My best friend just had her birthday the other day and crossed the big 4-0. It was no biggie, just a regular birthday celebration. Not only is she super healthy, but she is also back in school working on a certificate in nutritional science. She works as an accountant now, but she is considering a career change to become a nutritional counselor. In fact, I think she might even be in better health now than when she was in college and eating ramen noodles and pulling all-nighters!
My perception of age has definitely changed over the years. I remember when my parents turned 55 and I couldn’t sleep at night worrying that they might contract some fatal age-related disease. After all, 55 was the age that people started being called “senior citizens” and could get discounts on things like bus fare and museum tickets.
Looking back, I find it laughable that I thought being 55 was old! My parents are now 80 and still very active. In fact, they out-hiked me the other day…they actually had to stop to wait for me to catch my breath before continuing the hike.
With the combination of longer life spans and better health into old age, no wonder people call 60 the new 40, and 40 the new 20. If you are under 40, you can consider yourselves the new teenagers, and for those under than 30, you are still enjoying your extended childhood!
All in all, this is a very interesting time to live in! People today have a greater chance of remaining healthy for many more years than previous generations, so take good care of yourself and never stop learning!
I will follow this post with a post on the effects of a global aging population.
Keep your eyes peeled, and please upvote and follow me if you liked what you read!
I just turned 40 last November. I am beginning to notice age is dependent on lifestyle. When I take care of myself I feel like I'm 20 again. When I don't I feel like I'm 80. I play basketball on Sunday's with a group of men between the ages of 28 and 60. The 60 year old man takes amazing care of himself. He eats right and exercises daily and he runs circles around most of us on the court. Nobody likes to be guarded by him. That and his experience. He never makes mistakes. Then I see other 60 year old men who appear light years older. So yes, I totally agree with this but I think lifestyle is important.
Great reply to post! I enjoyed your entire comment. Well said. Followed. Steem-on my friend!
Thank you!
Agreed! Chronological age is not a reliable measure of our true age. I love how you mention his experience as a valuable asset. I will show your comment to my husband in the hope that it will inspire him to exercise more.
I need to listen to my own comment and get out there exercising more!
I am closing in on the big 4-0 as well and have been thinking about it more than usually because my wife is having her birthday today so age is a central theme for us today :)
In my opinion longevity is a very interesting topic when coupled with technological innovations. We might soon be able to expand human life spans to numbers we have never seen before and even the topic of immortality is up in the air among certain experts!
Personally I am at least a firm believer in a future where we will be able to live a youth like life for much longer. If we will get older than 120 is not certain, but we should at least be able to live up to that age without too much illness.
I am looking forward to your follow up with the effects of a global aging population.
ronni
Wow, happy birthday to your wife!
It's amazing how big an impact scientific discoveries and technological innovations have already had upon human civilization in the past few centuries, and it seems the pace of innovation is ever increasing.
Yes, I wouldn't be surprised if people can live past 120 in the near future. Maybe we will even see that in our own lifetimes!
Thanks for posting! I turned 40 a month ago and feel younger than my parents did (I think!!) at my age but I do worry sometimes when contemplating things like career change which I am currently in the midst of!! Your friend's story makes me feel less alone ;-)
Thanks for sharing your story. Good luck with the career change! You are definitely not alone, and it takes a lot of courage to undertake a big life change like that. Kudos to you!
Regarding the title:
I sure hope so, I'm 37 and 40's coming up! Lol
You still have a ways to go, and yes, I think it's true. Take it from someone who's been there and done that... 😉
My grand mother is 87 and even if she looks old and her back is bent, she still runs after her animals at the farm. 55 is not old, trust me.
That's encouraging! Sounds like you have quite an active grandma!
She is that active because of her life in a really natural area with only natural food from her small farm. So in the end it all depends on how you treat yourself during your life. The better you nurse yourself, the younger you are. A simple fact.
Good for her! 👍
then i'm just a baby!
Age is all relative! Enjoy your childhood!