How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you are?

And why that age?

Maybe not spiritual but thought provoking...

I embraced a lot of things in my thirties that have become engrained in my life so if I had to guess or rather "feel" an age for myself today, I'd say anywhere between 30-38.

How about you?

Comments

  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    "Old man, look at my life, I'm a lot like you were"
    (Neil Young reference)

    I am apt to ramble here, sea, but let me start by saying that my answer to your question would likely be different from day to day, maybe from hour to hour :).

    I used to have a theory (sort of) that children were mirrors with legs. In fact I think I wrote a poem along that line. The idea was that kids serve as mirrors for us, that their development reminds us that we, too, are getting older, while, before they come along, we don't have any constant reminders that we pay attention to. I'm not sure I buy that so much any more (the older you get, it seems, the more 'reminders' there are out there.) But...now I have grandkids, young ones, and it is happening again but even moreso because they are not in my presence on a regular basis. If I see them once or twice a month, I am lucky, but I am also made keenly aware, by their development, that time flies when you are having fun :).

    The point, I guess, is that kids (and grandkids by extension) make us older by default. No. They don't make us older, they make us SEE that we are older. (I know a certain woman who reverts to childhood when she is around her grandchildren, after all.) Before them, without them, we are free to ignore aging references (mostly) and to behave as we did as young adults (to some extent, any way).

    I said I might ramble :).

    Another old theory of mine was that women who have children grow up faster than other women and faster even than their husbands, the fathers of their children (hopefully). My reasoning was that, generally, the maternal instinct is much stronger than the paternal one because the child came from within the mother while the father contributed, well, we know what he contributed, although I acknowledge that some contribute more than others in terms of time and effort during pregnancy and also acknowledge that this is a rather gross generalization.

    But moms seem to act older than dads. Dads seem to want to keep their toys and their habits while moms, generally, seem to drop things by the wayside in the interest of these little beings that came from within them. I liken it, now, to what happens with a cancer diagnosis: there is that sense that mortality is slapping one in the face...it wakes a mom up (theoretically and excluding, apparently, certain people in the news of late), while dad is free to continue with whatever responsibilities he had prior to birth. If that makes any sense.

    I'm not sure that has anything to do with your question.

    I was 49 when I was first diagnosed. Because of dietary types of issues, I've lost a lot of pounds that I have not yet gained back and now at merely 55 when I look in a mirror I think I see a 70 year old man.

    But I certainly do not feel that old, even with grandkids reminding me that I am getting older (:)) even with the current limitations in some abilities related to eating, lifting weights, excersie, yardwork, backpacking, mountain climbing (:))...I don't feel that old.

    When they told me I had as little as 10 months to live (misdiagnosis, obviously) in 2007, I stopped aging, I suppose. So put me down for 51.

    This morning :).

    Take care,

    Joe
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613

    "Old man, look at my life, I'm a lot like you were"
    (Neil Young reference)

    I am apt to ramble here, sea, but let me start by saying that my answer to your question would likely be different from day to day, maybe from hour to hour :).

    I used to have a theory (sort of) that children were mirrors with legs. In fact I think I wrote a poem along that line. The idea was that kids serve as mirrors for us, that their development reminds us that we, too, are getting older, while, before they come along, we don't have any constant reminders that we pay attention to. I'm not sure I buy that so much any more (the older you get, it seems, the more 'reminders' there are out there.) But...now I have grandkids, young ones, and it is happening again but even moreso because they are not in my presence on a regular basis. If I see them once or twice a month, I am lucky, but I am also made keenly aware, by their development, that time flies when you are having fun :).

    The point, I guess, is that kids (and grandkids by extension) make us older by default. No. They don't make us older, they make us SEE that we are older. (I know a certain woman who reverts to childhood when she is around her grandchildren, after all.) Before them, without them, we are free to ignore aging references (mostly) and to behave as we did as young adults (to some extent, any way).

    I said I might ramble :).

    Another old theory of mine was that women who have children grow up faster than other women and faster even than their husbands, the fathers of their children (hopefully). My reasoning was that, generally, the maternal instinct is much stronger than the paternal one because the child came from within the mother while the father contributed, well, we know what he contributed, although I acknowledge that some contribute more than others in terms of time and effort during pregnancy and also acknowledge that this is a rather gross generalization.

    But moms seem to act older than dads. Dads seem to want to keep their toys and their habits while moms, generally, seem to drop things by the wayside in the interest of these little beings that came from within them. I liken it, now, to what happens with a cancer diagnosis: there is that sense that mortality is slapping one in the face...it wakes a mom up (theoretically and excluding, apparently, certain people in the news of late), while dad is free to continue with whatever responsibilities he had prior to birth. If that makes any sense.

    I'm not sure that has anything to do with your question.

    I was 49 when I was first diagnosed. Because of dietary types of issues, I've lost a lot of pounds that I have not yet gained back and now at merely 55 when I look in a mirror I think I see a 70 year old man.

