I’ve found that, though my spelling and hearing are going to hell, I’ve managed to pick up other skills, and have found abilities that I’ve never had while younger.
For example, I’ve become excellent at math. I’ve always liked math, though it rarely liked me. Now, I can do fairly complex equations in my head. I find myself doing math for fun. I enjoy the logic behind math.
I also enjoy a much wider spectrum of music. Including country, which I’ve always despised.
I’ve found that my ability to concentrate has increased.
I’ve also found that recently I find many more things humorous. I never used to laugh. My wife was always disturbed that, though I always crack jokes, I never laughed. Now, I often let loose with a hearty guffaw, even when inappropriate.
Ok, fine. So I can’t say my sense of humor is one.
Let’s see now. I’d have to say my listening skills have seen the most improvement over the years. Being young and full of ideas is great, but being able to stop and listen to what others can bring to the table (sorry, been reading that BT/Jargon thread) takes a lot of practice. Well, it’s taken me a lot of practice!
That, and I’ll second Zev on the white hairs thing. Particularly those neat ones that grow in your ears. Mmmmm….pretty.
I mean, I’ve always been a dork, but tried really hard to hide it through my teens and twenties.
Now I’ve set my Inner Emotional Goon free, and so can unabashedly admit to crying when I watched The Smith Family last week…
Of course, maybe that’s not a function of age; I was telling my 72-year-old mother about it in the car the next day, and she thought the whole family sounded like a bunch of nutjob idiots. Then again, she’s always been a cranky old broad
Social skills. The charming older gentleman you meet might have been the 20 year old social disaster you once felt you were, but he’s been on the grill enough times to have acquired some seasoning.
Not that I’m James Bond, by any means. But I am much more fluent in social flow.
Going hand-in-hand with the above, when required, my present bullshit beats what I might have put out (only in the most dire circumstance, you understand) 20 years ago.
And professionally I’m a much matured piece of work - far more efficient, even if I do get a little sleepy after lunch.
As I get older I find that I get better as an athlete when I was younger. For instance, when I was 30 the level of athetic prowess I credited the 17 year old me with, is nothing compared to the 42 year old me credits him with. By the time I’m 60 I’ll probably be crediting the 17 year old me with winning Mr. Universe or something. In other words, the older I get, the better I was when I was younger.
Well for one thing I… uh… what’s the word?..
:: pauses to scratch head and grip cane thoughtfully :: Wait a minute, what were talking about?.. Oh yes, things I am better at now that I’m…
:: brief silence followed by snoring ::
(The preceding poking-of-fun is a product of various cultural mores which encourage the young to defame their elders for comedic purposes. It should be noted that it is not intended to offer insult but is rather a simple manifestation of ones fear of aging.)
Not giving a damn what other people think about me, most of the time. (At least the ones whose opinions aren’t important, like the jerks who used to pick on me when I was a kid in gym class.)
I also have worn glasses since I was 8 - so they are now part of my face. I’ve tried contacts but I don’t see as well with them and I always aware that something is in my eyes.
Plus I’ve been of the opinion that if someone doesn’t find me attractive because I wear glasses - well then that’s their loss!
In other words, the older I get, the better I was when I was younger.