Questions for the mature older members...

TheNarrowPath · Jan 7, 2023

Does life begin after 50?
What is there to look forward to when you cross the mid century mark?
While I know this could turn into a You know youre old when you... type of thread I am genuinely curious as to whether the senior members here are living their best life?
Do you think you are still young at heart?

cinder · Jan 7, 2023

TheNarrowPath said:

I'm not quite that old yet, but I am starting to look in that direction and see that the whole not having family and kids thing leaves you with a future that from a distance looks like it will have a lot more loss than growth and development. But God likes to remind me that he can still surprise me and I think as I age the things I would like to cultivate now for those days are physical health, financial health, and learning how to use my usually viewed as less spiritual gifts and interests (I'm a nerdy girl) in God's service.

Also I think finding someone or something to love and give to - even if it's a pet or an organization who's mission you believe in is a great safeguard against spiraling into the loneliness and despair that being an older single can leave you prone to. Hard to stay down when a dog or cat that wants to play and be petted interrupts your pity party or you have to get yourself up because someone is counting on you to get something done for church on sunday.

RodB651 · Jan 7, 2023

TheNarrowPath said:

Back in the day, I dreaded the forties. Then I dreaded the fifties..

Now I'm 57 and honestly it's not so bad. Yeah the body develops a few aches here and there but that's just part of it.

It's now that I think maybe I've matured in some things. Whether I'm living my best life?.. well maybe so... Trying to anyway.

Cameron143 · Jan 7, 2023

TheNarrowPath said:

My first thought was why ask a question here of mature people but I see you really are just asking old people.
Since I qualify for that part, I'll try to help.
There is little doubt that as we age our bodies begin to first creak, then stretch, then crackle. Rice Crispys is your new model...snap, crackle, and pop. And even beginning exercise and diet now, if not already, will delay and mitigate many ailments. And understanding the way the body works and what it needs to work will help make choosing supplements that will keep the body functioning well are a good idea.
But as the body becomes more frail, the spirit of a Christian becomes stronger and more fit. Life in Christ is incredible. It, too, requires exercise and diet, but these results don't stay temporarily the inevitable, but impart new and better attributes.
Your original question was does life begin at 50? But truly life begins at Christ. Life after 50 I think will prove to be for you all that you desire and more.

Lanolin · Jan 7, 2023

over 50s do you just need to oil your joints?

I think it can happen to people younger than 50 because of the fast pace of life people lead these days actually does wear them out. I definitely know that those who reach 65 look forward to official retirement and recieving the pension, and they get it whether they still work or not.

Lanolin · Jan 7, 2023

oh and dont forget the Gold Card

free transport, discounts, etc. I worked in retirement villages...when you get a bunch of oldies together they have contests comparing health ailments, like I survived...whatever...

They also like to sell up and go in RVS and cruise holidays and are very much wanting to take it easy and live a life at a more leisurely pace. Many want to spoil their grandchildren if they have them.

Lynx · Jan 7, 2023

As a mere child of 44 I have no input. But I will be taking notes.

Bingo · Jan 7, 2023

" Life being continuous, hopefully.
"Hopefully another day.
"Hopefully yes.
"And hopefully you 'youngsters' come to 'celebrate' the big five-0.
Recently came upon fifty years of marriage...yes with same wife... Thank God!

Papermonkey · Jan 7, 2023

You gain more wisdom if you've paid attention as you grow older.
However in truth life begins to end the older you get.

Your former lifestyle catches up to you. You can't digest as readily those fave yet not good for you foods the way you once did.

Your 6 pack becomes a barrel that you joke is protection for the underlying 6 pack. When in truth you know your abs can only now count to two, because of the rolls.
You look down and wonder where your lower parts disappeared to.

Then one day you step naked in front of a full length mirror and realize you now have the answer to the question you wish you'd never thought to ask.

You remember when you were cute, young, with skin like elastin. Taut muscles, energetic, in shape.
Now decades later you're funny looking, saggy, and realize round is indeed a shape.

No , life doesn't begin after 50. Cold hard facing of reality that you're far removed from 20 does.

Or so I've heard. 🤫

Cameron143 · Jan 7, 2023

RodB651 said:

I understand completely. In my 20s I was invincible. In my 30s I was still invincible but it took longer to recover. In my 40s things started working less well. In my 50s things started breaking. In my 60s I'm learning a lot more uses for duct tape.

Lighthearted · Jan 7, 2023

The body fails here and there but you chug along doing the best you can with what ya have each day.
I've had years lost (pretty much my 40's) due to physical limitations to the point of wanting to give up, having hit rock bottom. The good news is that the rock WAS and IS the Lord. He never let go and continues to restore what the enemy took from me.
My life was a very gray area through and through for a long time...but I will testify to life being completely different. It isn't the 50's that determines when life begins...it's the moment you truly humble yourself and give the reins of your journey to the Master.

MsMediator · Jan 7, 2023

TheNarrowPath said:

When I was younger and traveling more frequently, I saw older people in hostels sometimes. I admired them since they didn't mind staying with younger people and in hostels, and I thought they were young at heart. My boss started learning to play guitar in his 40s (he's 60s now) and I found that admirable, even though other coworkers were joking. I had another older goofy coworker who started working parttime in a coffeeshop since he liked that environment and cofee, even though he didnt need the money. The trick is not to be jaded with life, be curious, and be content and trusting God helps with all this.

HealthAndHappiness · Jan 7, 2023

I was going to stop by to encourage someone, so I won't post a Pink Floyd hit on the subject. 😄

Here's my doctor at 65. All the pictures but the last. She was probably around 63 there. She's the black lady standing next to the fruit. I was listening to one of her classes while enjoying a wonderful dinner.
She's 65 and took Tae Kwon Do the past few years and moved on to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ground fighting now.