    But I certainly do not feel that old, even with grandkids reminding me that I am getting older (:)) even with the current limitations in some abilities related to eating, lifting weights, excersie, yardwork, backpacking, mountain climbing (:))...I don't feel that old.

    When they told me I had as little as 10 months to live (misdiagnosis, obviously) in 2007, I stopped aging, I suppose. So put me down for 51.

    This morning :).

    Take care,

    Joe

    Ahhh, one of my favorites from Neil Young
    "Lord I was born a Rambling Man"
    (The Allman Brothers)

    I always enjoy reading your posts.

    Physically, I feel my age from day to day. I can feel strong and energetic one day, weak and feeble the next. So my physcial body does make my age waver.

    Regarding being around the grandkids, I tend to feel younger since I do alot of playing so it's hard to feel 51 while flying paper airplanes and watching cartoons.

    I think for me, I embraced many things during that decade (30's) that formed the foundation for my life...spirituality, Motherhood, career. Maybe the best memories lie within that time for me because the kids were young and needy. Moms love being needed :)

    Take care yourself my 51 year old friend (This morning). Thanks for responding.

    Sylvia
  • AussieMaddie
    AussieMaddie Member Posts: 345 Member
    sea60 said:

    Ahhh, one of my favorites from Neil Young
    "Lord I was born a Rambling Man"
    (The Allman Brothers)

    I always enjoy reading your posts.

    Physically, I feel my age from day to day. I can feel strong and energetic one day, weak and feeble the next. So my physcial body does make my age waver.

    Regarding being around the grandkids, I tend to feel younger since I do alot of playing so it's hard to feel 51 while flying paper airplanes and watching cartoons.

    I think for me, I embraced many things during that decade (30's) that formed the foundation for my life...spirituality, Motherhood, career. Maybe the best memories lie within that time for me because the kids were young and needy. Moms love being needed :)

    Take care yourself my 51 year old friend (This morning). Thanks for responding.

    Sylvia

    Favourite, defining decade
    Definitely my twenties, for the same reason, Sea, that you prefer your 30's. It was in my 20's that I defined my spirituality which has been my greatest source of strength. It was also in my twenties that I shared more intellectually than in any other decade, and I loved that. Don't know why it has declined so much over the years. But then again, right now, my chemo brain hardly makes me a candidate for such sharing :)

    I want to agree with your assessment of Joe's writing. Reading his reply to you, I smile to learn that he writes poetry as well. It doesn't come as a surprise. Phil is another person who writes particularly well I think. He always seems to have the best questions.

    Everyone has a particular skill or quality that is attractive, especially as we strive to give and support each other here.

    One thing this present decade has given me more than anything else is the ability to see that attractivness in others.

    For now,

    AussieMaddie
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613

    Favourite, defining decade
    Definitely my twenties, for the same reason, Sea, that you prefer your 30's. It was in my 20's that I defined my spirituality which has been my greatest source of strength. It was also in my twenties that I shared more intellectually than in any other decade, and I loved that. Don't know why it has declined so much over the years. But then again, right now, my chemo brain hardly makes me a candidate for such sharing :)

    I want to agree with your assessment of Joe's writing. Reading his reply to you, I smile to learn that he writes poetry as well. It doesn't come as a surprise. Phil is another person who writes particularly well I think. He always seems to have the best questions.

    Everyone has a particular skill or quality that is attractive, especially as we strive to give and support each other here.

    One thing this present decade has given me more than anything else is the ability to see that attractivness in others.

    For now,

    AussieMaddie

    I agree Aussie,
    after the "C" diagnosis you really do appreciate things and people more. Dare I say cancer makes one less petty? Embrace life? Not sweat the small stuff? Either way, it's all good.

    There are quite a few very talented writers here. Joe, Phil, Claudia(Chenheart),Bluerose to name a few. I've told Claudia she should write a book. Hey, maybe that should be my next question: If you could write a book, what would you name the title? LOL!

    Take care my friend! Stay forever 20!

    Blessings,

    Sylvia
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    duh...
    I always said as long as I had health...oh crap.

    Don't want to go back before cancer cause don't want to do that again. Don't have grandkids but that doesn't stop me from having a second childhood. Don't have to be an example to my kids cause they are grown. Now when I get rowdy they send me to my room. So I'd say 60 cause I never could make up my mind. I'm 60 now but am looking forward to DH getting old enough to retire and then we can travel and not worry about time restraints.

    So my book title would be: "I want to get older so I can be a child again"

    P.s. There is days on end that I forget my age. There is always someone saying to me, "How old are you." and I have to think a while and figure it out.
  • AussieMaddie
    AussieMaddie Member Posts: 345 Member
    sea60 said:

    I agree Aussie,
    after the "C" diagnosis you really do appreciate things and people more. Dare I say cancer makes one less petty? Embrace life? Not sweat the small stuff? Either way, it's all good.

