Does "life Begin at 60"

[meercat]

As the saying goes "life begins at 60"

Since turning 64 recently iv been wondering.. am i different since i hit 60...

Has your life changed since then?

Someone said the other day.."try to get to know yourself.. find out what you want to get out of life?"

Statistically iv got 29 years to find myself.. my dad's 93..

When we hit 60 where do we go..what do we do?

meercat xx

[geoff]

Hi Tess, I agree.

Geoff.

[Moonstruck]

Hi everyone....just thought I'd post to keep this thread going...if it's worth it that is! I don't know if it belongs in "Staying Well"...does Forum have a section on ageing or older people do you know?

Getting older doesn't actually "scare me" or bother me all that much...i still look pretty good I reckon "for my age"...but seem to be going through another sort of "phase" just over the past year.

I think it is "me" going through a new stage, not my adult children or those younger folk around me...am I too old to "go through stages"? We are not told much what to expect from getting older, apart from the usual aches pains, joints, weaker muscles etc beginning to fail us...but not told much about what happens psychologically..inside!

e.g. I feel the same "inside" as I did about 30 or more years ago!! how does this younger person live in this older body?

also what is a bit sad is...I feel like my adult kids are sort of "slipping away" from me...don't misunderstand..there is no falling out, we are still very close and they love me enormously...that's not it...no problems there with love.

they live in different cities and time is going so fast. I haven't actually seen them physically for what seems ages now...their lives are getting busier and busier and that's great...I am happy for them...it's sort of spooky..as if I am standing on a misty shore and they are sailing further and further into the distance, on their own voyage on which I can't accompany them.

I have a feeling it's not "them"who are moving into another stage...but could actually be myself! Your views would be so very welcome...I value your insights and opinions about this and your loving support...hoping someone will answer, even though this thread seemed to have vanished into the ether!!

[quirkywords]

Moon,

I am so glad you revived this thread.

I am not sure there is an ageing section, but staying well seems ok to me, adjusting to this new stage of life.

Honestly I could have written what you wrote about your adult children as I feel in a similar way.

thought it was them not needing me and having their own lives, we are close and they tell me so, but sometimes I feel they see me differently.

My outside is changing more but I am ok with that .

I have no answers but maybe more questions. I understand my mum more now I am a grandmother, she was seen as being hard to get on with, but she felt a bit left out and things were changing so much.

Quirky

[Elizabeth CP]

I feel the same "inside" as I did about 30 or more years ago!! how does this younger person live in this older body? I agree this is an issue. There are lots of things I still want to do but are becoming harder as the body ages. On the other hand I don't want to just give up. Some people enjoy crafts & other sedentary activities which are fine as you get older whereas I prefer more adventurous activities better suited to a fit young person. I have always admired older people who refused to give in to there age & continued doing things they enjoyed as long as they could.

Recently I did a Trek in Sth America. I was 15 yrs older than the next oldest person & double the age of the majority of the group. I had trained as much as I could beforehand but really struggled climbing up steep mountains due to the altitude & being overtired. No issues going downhill! I felt really guilty one day when I held the group up because I was struggling. I apologized to the group at the top & thanked them for their support. I ad to remind myself I was doing my best & apart from the few really steep uphill climbs I kept up with the group. Whenever I started to feel bad about being alder & less fit etc etc I tried to remind myself that I am entitled to go on the trek & maybe my example will prompt the younger ones to keep active when they are older

As for my children I try to remind myself that I tried to teach them to be independent & productive so when they are busy doing their own thing that is proof that I succeeded.

[Croix]

Dear All

"Does "life Begin at 60"",

How do you expect me to remember that far back!

One thing I will say is one of the most pleasurable couple of years recently has been training and mentoring a younger person. I'd been worried there would be nobody to fill my shoes when I left the establishment I was at as I was no longer physically capable.

The young person was knowledgeable in their own right, easy to get on with and kept on asking questions until a matter was firmly understood.

My knowledge and experience was valued.

The only downside was my references to well known comedy (Monty Python, Yes Minister, Kenny Everett etc, even things like M*A*S*H* just got blank looks -sigh

I guess it evened out though, I'd no idea about the computer games they played.

Croix

[geoff]

Life begin at 60, well I remember when my dear Mum used to say to me, darling can you please open this jar for me, now I'm asking my son to do the same, that's getting old.

The last 30 years, where have they all gone and why so quickly, no one can answer that, except to say that you've been busy, is that justified to say, no, because it doesn't answer the question?

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Moonstruck]

Dear People well into the 60s....

The dilemma for me is that my mind, heart and body is not in sync with my ageing body. i still feel the same "inside" as in my 20s, 30s etc....but my body thinks otherwise.

we are constantly bombarded with advice about Keeping Active "this is your time, the freedom to do what you like" the thing is, my body won't "Let Me" do everything I want. Things I enjoyed when younger are now painful. I can't go for casual walks around the neighbourhood...it doesn't take long for the pain to set it...in my lower back, and hip. I have an activity which I love and done for many years....now it makes me tired much more quickly...and it makes my hip and back ache. I am not giving it up...it's all I have.

so how do we continue to "be active"when it causes physical distress?

TV Ads show older couples in luxurious retirement villages, having coffee with "new friends" playing lawn bowls, swimming, doing water aerobics, etc etc. (have you noticed they are always "couples?"

Yes now is the time to "travel". I'd love to. I guess I am not the only older woman who simply can't afford, financially to enjoy this "so called best time of my life" Most of us gave up our careers to be at home with kids, then perhaps doing some casual work to fit in with their school hours....our husbands may have left us, (taking his superannuation with him) leaving us on Centrelink...with, if we're lucky, some part time jobs here and there as our kids grow into adults.

this leaves us with not enough money for our older years. Not enough money to have the pearly white teeth of the older ladies in the TV Ads, not enough for an RV to be a Grey Nomad...no partner who is rich enough or well and strong enough to do things with..

.and Will someone explain to me why all the travel brochures describing fabulous countries I'd like to visit, list their prices as "per person twin share"??? WHY? I don't want to share a room with a stranger at this time of my life. I have been on my own for ages....no, I want my privacy.....why is it like this?.

Anyway I can't afford travel....or expensive crowns on my teeth so what the hell! These years are hard, very hard, especially when I feel in my 30s inside!!

[Guest_2496]

I so agree with you Moon. Nothing helpful to offer, just appreciated your honest post.

[quirkywords]

Moon,

The twin share is simple maths. If a couple or two friends share a room they both pay. When there is one person in a room the tour company loses money. It is not fair, it is not right, but that's money.

I have seen ads where older people are alone . There is one where the older neighbour keep throwing balls back that end in her backyard until they throw chocolate. We had a neighbour who kept any ball that ended up in her backyard and we never gave her chocolates!

I think when you have only worked casually then like me started your own business, there is very little chance to for superannuation.

I suppose our society is geared for couples.

Quirky

[Moonstruck]

Thanks for explaining that Quirky...doesn't make it any easier, or even possible for me to do any travel....just air fares to see my kids in different cities set me back a helluva lot. I get a couple of free train trips with Qld Railway per year so can usually factor one part of the journey (at least in Qld) with that...but takes a huge chunk of the day away when I could be at my destination in under an hour by plane.

Missing my grand kids' growing up, coupled with my physical ailments that cause a lot of pain, and tiring out more easily at my social engagements and hobbies....getting older is the pits I reckon...I don't know the answer because there is no answer.....