My doctor and teacher

JesusLives · Jan 7, 2023

TheNarrowPath said:

Inside my head I am 20 and gorgeous...lol Outside my body looks more like 58 or 60. In reality just turned 68 and I don't have a lot of pain like some older folks do and very thankful to God for that.

This is how I would sum up each decade.

1- 10 -You are a baby and just getting started school, learning and living with your family.

11- 20- As a pre-teen and a teen you are still in school unsure of yourself and your place in life but trying to figure it out.

21-30 - College is finishing up if you go and you are dating, starting to really work, sometimes getting married and really figuring out who you are.

31-40 - These are the stressful years because you are working hard, paying for rent/mortgage, usually married and starting that family, some may even be taking care of their parents and stress is out the roof... You are in the full swing of life.

41-50 - These are the little less stress years as you still have family, but they are pretty much grown and you might start being a grandparent at this point. So empty nest years and you start feeling some freedom.

51-60 You are all about retirement and can't wait to get there for me I was pushed into it at 58, but it was the best thing that happened to me and I have been loving life ever since. Free time to do what I want whenever I want. Kid out of the house on her own and I even found time to get married at 59. A lot less stress not having to get up and go to work every day. For me its been the best time of my life.

61-68 - The beginning of decline for me. At 66 I started falling my balance isn't as good as it used to be but I have not gotten hurt so I am glad and thank God for that, I don't breathe as well as I used to. I have a few things medically wrong with me but I am doing great for the age I am and again thankful.

I still enjoy life and love to sit on my porch in the spring, summer, fall and watch the birds and I do plant a garden and flowers in the yard and piddle around. I do love to sew and working on my sewing room to get it set up to start making quilts again... We moved a couple of years ago from Florida to Tennessee and residual boxes got stored in the sewing room so going through that to make the room usable... These really are the best years of my life and as long as you can keep in touch with your family and friends these years are stress free from the middle part of life....

My head still tells me I'm in my 20's though...lol

Hope this helped answer your question.

notonmywatch · Jan 7, 2023

TheNarrowPath said:

Life begins when we surrender ourselves to the one who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. We must, as Jesus taught, lose our lives to find them.

TheNarrowPath said:

Eternal life in the world to come if we're truly abiding in Christ.

TheNarrowPath said:

Define "best life". I'm certainly not living "my best life now" as charlatans like Joel Osteen would have me to live it, but I hope that I'm living my best life now by God's actual standards. If nothing else, I'm much more focused on that which is eternal now than ever before, and that includes the eternal destinies of those who are perishing around me. Forget the private jet and mansion. Let them burn with the tares. Give me souls, Lord, before I die and come to bow before you.

TheNarrowPath said:

I'm definitely still young at heart.

HealthAndHappiness · Jan 7, 2023

JesusLives said:

Inside my head I am 20 and gorgeous...lol Outside my body looks more like 58 or 60. In reality just turned 68 and I don't have a lot of pain like some older folks do and very thankful to God for that.

This is how I would sum up each decade.

1- 10 -You are a baby and just getting started school, learning and living with your family.

11- 20- As a pre-teen and a teen you are still in school unsure of yourself and your place in life but trying to figure it out.

21-30 - College is finishing up if you go and you are dating, starting to really work, sometimes getting married and really figuring out who you are.

31-40 - These are the stressful years because you are working hard, paying for rent/mortgage, usually married and starting that family, some may even be taking care of their parents and stress is out the roof... You are in the full swing of life.

41-50 - These are the little less stress years as you still have family, but they are pretty much grown and you might start being a grandparent at this point. So empty nest years and you start feeling some freedom.

51-60 You are all about retirement and can't wait to get there for me I was pushed into it at 58, but it was the best thing that happened to me and I have been loving life ever since. Free time to do what I want whenever I want. Kid out of the house on her own and I even found time to get married at 59. A lot less stress not having to get up and go to work every day. For me its been the best time of my life.

61-68 - The beginning of decline for me. At 66 I started falling my balance isn't as good as it used to be but I have not gotten hurt so I am glad and thank God for that, I don't breathe as well as I used to. I have a few things medically wrong with me but I am doing great for the age I am and again thankful.

I still enjoy life and love to sit on my porch in the spring, summer, fall and watch the birds and I do plant a garden and flowers in the yard and piddle around. I do love to sew and working on my sewing room to get it set up to start making quilts again... We moved a couple of years ago from Florida to Tennessee and residual boxes got stored in the sewing room so going through that to make the room usable... These really are the best years of my life and as long as you can keep in touch with your family and friends these years are stress free from the middle part of life....

My head still tells me I'm in my 20's though...lol

Hope this helped answer your question.

Check out doctor Daniel's audio podclasses for good health information. She's an encouragement and is one of those that I would suggest for thriving in the golden years.

tourist · Jan 7, 2023

Based on my own experience and observation, I believe that at age of 50 you suddenly realize that all those hopes or dreams you might have had are not going to happen. I found the 50's to be a reflective time, started to get closer to God and to focus on the important things that were still possible to accomplish.

notonmywatch · Jan 7, 2023

Ecclesiastes 12
1Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; 2While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: 3In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, 4And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; 5Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: 6Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. 7Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. 8Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

Lynx · Jan 7, 2023

DISCLAIMER: I bypassed a lot of this, like a career and family, and I'm nowhere near 50 yet, so I cannot personally vouch for the accuracy of this.

Every age: "I'm glad I'm not the clueless person I was five years ago, but now I don't want to get any older."

tourist · Jan 7, 2023

Cameron143 said:

I always keep a roll of duct tape handy. That stuff is very versatile.

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