How can we stop becoming 'old' as we age?

For me , RMA , hope it works !! LAL

kitty - I suppose the questions that comes to mind is - 'Do THEY think they're old?', and 'What does getting old mean to you?'
I really don't think about it that much. Outwardly, silver hair and getting a bit tubbier and stiffer than I would like, so some may have the perception that I'm becoming 'old' - but basically I'm just busy getting on with my life.

RMA?

I'm not sure my body is in tune with my mind, but in my head I'm still about 30, and I find it really annoying that to others I'm invisible and old!

Ii was just going to ask that Ella

My body is definitely not in tune with my mind - I'm still about 19.

I feel BIl and his wife are embracing becoming old fogeys and curmudgeonly! Which of course, I am not!

Ella and Kitty , lol

I intend to keep young at heart by saying 'no' to elasticated waists, beige, nodding off in front of the telly and plonking down into chairs.

Ella re the "invisibility" thing. In WH Smiths the other day I couldn't contain it any longer. I requested that the the assistant talk to me and not my daughter. I actually said "I may be a bit old but I am not senile. I still have a brain in here". Probably a bit mean of me, but couldn't keep it in any longer.

I intend to request all shop people talk to me and not DD in future. Will phrase it in the nicest way possible.

As I said , I hope it works !!

What happens when you shop alone JO?

I googled it. It's "Return merchandise authorisation".

Good luck with that Nonu.

Well, they have to speak to me then! much good it does 'em

I quite like it when I am out with DD , and they talk to her , don"t have to bother .

Nonu

That way lies total inertia!!!

I refuse to fade into the background.

My Dad always used to say that age is just a number. He was teaching our children how to do headstands the day before he died. My mum always seemed old to me. After she was sixty she told everyone that she was a pensioner. DH is 65 and over the Christmas holiday got bored and said that if retirement was like that he'd carry on working. I agree with Butty I'm busy getting on with my life.

Jo , so be it then .

I sure am not fading into the background .

Royal Musical Association - I think we've been here before!

NanaNel thanks for the heads up. I'll stop the head stands from today.

Nanado That made me smile. I can see you standing on your head with a worried look on your face. I could never do headstands and was always envious of my Dad, that's why he taught the children. That's my last memory of him. Happy and young.

kitty I think it's about lots of things.
In no particular order, taking positive steps to carry on enjoying the things you enjoy doing, making an effort to keep up with friends and family, keeping physically healthy through good food and exercise, and taking an interest in what's going on outside your own immediate areas of interest.
Having said all that, I think dementia has a very insidious onset and besides the actual gradual memory loss there comes a loss of confidence which adds to the impression of ageing. Just my own observations with my mum. I also think there is a lot of depression in older people which for a variety of reasons is undiagnosed and untreated.
On the other hand my dear old aunt lived to 94 and until the last 6months of her life was lively minded and active. She read avidly and had a lovely garden and I think both those things sustained her.
It sounds as though your family will keep you and your DH on your toes though

I'm just getting on with my life too. My kids think I'm bonkers. They always have and, I suspect, always will. But they seem to like me and so does DH. I'm happy with that.

Why worry? Aging happens. So long as someone is content with their lot, what does it matter if they don't fit someone else's ideal?

Variety. Spice of life.

Here's to being totally barmy when there's a full-moon, and everso slightly batty the rest of the time. My family all agree that I fit the bill nicely...

My Dad, having immaculately performed a very responsible job for many years, retired on his 65 birthday, with a very smalll pension and promptly proceeded to 'act daft, go half fare' very successfully for the rest of his life. He adopted a slightly bemused manner and expression and wandered backstage, into VIP lounges, other people's social events, business receptions etc. partaking of the purvey and free drinks, played golf on many of the top courses, entering through the member's gate or simply starting at the 2nd hole, abroad on holiday he would join other people's tours and slip quietly into the best hotels, often enjoying lunch or dinner there. He was never challenged or flung out because he looked the part - very distinguished, tall and tanned, wearing his good suits and casual clothes picked up for peanuts at jumble sales in posh towns. In this way he became a familiar face and indeed a friend of many of the top golfers, politicians and folk singers of the day.

He was the man who had his shopping packed for him and carried to his car, who would arrive in his old banger but be photographed beside a Merc., who wore a posh club tie which no one could quite identify , who 'couldn't' find his seat and was upgraded to first class. He enjoyed his retirement to the full, his justification being that his Father, FIL and some good friends had died in harness and it was his DUTY to make the most of retirement.

I lack the self confidence to 'boldly go' as he did but admire his spirit.

Granny23 well done to your dad what a man he was eh ?