Interesting question today, Sari! I think I feel like a kid at least once every day. I'm not sure when the last time I felt "young" was, or even if there ever really was such a time. In my 20s, I was convinced that I had been alive for quite some time now, so I started this dichotomy pretty early on (where I feel both old and young at various times of the day/year). I feel really young any time I do jiu jitsu, but then I feel older the next day!
I didn't like being young. I actively disliked being a child. I do remember feeling like "Yeah, this is being an adult!" at about age 38, when I was doing a lot of Oprah-led self-improvement.
There is no such age. 'Feeling young' is simply fully embracing being alive in our attitude. But absurdly even when 'the end' is technically near, & we stand in the vestibule before stepping out of life's journey, even then we can still feel young, savoring it all. It's all good. There's ultimately nothing to fear or regret.
It depends who I’m with. When I’m with a generation older than me who is rooted in those particular values/mores, I feel like the youth I was--annoyed by their stodginess and much more modern than them. There have been moments, though, with my teenage students that I realize I no longer know current music or what trends they are into; then I feel out of touch and out of date. In general, though, I like to think I’m just a citizen of the world and that there are connections to be made with anyone of any age.
I love that there are so many links relevant, and important, to me at age 60, and to my mother at age 84. Brava, Sari and Oldster, for a continuously rich and meaningful newsletter.
I don’t know if it was based on a certain age but definitely once I had a kid (as an “old” parent at 42) and then once I went through menopause at 45 (on the supposedly young side) those sealed the deal on the transition of not feeling like a young adult anymore. PS - love that Zach Bryan with Kacey Musgraves song. Her voice gets me every time.
Hmmm I also want Lisas's magic potion. I have to confess that psychologically I love being late sixties early seventies. I'm 72 now. And I feel so at easy in my own self. That if I'm reincarnated I want to start my new life after 50 please. At my 50th bday I went on a 15 day trek In Bhutsn to the Tibetan border. But physically I would say I started feeling less young at ~ 65, 66? More creaks, and pops. And my knees... those I left going down the stone boulders of those mountain passes of Chele la of Bhutan...
Definitely before my husband and I started to try having kids (in our early/mid 30s)...when my doctor told me I had a condition that would make it difficult to have kids naturally. We kept trying, failing miserably and getting depressed in the process. Back then, I wished I could go back to my younger days when I didn't have to think about babies. (Fast forward, to before I hit 40, we adopted our baby and it was such a joy... he's now 9, very curious, playful, and empathetic. I feel like a kid again whenever I'm with him, seeing a different perspective on things, looking at the world through him. It's a delight... Also have to say, your writing, the links you send, and the interviews you do, Sari, also make this journey of growing older so much more fun!)
I think it depends so much on context. When I turned 60 I had a huge party with live music and lots of food and drink, I was on my feet for 7 hours, dancing most of that time . . . I definitely felt young.
when I was in my 50's and spent time with my mom and her older friends (a lively bunch of oldsters in MX) I was always the youngest person there and felt it. Interstingly, when I am with my 28 y.o. goddaughter I also feel young. I guess it's situational for me (although my body does assert its age from time to time)
I feel as young as I ever have at 78. In fact, I feel like this is the age I was meant to be my whole
Life!
Interesting question today, Sari! I think I feel like a kid at least once every day. I'm not sure when the last time I felt "young" was, or even if there ever really was such a time. In my 20s, I was convinced that I had been alive for quite some time now, so I started this dichotomy pretty early on (where I feel both old and young at various times of the day/year). I feel really young any time I do jiu jitsu, but then I feel older the next day!
I didn't like being young. I actively disliked being a child. I do remember feeling like "Yeah, this is being an adult!" at about age 38, when I was doing a lot of Oprah-led self-improvement.
There is no such age. 'Feeling young' is simply fully embracing being alive in our attitude. But absurdly even when 'the end' is technically near, & we stand in the vestibule before stepping out of life's journey, even then we can still feel young, savoring it all. It's all good. There's ultimately nothing to fear or regret.
It depends who I’m with. When I’m with a generation older than me who is rooted in those particular values/mores, I feel like the youth I was--annoyed by their stodginess and much more modern than them. There have been moments, though, with my teenage students that I realize I no longer know current music or what trends they are into; then I feel out of touch and out of date. In general, though, I like to think I’m just a citizen of the world and that there are connections to be made with anyone of any age.
I love that there are so many links relevant, and important, to me at age 60, and to my mother at age 84. Brava, Sari and Oldster, for a continuously rich and meaningful newsletter.
I don’t know if it was based on a certain age but definitely once I had a kid (as an “old” parent at 42) and then once I went through menopause at 45 (on the supposedly young side) those sealed the deal on the transition of not feeling like a young adult anymore. PS - love that Zach Bryan with Kacey Musgraves song. Her voice gets me every time.
Hmmm I also want Lisas's magic potion. I have to confess that psychologically I love being late sixties early seventies. I'm 72 now. And I feel so at easy in my own self. That if I'm reincarnated I want to start my new life after 50 please. At my 50th bday I went on a 15 day trek In Bhutsn to the Tibetan border. But physically I would say I started feeling less young at ~ 65, 66? More creaks, and pops. And my knees... those I left going down the stone boulders of those mountain passes of Chele la of Bhutan...
Definitely before my husband and I started to try having kids (in our early/mid 30s)...when my doctor told me I had a condition that would make it difficult to have kids naturally. We kept trying, failing miserably and getting depressed in the process. Back then, I wished I could go back to my younger days when I didn't have to think about babies. (Fast forward, to before I hit 40, we adopted our baby and it was such a joy... he's now 9, very curious, playful, and empathetic. I feel like a kid again whenever I'm with him, seeing a different perspective on things, looking at the world through him. It's a delight... Also have to say, your writing, the links you send, and the interviews you do, Sari, also make this journey of growing older so much more fun!)
I think it depends so much on context. When I turned 60 I had a huge party with live music and lots of food and drink, I was on my feet for 7 hours, dancing most of that time . . . I definitely felt young.
when I was in my 50's and spent time with my mom and her older friends (a lively bunch of oldsters in MX) I was always the youngest person there and felt it. Interstingly, when I am with my 28 y.o. goddaughter I also feel young. I guess it's situational for me (although my body does assert its age from time to time)
The grammar of this question is throwing me off. Does it want to know if I still think I’m 30, because then yes, I do.
"What is the last age that you feel young?"
I guess I don't understand this question. I feel young right at this minute.