    There are quite a few very talented writers here. Joe, Phil, Claudia(Chenheart),Bluerose to name a few. I've told Claudia she should write a book. Hey, maybe that should be my next question: If you could write a book, what would you name the title? LOL!

    Take care my friend! Stay forever 20!

    Blessings,

    Sylvia

    Agreed, Sea
    Yes, Sea, it was remiss of me not to mentioin how good is the writing of others here. I think maybe I see more writing by Joe and Phyl. I agree with you that Bluerose and of course yourself must be included in that. Remember, between you and Re, you both started my two favourite threads - "Inspirational Quotes" and "What Is Your Simple Pleasure" - and now, this one! They are what I think of as life-affirming, no matter how sick you are.

    As for writing myself, I have thought of it but it has got lost in trying to keep up with alot of other things. Besides, my views are not the norm and I think anything I would have to say would have a *very* limited audience. I mean by that, that if I had a dog, he might put up with me reading it, but no-one else :)

    I'm too busy organizing my life at this time. My house and life had become extremely untidy and I'm especially slow in getting it all together again. It was my priority when I got the cancer, and at the rate I'm moving, I can't afford to go anywhere for years at least.

    So I hope to be around a while longer if only to see my house is tidy and the family can find what they need. In speaking of it, I don't meam to sound morbid at all. I like organizing. Always have, so this is up my alley. It's just that, for particular reasons, I have great trouble doing things. I think I dropped my bundle when my mother died in 2004 and don't find I have the motivation since then. My doc has started me on antidepressants which might work well if given time, but from the first one, they also make me jittery so I'm no so sure they will last.

    Oh well..

    Love,

    AussieMaddie

    Take good
  • AussieMaddie
    AussieMaddie Member Posts: 345 Member
    Marcia527 said:

    duh...
    I always said as long as I had health...oh crap.

    Don't want to go back before cancer cause don't want to do that again. Don't have grandkids but that doesn't stop me from having a second childhood. Don't have to be an example to my kids cause they are grown. Now when I get rowdy they send me to my room. So I'd say 60 cause I never could make up my mind. I'm 60 now but am looking forward to DH getting old enough to retire and then we can travel and not worry about time restraints.

    So my book title would be: "I want to get older so I can be a child again"

    P.s. There is days on end that I forget my age. There is always someone saying to me, "How old are you." and I have to think a while and figure it out.

    What a wonderful reply
    "I want to get older so I can be a child again"
    What a wonderful title!

    "Now when I get rowdy they send me to my room"
    Love it!

    I don't have kids to send me to my room. I have to arrange that myself.

    I don't forget my age, but neither does it bother me at all. If you are 60, I"m only a year older and reading your words makes me want to sit back on a swing and suck on peppermint candy as someone pushes me higher and higher.

    You can do that at any age.

    AussieMaddie
  • Angela_K
    Angela_K Member Posts: 374 Member
    47
    Exactly the age that I am now. My 40's have been wonderful. I am fit mentally, physically and spiritually. My my 47th year brought a cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery -- this experience was life changing on many levels, all of which I embrace. I am wise. I listen to my inner voice. I act out of pure joy, love and compassion. I've never been at better place.
  • AussieMaddie
    AussieMaddie Member Posts: 345 Member
    Angela_K said:

    47
    Exactly the age that I am now. My 40's have been wonderful. I am fit mentally, physically and spiritually. My my 47th year brought a cancer diagnosis, treatment and recovery -- this experience was life changing on many levels, all of which I embrace. I am wise. I listen to my inner voice. I act out of pure joy, love and compassion. I've never been at better place.

    Great news
    It was lovely to read your words Angela :)

    Take good care,

    AussieMaddie
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member

    Great news
    It was lovely to read your words Angela :)

    Take good care,

    AussieMaddie

    Age
    I would not mind being in my 30th again; I just would want to take my 56 year old brain with me this time to keep me out of the crap I was in at 30.

    Hondo
  • sea60
    sea60 Member Posts: 2,613
    Hondo said:

    Age
    I would not mind being in my 30th again; I just would want to take my 56 year old brain with me this time to keep me out of the crap I was in at 30.

    Hondo

    I hear ya!! But mine is in my 20's
    If I could go back knowing what I know now...but, that's water under the bridge. We have today :D
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    sea60 said:

    I hear ya!! But mine is in my 20's
    If I could go back knowing what I know now...but, that's water under the bridge. We have today :D

    Very true for now

    But someday I will be 30 again and live that way forever, just being with my Lord.

    Faith is believing and believing is Faith
    Hondo
  • mariam_11_09
    mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691
    I have always felt like a

    I have always felt like a kid wondering when I am going to grow up!

    After chemo my hair grew back with plenty of gray and big 'granny' curls and each time I got a glimpse of myself in a mirror I was shocked because how old I looked did not in any way reflect how young I felt.

    Time is such a strange thing!