# What Birthday Age Has Been The Hardest For You To Deal With? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 13, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949 "2010-04-13T14:38:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/41 "2010-04-13T19:42:37Z")
28, only because it was the one my older brother never had. Never been bothered much by aging – beats the hell out of the alternative. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/42 "2010-04-13T19:53:54Z")
> [@kapri](#): > > I in my 50s now, but the hardest one so far was 35. I think it felt just so . . . adult. I knew that once I was 35, I had to stop fooling around. > > I haven’t turned 55 yet, though. I have a feeling that one will be somewhat traumatic as well. I’ll be 35 this summer, and my younger brother’s made it difficult for me already. When I turned 25, he made sure to mention that I was closer to 30 than 20. I didn’t mind so much… and it didn’t bother me too much when he observed that I was closer to 40 than 20. I didn’t expect to be too upset when he started talking about me being closer to 40 than 30, either. Except the little punk told me I was closer to 50 than 20. That was a tough pill to swallow. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Booker\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/71c47a/32.png) [@Happy\_Booker\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Booker_1)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/43 "2010-04-13T19:57:51Z")
Mine was 49. I made the mistake of characterizing it as “I’m in my 50th year.” On the bright side, it made the 50th birthday itself easier. Hmmmm. Trade a lousy year for a lousy day. I decided not to do that again. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/44 "2010-04-13T20:00:50Z")
1. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/45 "2010-04-13T20:16:04Z")
The birthdays 35/36/37. It just felt like its all downhill after that. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/46 "2010-04-13T20:57:28Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > 40 hit me like a ton of bricks. > > …40 hit me so hard. I don’t even know why. It was only about three years ago and I still haven’t fully gotten over it. Me, too. I had no problem with 30 or 35, but 40 really bothered me for some reason. It was over a year ago, and I still can’t believe I’m in my 40s! Time seems to be going by faster and faster. I can’t believe I graduated from college almost 20 years ago! Where the hell does the time go?! ---
**Author:** ![kapri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kapri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kapri)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/47 "2010-04-13T21:19:25Z")
> [@maplekiwi](#): > > The birthdays 35/36/37. It just felt like its all downhill after that. It isn’t though. In many ways, my 50s are turning out to be the best time of my life so far. Sometimes, though, I get that “If I could go back knowing what I know now” feeling. ---
**Author:** ![maplekiwi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@maplekiwi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maplekiwi)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/48 "2010-04-13T21:25:52Z")
> [@kapri](#): > > It isn’t though. In many ways, my 50s are turning out to be the best time of my life so far. Sometimes, though, I get that “If I could go back knowing what I know now” feeling. Yes I know. 🙂 I’m now 53. Getting older doesn’t bother me at all now. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/49 "2010-04-13T21:27:35Z")
I had a hard time with my 25th birthday, for a couple reasons: 1) few people came, and 2) I got no sympathy; everyone older than me went, “25? Pfft.” and everyone younger went, “25? LOL!” ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/50 "2010-04-13T21:52:30Z")
I spent a year depressed after my 40th birthday. I’d figured that life was basically over; I had no more chance at romance or getting laid or anything like that. And I was already 11 years into a 14-year dry spell. Imagine my surprise when last year I actually hooked up with someone! ---
**Author:** ![Doctor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Doctor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2010, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/51 "2010-04-13T22:27:28Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I spent a year depressed after my 40th birthday. I’d figured that life was basically over; I had no more chance at romance or getting laid or anything like that. And I was already 11 years into a 14-year dry spell. Imagine my surprise when last year I actually hooked up with someone! I never quite hit the depressed band, but since my 40th I try to avoid having anyone notice my birthday (and have been pretty successful except last year). But yeah, definitely on a dry spell and not liking it much. Why do all the 25 year olds look so good now? Damn. It’s hard finding someone my age as they are mostly either married or not my type. ☹ Ah, well. Need to work on the grey hair, though! :eek: Dammit – I’m too young to have grey hair. I sure don’t feel like I’m in my 40’s! ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/52 "2010-04-14T01:57:52Z")
Another vote for 29. This should be a poll. ---
**Author:** ![torie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@torie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/torie)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/53 "2010-04-14T06:48:55Z")
I’m only 28, and I’m often sad over my impending 30. I haven’t done anything I wanted to do, really. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/54 "2010-04-14T07:29:28Z")
