Please do not comment directly to this post unless you are Gen X or older (born 1980 or before). See this post, the rules, and the sidebar for details. Thank you for your submission, Vivid_Secret_5761.
Today is my 61st birthday and I’ve lost quite a number of friends over the years. Bothers the hell out of me that I’ve outlived quite a few guys that I served with in the military.
Of course it comes with it’s issues, but I feel fortunate. I became a widower at 44 which made me realize that everything is temporary and getting old is a privilege.
When I was younger I used to say that I wanted to live a long time. Said I would rather go to a lot of friends’ funerals than have a lot of friends come to mine. The older I get, the more I have had to rethink that. Not that I want to go or anything, but damn it sucks when the pool of those close to you keeps dwindling.
76M, widowed. Definitely come with new problems – physical, emotional, financial – but most can be avoided or minimized if you take care of yourself when you are a working age adult. Most people are just too lazy to do the real work of living, then it catches up with them in their sixties. Aside from loosing my wife, my life is pretty good and I’m in good shape.
I do feel lucky, (60) not that old yet, but it does come with its inherent problems. Loosing family and friends. Can’t do physically what I could do in my 20’s.
I’m now 75 and have the blessing to be in good health (and a cancer survivor), have a loving wife, and be financially secure. Not everyone has those, so I try to help others as I can. I enjoy our four kids, grandkids, and friends. My parents lived until their late 90s in pretty good health so I should have a while to go … if we survive Trump and Musk
Considering what happened in my earlier years, I think of this time as an amazing bonus. As my friend Cliff often said ” growing old is not for the fainthearted but it beats the alternative ….. until it doesn’t!” He went out on his terms and I hope to do the same.
I’m 65 and I don’t feel old. I do have issues I didn’t have as a youth, but I consider them to be minor. I’m strong and healthy. I walk minimum of 10 miles every day. Yesterday I hauled 2 tons of sand from a truck in my driveway Into my granddaughters sandbox. Planning with Hike to take today.
Tomorrow I’m going mushroom hunting in the mountains and then into the wedding of a young woman I’ve known since he was about four .
My grandfather lived to 93. He was great until those last two years when some health issues started stacking up. He sounded miserable and even made a comment once about wishing he hadn’t made it that long.
I’m 66. My father in law will turn 105 next month, if all goes well. Yet, I have many more medical problems. But my health isn’t the result of bad decisions; I lost the genetic lottery, so to speak.
Parents gone since 2000/2002, my oldest sister just turned 84 last month; I’ll be 75 this summer, lost a lot of friends too.
The above sister has a 6 year-old great-grand daughter so we have 4 generations alive. When my parents were alive we also had 4 generations here. So everything just shifted forward 25 years, earth still spins around the sun, people still born and people still die, generations come and go.
Lucky to be 70 and feeling so good. Breast cancer survivor, both hips totally replaced, one knee totally replaced, other knee has screws (I hate stairs). Weird to say but with my parents, and my husbands parents, gone we have less hassle in live life. There are bad days, like everyone has, but all in all it is a great decade.
It comes with its own problems. Life changes, you loose loved ones, housing can become difficult because you live on limited amount of money.
I do feel lucky to be alive as friends from primary school have passed away in their 50’s. I have many years to go as I feel that I have stuff to share with the world
I’m 69, & yes I feel lucky to have made it this long. After 3 car crashes (none my fault) & 5 motorcycle crashes (only 1 my fault) that all ended up with at least broken bones. 1 car crash & 4 of the motorcycle crashes landed me in the hospital. Yep, I do have physical problems, but I’m still fairly mobile so I’m feeling pretty damm lucky.
I’m 83 and shot 85 yesterday from the white tees with 3 double bogies. I know that sounds great, but my hips, back, and shoulders are killing me today. That’s sorta the paradox of getting old. You can still do well what you used to do great, but it hurts!
I look at my Mom, in her late 80s, with chronic pain every single moment of every single day, with no meds that work… And I know I don’t want to get to that point.
It comes with its problems, but it’s better to be alive than dead. So far, I will always answer “yes” to the question “would you like to wake up to another day tomorrow?”
I’m 60 and I feel blessed 😇. I have diabetes and cirrhosis which may seem like a lot of problems but I have no symptoms. I had the chance to turn my life around and to get off alcohol. I’ve had the opportunity to help others. Most importantly, I’ve gotten to know God again and He has brought me this far.
I’m 70. When I was a kid, I swore I’d live to be 100. Still hoping, as long as I can take care of myself. I have lost three really close friends, and that takes a lot of adjusting. But life is loss, right?
Comments
Please do not comment directly to this post unless you are Gen X or older (born 1980 or before). See this post, the rules, and the sidebar for details. Thank you for your submission, Vivid_Secret_5761.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
Today is my 61st birthday and I’ve lost quite a number of friends over the years. Bothers the hell out of me that I’ve outlived quite a few guys that I served with in the military.
Of course it comes with it’s issues, but I feel fortunate. I became a widower at 44 which made me realize that everything is temporary and getting old is a privilege.
When I was younger I used to say that I wanted to live a long time. Said I would rather go to a lot of friends’ funerals than have a lot of friends come to mine. The older I get, the more I have had to rethink that. Not that I want to go or anything, but damn it sucks when the pool of those close to you keeps dwindling.
