I Don’t Feel Old….Do You?



Saturday Brunch!
Top:  Dana Buchman, Kohls
Pants: Talbots
Shoes: Stein Mart
Headband: Target



A new study was released this morning claiming that women begin to consider themselves old at age 29 and men at age 58. Wow, 29 really surprised and saddened me. Sad…because I hate it that so many young women would feel old so early.  Just click here….
New Study


Where I am today…right this minute…age 57…I honestly feel much younger than I actually am. After pondering this, I think it is because:


1. I generally have a positive, joyful outlook…taking one challenge and day at a time.


2. I have given attention to my outside look and taken my game a step up.


3. For the first time, in years, I am losing weight which needed to come off.


4. I have begun a program of bioidentical hormones, which have returned hair to my legs and a spring in my step!


5. I finally placed ME on the priority list after years of placing everyone else at the top.


So, what does “OLD” feel like? For me, in the past, it felt like despondency, tired, unmotivated (no vision for the second half), dried up…you get it. The times I have felt old, I looked in the mirror and focused on the one big wrinkle or the growing strands of grey hair. The wrinkles and the grey hair are going to happen no matter what I do….but the state of mind is up to me. Now when I look in the mirror, I try to focus on how fabulous I can look today.


I received an email from a vibrant 66-year-old in Ohio named Carole…when discussing fashion for the over 50 crowd, she wrote, “No little old lady polyester pant suits and sensible granny shoes for me. Today I wore a black pencil skirt, a light gray turtleneck sweater with a really cool silver and black necklace, black tights, high heeled boots and a belted black leather jacket. It’s still really cold here in OH. I looked tasteful, age appropriate and kinda fabulous if I do say so myself.”


Carole, I think you and I and many of the readers of this blog need to get out and have a talk with a bunch of 29-year-olds!!

23 Comments

  1. Well if it's any consolation, I'm going to be 31 in April and I don't feel old. Yet. 🙂 I've plucked a few gray hairs but I just blame it on my daughter, not age, and move on!

    I really love this outfit on you, I think it's the belted top. That always makes me happy. Plus the cropped pants and sandals are really cute.

    Hope you're having a good weekend!

    Come take a look inside A Working Mom's Closet

  2. Cute outfit! I think keeping a positive attitude and taking care of oneself (in whatever form) are key to staying vital and engaged with life.

  3. I'm 35 now and I don't feel old. I feel just about right. 🙂 I think that when I felt old around age 30 it wasn't about the age, it was about the extra weight I had put on that was making me tired and achy. Lost 20 pounds, all good now.

    Sometimes Hubby and I talk about "feeling old" because the stage of life that we're in is one that many don't face until their 50's or 60's. Our youngest is a high school sophomore, hubby's got a pension, and we're planning a realistic and comfortable retirement in 12 years. Many of my friends are still cranking out babies, so logistically they're about 20 years behind where we're at! I think it's a lot more about your stage of life – particularly in relation to parenting – than your numerical age.

  4. I'm about to hit 50 and don't feel a day over 32!
    In fact, I feel younger now than I did at 40. I think that's because, like you, I changed my attitude for a more positive one. I spend more time looking ahead now rather than thinking of missed opportunities. (At least most of the time!)

  5. I love Carole's comments….sounds like a great lady. It's hard for me to believe when I hear my step-daughter say she's getting old at 29 :-(. I really don't feel old either, although I do joke about it and use my age (59) as an excuse if I forget something. 🙂 Sometimes I have aches and pains and have to move slower…that I hate, but I deal with it. A lot of age IS attitude! you go girl!!!

  6. Love this post, thank you! New challenges and a sense of fun are definitely the name of the game for feeling young, I think. Now, I must confess that I felt a little old when I woke up this morning…. but that's because I was out in a club listening to live music until 2 am. 20-somethings everywhere, on my feet the whole time, and still I lasted through ten encore. Ha! Take that! 🙂

  7. Pam this is a great post–and it is so sad that someone 29 could feel old. My 89 year old grandmother used to say that the guy beside her was 89, but she wasnt! Sometimes it is DENIAL!
    I also take the bio-identicals and its a help. I'm not saying that some mornings I don't feel old, (I'm 56) but I take plenty of vitamins, excercise and look for things to keep me inspired~ Paula

  8. Pam, I don't feel old at all. In fact, often, I feel like the same goofy 15 year old that I have for years! Carole sounds awesome and it just shows that your mission to speak to women is being successful. My goodness, I wouldn'tgo back to 29 for anything! I'm loving my 40s!! ~Serene

  9. Pam, I will be 50 in September. I am already telling people I am 50 and this bothers my daughters, you know what? who cares? I feel great-I'd like to lose a little weight, I am on disability, but that has nothing to do with how old I am. My mindset is still the same old me, my daughters like to hang out with me, I know things I wish I had known when I was in my twenties. Life is pretty good.

  10. Pam–There are days that I do feel older than others, but overall I am grateful to be fit and in good health at 56. When I think about being younger, it is not with regret. I would not relive my youth (and ignorance) for all the money in the world.

  11. Yes you do. I know a young woman who was sad on her 23rd birthday. Why was she sad? She wanted "to stay 21 forever." She didn't want to "get old." Gah. I guess since so much value is placed on youth and looks you can't blame her. But I do feel if we lead by example, young women will eagar look to being a vibrant, active, beautiful woman living the best years of her life at 57.

    You are looking delicious Pam. If you were a bowl of ice cream, I'd serve you up with some cookies.

  12. Those bioidentical hormones work wonders. I was on them last year. Genetically I'm on the early end of perimenopause so I was so happy to find them. You are right – I think its all in the attitude!

  13. I am 59. It kills me when I hear younger women bemoan their age. The only thing I hate about my age is that time has passed so quickly! Still, I enjoy each day as it comes.

  14. AMEN sister!
    I didn't feel "old" even in my 30's , it was the best time of my life- i felt the most beautiful and confident, then 40 hit ( i got a bit blue) but as I near 47 ( june) I keep getting younger.
    I think that when we stop learning, creating,discovering and laughing we go down hill fast!!!!
    I stopped for a while, and felt so dried up, but thanks to blogging i feel better and better.
    Soon I'll be an infant!
    The hubs think i already am………
    xXx
    Reva

  15. good post
    I might look older, but I certainly don't feel it or act it for that matter!!!
    Attitude baby, it's all in the attitude
    Brett

  16. I definitely don't feel my age. I'm not even sure what that means or how my age is supposed to feel. But I'm not going to stop doing what I want until my body tells me otherwise. I'm a 47 yr old who does circus arts to stay in shape. I fly through the air with the greatest of ease. At least for now.

    xo,
    Tracy

  17. Old at 29!!! That just kind of freaks me out. I met my second husband when I was 50 and felt like a teenager again. We can't help what happens to our bodies. No matter how hard we try stuff is just going to happen but getting old is mostly in your head. I've seen so many people that just give up at a certain age and stop caring about their appearance, their lives and themselves. I am still curious and engaged and learning new stuff. Yeah, someday I'm not going to be able to rock the 4" heels but then I'll just find some fabulous flats.

  18. I totally agree. I just started really feeling old this year at 59. I'll be the big 60 in March. All I hear in my head is 60 60 60. I hate it I don't feel like I'm going to be the big 60.

Comments are closed.