my life will end one day and that getting old will happen, but i'm a type 1 diabetic and I exercise regularly. I basically got my diabetes in a headlock and and have eliminated all risk factors ex: smoking, drinking(excessive), poor diet. I'm very optimistic of my future and because of taking care of that kid i'll be living like crazy everyday.
 
#13 ·
I'm pretty young still, and never really felt old or like I was wasting life away, but dealt with some health issues this year (nothing life threatening, but enough to change my lifestyle) and realized that health, youth, and everything that goes along with it can disappear pretty quick, so it's a good idea to live it up while you can. Gotta try and savor the simple things in life and not worry so damn much.
 
#18 ·
Im still young so in general no. My mom got cancer a while back, went through the whole kemo and surgery thing. She got through it but she is much more frail now. She is 45. That by it self was enough for me to get more of a grip on life and appriciate it that much more. She works at a nursing home and she always tells me storys of people that have become vegitables basically. Its sad when a person my age is helpless because he crashed his street bike. But I don't really tend to think of my self getting older, I just enjoy what I can while I can.

Although I did have a kid ask me who 2pac was...that made me feel a little..aged? I'm only 21.
He also had never heard of Creedence Clearwater Revival (born on the bayou), both were played one after the other in my car at a gas station. He knew lil wayne though..i hate the newer generation sometimes :l
 
#19 ·
All you young guys make me feel old at 44. I have recently had some health issues that has made me realize my age, chest pains that is being brought on by stress and anxiety.

I have been self employed for 16 years, have two girls one 18 and 14. Both attend private school and my wife has not worked in 14 years. So I think I know where my stress is coming from. I ust dont know where the anxiety is coming from.

But I really do not worry about getting old at all. My dad is 72 and still works 60-70 hours a week and healthy as can be. I do worry about my body and all the stupid abuse I put it through in my younger days.
 
#20 ·
I just worry about my ever growing ass. It keeps following me. As the years start to creep up I can't eat and drink like I used to. Beers turn to fat and I love me some beers. :cry2:

I think the worst part is hang overs last twice as long. I'm 25, I fear for the pain that 30 brings.
 
#21 ·
if youre worried about being old and helpless. smoke cigs and coffee and you wont have to worry about getting there. my dad died at 68, but lived and smoked everything:phillyb:
to the fullest and drove his healey up to the last two months of his life. at least with my dad, he got to a point when he would say i'm ready to move on, and "you better take care of my healey!!!!!"
I think about him all the time and i don't regret how, when and why he died.
I'm 25 now and whenever i get bored or frustrated I take a page, or a rolling paper, out of my dad's book and LIVE IT UP. however that may be. oh, and get a somewhat rewarding job. that goes a long way...
my dad was also a model in the sixties....(what a G) R.I.P
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#22 ·
Im 18, and not afraid of growing old, just afraid of not being able to have a fully functional body. I really hope I dont such an old nancy that I begin to care about ride quality and wind noise. Cars are not butlers, they are companions.

Im also glad that by the time my body starts to degrade, medical technology will be massively advanced, so I should be able to keep operating for a long time.
 
#23 ·
I'm a lawyer that specializes in elder law. I see some pretty gnarly stuff. That's why I bought a Miata which I'm building into a track car. Nothing like an open road to make your cares go away ... As long a I can still see that road.
 
#27 ·
I'm 21 and I already feel like my life has been a massive failure, especially after finding out my 16 year old sister got accepted into Saint Mary's College here in CA on a full ride scholarship purely for her grades, when I barely graduated high school and now have to hustle Miata parts just to eat on a regular basis.
 
#28 ·
I don't worry so much about getting old rather than what will happen when I do get old. For 5 years (this will be my fifth and last) I was a full time athlete/student, notice I say athlete/student not student/athlete because unfortunately that's how the system works...

Anyway I'm still running no less than 8 miles a day and have to function off 5 hours of sleep, so when I probably hit 40 I will be in a wheel chair... :stressed:
 
#29 ·
Who doesn't really... I used to think about it a lot when I was a child (really young maybe 5-10 years old).
Then again during some other times in my life... it's quite interesting that when you get older you learn how to "read" yourself better. What I noticed is that I tend to think about it a lot when I'm not having a great time. Since then I've started using it as a gauge to see how I'm doing in my life.

When I'm love or passionate about something and I have the time of my life, I don't think about it... when I'm feeling trapped in a situation (girlfriend, wife, job, loans...whatever) and I don't enjoy life I have these thoughts.
Be brave and start making decisions for you in your life, don't get trapped and if you feel like it get out there... believe me things will start looking brighter!