76M, widowed. Definitely come with new problems – physical, emotional, financial – but most can be avoided or minimized if you take care of yourself when you are a working age adult. Most people are just too lazy to do the real work of living, then it catches up with them in their sixties. Aside from loosing my wife, my life is pretty good and I’m in good shape.
Yes to both
I do feel lucky, (60) not that old yet, but it does come with its inherent problems. Loosing family and friends. Can’t do physically what I could do in my 20’s.
I understand now why it takes “ old people” so long to stand or move, haha
Don’t ask me today. This is my 31st day in the hospital since July.
I feel pretty darn lucky and never expected it. The problems are there but so far pretty minor compared to being dead, lol.
I’m now 75 and have the blessing to be in good health (and a cancer survivor), have a loving wife, and be financially secure. Not everyone has those, so I try to help others as I can. I enjoy our four kids, grandkids, and friends. My parents lived until their late 90s in pretty good health so I should have a while to go … if we survive Trump and Musk
Living a long time is a great thing, as long as you’re not in a nursing home
I lost my 34-year-old daughter to triple negative breast cancer 3 1/2 years ago.
I don’t feel lucky at all .
Considering what happened in my earlier years, I think of this time as an amazing bonus. As my friend Cliff often said ” growing old is not for the fainthearted but it beats the alternative ….. until it doesn’t!” He went out on his terms and I hope to do the same.
I’m 65 and I don’t feel old. I do have issues I didn’t have as a youth, but I consider them to be minor. I’m strong and healthy. I walk minimum of 10 miles every day. Yesterday I hauled 2 tons of sand from a truck in my driveway Into my granddaughters sandbox. Planning with Hike to take today.
Tomorrow I’m going mushroom hunting in the mountains and then into the wedding of a young woman I’ve known since he was about four .
Asked me again in 30 years
My grandfather lived to 93. He was great until those last two years when some health issues started stacking up. He sounded miserable and even made a comment once about wishing he hadn’t made it that long.
I would be fine making it to around 85 TBH.
Yes and yes.
Every age comes with it’s problems. I do feel lucky to be alive and I’d like to continue being alive.
I’m 66. My father in law will turn 105 next month, if all goes well. Yet, I have many more medical problems. But my health isn’t the result of bad decisions; I lost the genetic lottery, so to speak.
I don’t feel lucky. Age is not helping.
Yup. Good news and bad news.
It beats the alternative..
Parents gone since 2000/2002, my oldest sister just turned 84 last month; I’ll be 75 this summer, lost a lot of friends too.
The above sister has a 6 year-old great-grand daughter so we have 4 generations alive. When my parents were alive we also had 4 generations here. So everything just shifted forward 25 years, earth still spins around the sun, people still born and people still die, generations come and go.
“There is nothing new under the sun.”
Luck? Maybe. Genes? Most likely. At 70, I’ve seen my peers start dropping like flies. You soon come to the understanding that you could be next.
Lucky to be 70 and feeling so good. Breast cancer survivor, both hips totally replaced, one knee totally replaced, other knee has screws (I hate stairs). Weird to say but with my parents, and my husbands parents, gone we have less hassle in live life. There are bad days, like everyone has, but all in all it is a great decade.
It comes with its own problems. Life changes, you loose loved ones, housing can become difficult because you live on limited amount of money.
I do feel lucky to be alive as friends from primary school have passed away in their 50’s. I have many years to go as I feel that I have stuff to share with the world
I’m 69, & yes I feel lucky to have made it this long. After 3 car crashes (none my fault) & 5 motorcycle crashes (only 1 my fault) that all ended up with at least broken bones. 1 car crash & 4 of the motorcycle crashes landed me in the hospital. Yep, I do have physical problems, but I’m still fairly mobile so I’m feeling pretty damm lucky.
Only if you have your health.
I’m 83 and shot 85 yesterday from the white tees with 3 double bogies. I know that sounds great, but my hips, back, and shoulders are killing me today. That’s sorta the paradox of getting old. You can still do well what you used to do great, but it hurts!
I am hoping that my heart gets me before I have dementia.
Besides the pain from Disease process and mental pain of growing old and trying to accept its almost over, You are grateful for another day.
I look at my Mom, in her late 80s, with chronic pain every single moment of every single day, with no meds that work… And I know I don’t want to get to that point.
It comes with its problems, but it’s better to be alive than dead. So far, I will always answer “yes” to the question “would you like to wake up to another day tomorrow?”
Yes and yes. Next question.
I’m 60 and I feel blessed 😇. I have diabetes and cirrhosis which may seem like a lot of problems but I have no symptoms. I had the chance to turn my life around and to get off alcohol. I’ve had the opportunity to help others. Most importantly, I’ve gotten to know God again and He has brought me this far.
I’m 70. When I was a kid, I swore I’d live to be 100. Still hoping, as long as I can take care of myself. I have lost three really close friends, and that takes a lot of adjusting. But life is loss, right?
I am 65 from a family that most died in their 40s and 50s so I am thankful for every day
yes there are issues but it beats being dead
Well I’m only 57, but my goal is to live as long and as well as I possibly can.