When am I no longer "young"?

[MareIt]

I turned 35 today.

My perspective on age is warped by the fact that I work with a company that employs a TON of 23 year olds fresh out of college. However a Sr VP that is 75 has convinced me that age is a mindset not a number; he is younger than I am

[Wesley_Clark]

When your body starts fucking up and can’t repair itself as well. I’m only in my early 30s, but my body isn’t as resilient as it was just 5 years ago. I get a lot more chronic pains and get injured more easily. That may have to do with my lifestyle being different too though (I don’t exercise as much, and my job is more physically demanding).

[salinqmind]

I found an oldies station on the radio! I’m driving along in my sweet new ride, singing along to songs they played when I was in high school! Haven’t heard them in years and years, feeling great, feeling fine. Then there’s a commercial for senior citizen’s apartments - hair salon, fitness center, deli, great view, blah blah - ? - and I learn: I was eligible to move in 5 years ago! :eek: Who? Me???

[Declan]

@Mr.Excellent

But, eventually you do become (yech) middle-aged. What’s the cutoff? Is it 35? 40? 45? When do I stop being one of the hip new potential leaders of tomorrow, and part of the boring establishment?

Probably when 21 year old hotties, become either 31 or 41 year old hotties.

Enjoy your 28th, when the time comes you wont give it a second thought.

Declan

[Silvorange]

I was going to start considering myself middle-aged when I turn 40, but I changed my mind. I am having my first “my body is wearing out”-related surgery (a microdiscectomy) in a few hours. I think of it as my graduation from youth.

I went to my 20-year high school reunion last year. I always thought those were for old people (20 years?!), but it was just a bunch of kids my age.

[Rachellelogram]

I’m also turning 27 next month. For now, 35 looks like the first non-young year in my future. But TBH I don’t feel very young now, either. My knees hurt, I’m stuck in a rut, and I’m pretty cranky most of the time.

I think that aging denial is fucking creepy. 50 is not young. 50 MIGHT be the tail-end of middle-aged, if people in your family often live to 90+. But there is no frame of reference in which a 50-year-old can call themselves young, unless it’s strictly comparative vs someone much older. You might be able to say “I’m young compared to my grandmother, who is 105.” But you can not say “I’m 50 and I’m young!” or “I’m 50 years young!” without actual young people thinking you’re an object worthy of ridicule.

I’m cranky today.

[nivlac]

There is no fixed age at which you go from “young” to “not young”. It’s all relative to the people around you. If you’re in a room of senior retirees, then you can be 50 and still young. If you’re 32 in a room of teenagers you’ll feel as old as dirt. Since you probably spend most of your outside-of-home time at work, then one good benchmark is the age of your colleagues at work. When you go from being among the young turks in the office to being one of the “seasoned” veterans, then you’ve crossed over from young to not-so-young. Take this from a not-so-young.

[Unintentionally_Blank]

@rachelellogram

I’m also turning 27 next month. For now, 35 looks like the first non-young year in my future. But TBH I don’t feel very young now, either. My knees hurt, I’m stuck in a rut, and I’m pretty cranky most of the time.

I think that aging denial is fucking creepy. 50 is not young. 50 MIGHT be the tail-end of middle-aged, if people in your family often live to 90+. But there is no frame of reference in which a 50-year-old can call themselves young, unless it’s strictly comparative vs someone much older. You might be able to say “I’m young compared to my grandmother, who is 105.” But you can not say “I’m 50 and I’m young!” or “I’m 50 years young!” without actual young people thinking you’re an object worthy of ridicule.

I’m cranky today.

I felt older at 28 then I did at 32. The difference? Exercise.

Get off the couch and MOVE a bit.

[msmith537]

@rachelellogram

I’m also turning 27 next month. For now, 35 looks like the first non-young year in my future. But TBH I don’t feel very young now, either. My knees hurt, I’m stuck in a rut, and I’m pretty cranky most of the time.

I think that aging denial is fucking creepy. 50 is not young. 50 MIGHT be the tail-end of middle-aged, if people in your family often live to 90+. But there is no frame of reference in which a 50-year-old can call themselves young, unless it’s strictly comparative vs someone much older. You might be able to say “I’m young compared to my grandmother, who is 105.” But you can not say “I’m 50 and I’m young!” or “I’m 50 years young!” without actual young people thinking you’re an object worthy of ridicule.

I’m cranky today.

“I can’t let you in cause you’re old as fuck. For this club…not for the earth.”

[msmith537]

@nivlac

There is no fixed age at which you go from “young” to “not young”. It’s all relative to the people around you. If you’re in a room of senior retirees, then you can be 50 and still young. If you’re 32 in a room of teenagers you’ll feel as old as dirt. Since you probably spend most of your outside-of-home time at work, then one good benchmark is the age of your colleagues at work. When you go from being among the young turks in the office to being one of the “seasoned” veterans, then you’ve crossed over from young to not-so-young. Take this from a not-so-young.

It’s all relative though. As a 36 year old director in a management consulting firm who had been there 4 years, I was one of the “old guys”. But when I took a job with a big insurance company where I was managing a team of people mostly a few years older, I was this young arrogant whippersnapper.

[taffygirl]

@zweisamkeit

I’m 28 and have been thinking about this a bit. But it strikes me as odd that people think early-mid 30s counts as “middle aged”.

To me, it’s like:

20s - young/early adult
30s - solidly adult
40s - older side of adult, upper 40s starts to be middle aged
50s - definitely middle aged
60s - depending on person, middle aged to oldISH
70s - old
80s - OLD
90s - JFC, old!

Edited to clarify: and I’ve felt this way since at least high school, so it’s not just my attempt to not feel like I’m approaching middle age.

I love this. You made my day!

[VOW]

Turning 30 didn’t bother me. When I reached forty, I was on a nonstop hamster wheel to work, take care of my family, pay the bills, and just survive.

Fifty hurt my feelings.

It was when I saw my poor naked body in a full length mirror, and I cried, “Oh my GOD!” that I realized I’m now over the hill and definitely on the downside.

I’m 58.
~VOW