In the beginning I was born. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move. Hitting 30 was particularly hard for me, as I was freshly divorced from an 11 year marriage and angry that my youth had been wasted on that fat sexless freak of an ex. I should have been out banging college skanks and drinking it up until I was stupid; can’t do that now when I’m 10 years older than all those girls. I mostly got over it though. ---
**Author:** ![Serenata67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/serenata67/32/10646_2.png) [@Serenata67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Serenata67)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/55 "2010-04-14T13:05:34Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > I spent a year depressed after my 40th birthday. I’d figured that life was basically over; I had no more chance at romance or getting laid or anything like that. And I was already 11 years into a 14-year dry spell. Imagine my surprise when last year I actually hooked up with someone! I give you props for persevering. I don’t think I could last 14 years without sex… 😛 And congrats on finding someone! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![joyfool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@joyfool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joyfool)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/56 "2010-04-14T13:17:50Z")
I just turned 42 last month and so far, no problems. However, I wonder if maybe 50 might trip me up. At least I have 8 years to be prepared. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2010, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/57 "2010-04-14T22:45:19Z")
> [@melodyharmonius](#): > > However, I remember when I turned 26 - I cried and cried. I guess, as a kid, I always thought that by 25 I would be a grown-up doing all these cool grown-up things. All my childhood goals & dreams were based on 25 - I didn’t have any plans after that. So at 26 when I had gone to college, gotten a job and a husband and realized I was miserable - I just kinda fell apart. This is very similar to me when I turned 25. Things weren’t going my way, and I felt like a total loser. I had based my entire self-worth on my success at turning 25. I felt so much older than 24, and I kept on making a big deal out of being halfway to 50. I was moderately depressed for a good 6 months, although if I hadn’t had problems with depression in the past I probably would have been relatively OK. I turned 26 a few months ago, and it hasn’t been a big deal at all. ---
**Author:** ![Enuma\_Elish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5e9695/32.png) [@Enuma\_Elish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enuma_Elish)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/58 "2010-04-15T00:58:35Z")
My brother John is 10 years older than me. When he turned 40 he got a big party (which I attended. I drove an hour and a half to his house. I gave him a nice present.) with black balloons, jokes about him being old, AARP applications, etc. My brother Dave is 8 years older than me. When he turned 40 he got a big party (which I attended. I drove 50 minutes to his house and gave him a nice present.) with black balloons, Depends, AARP applications, etc. My brother Paul is 4 years older than me. When he turned 40 he got a big party (which I attended, driving 7 hours to his house and giving him a nice present.) with black balloons, Depends, AARP applications, a cane, etc. When my 40th birthday approached, I was not in a relationship, so I didn’t expect a party (because it is spouses or girlfriends who usually initiate and plan such things.), but I was looking forward to some nasty black birthday cards or phone calls or messages welcoming me into oldfarthood or some nasty e-mails or something.) Then my birthday came and passed and I got the obligatory religious birthday card from my Mom and NOTHING ELSE FROM ANYONE Not even the tiniest acknowledgement. I was pissed off about that for about 6 months until I realized I had actually been given the best present of all: A guilt free excuse to avoid any family to-do or get-together or event for the rest of my life. My 40th birthday was the worst one ever for 6 months. Then it became the best one ever. I still attend family events, but I go when I want and where I want. If I decide to skip a family event, i do it with a smile on my face and a song in my heart — and nobody can say anything! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/59 "2010-04-15T03:08:44Z")
The only birthday that ever bothered me was 50. I suddenly realized that the phrase “the rest of my life” was not some abstract concept, but a finite number of years. I couldn’t tell how far away the horizon was, but I could see it. Strangely, 60 didn’t bother me at all. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949/60 "2010-04-15T12:43:13Z")
Thirty started out rough because it was my first year after my father died and I divorced my sister, so I was all alone. But it was good for me. Some people tried to make 50 hard for me, namely my boss, who did the black-balloons thing and teasing me about AARP. Smarmy bitch. I just let it pass, but what I wanted to say was “You know what? My mother died of cancer at 42; my sister drank herself to death at 43. _ **I WIN** _.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-birthday-age-has-been-the-hardest-for-you-to-deal-with/535949.md?page=4)