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

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Thank you!!

It seems we give prunes a bad name, especially if we are constipated!

Way to go, lamb!!
Well done you - especially for not minding bad weather, moaning about which is extremely ageing, isn't it? Hugely amused to hear little DGS aged at the time no more than 2 last summer solemnly observe to DH "Bit wainy today Gwandpa"

I am 74,widowed, and still run my small farm and show my Shetland sheep. It is a very sociable occupation and physically demanding.Yes I read, watch Scandinavian Noir and good films. Hate politics but listen to R 4 and watch Newsnight. Living in the country, makes it difficult to keep up with theatre, music and films but I try to, sometimes. I have given up trekking and walking holidays because of arthritis. Yes sometimes I get depressed, lonely, lack self confidence etc but on another day I dont and just kick on with life. Most important I dont mind bad weather.

noodles,neither do I. I remember some years ago seeing a picture of Joan Collins and Prunella Scales. They are much the same age and I thought Prunella Scales looked much the younger. Joan Collin's make-up looks like a mask and her face is expressionless. Prunella Scales has a mobile expressive face and a 'normal' modern looking hair style. Much more attractive.

Try avoiding moaning about the same thing over and over again like a cracked record. That not only makes you sound like an obssessive old bat but also like a miserable obssessive old bat.

'fraid I think Joan Collins looks awful. I know she's slim, dresses well and has brilliant wigs which she wears well but I don't think she looks good.

Joan Collins turned 80 this year and on the photos of her party she looked fabulous. I know people will say well it's down to money etc. But she still has to keep slim and eat healthily which I believe she does.

I agree with you about disabilities and state of mind Flickety but it's all too easy to let ourselves go physically too.

I'm decorating our hall and stairs and ave taken down the hand rail to paint it. I didn't realise I used it so much, both coming down and going up stairs. It's been off now for four days and I'm just beginning to get used to simply using leg power. As I'm fit and well this is a bad habit I've developed over the years.
This is the kind of cosy habit which it's easy to slip into.

I have met people who are quite severely physically disabled, one lived in a care home, but whose minds flew free. They were delightful company with active curious minds and we had long interesting conversations.

'Old' is a state of mind not a state of body

I agree to some extent that being old is a state of mind, but if a person becomes physically frail and/or less mobile, this can affect their self confidence and ability to participate in the world around them.

I think it's important to, as much as possible, get out and about and meet new people and find new interests, as well as keeping up with old and new friends.

It's easy to get into cosy routines (I'm guilty of this sometimes), but if life becomes too humdrum the danger is of operating on "auto pilot" and becoming boring.

I'm 'old' when it suits me eg on a train when there are no seats, with the grandchildren if they want me down on the floor yet again etc etc. I don't feel 'old' [I'm almost 65 which reads 'old'], I don't dress 'old' - I like bright colours, leggings, jeans and Boden, but I often wonder what people's perception of me is when they see me

Some wonderful role model on this thread.
Love the 'hardening if the attitudes' idea Gracesmum. Need to guard against this.

My father survived my mother by just over 10 years. When he died at the age of 92, after a short illness he was till active on the committees of three local organisations, still capable of driving the 100 miles to both his daughters houses and in his late single life, having honed his cooking skills, no buffet event was complete without at least one of his Victoria sponges or trifles. DD still sighs for his meatloaf. I have the recipe but my version (and hers) doesn't quite taste like the original.

Being 'old' is a state of mind not a state of body.

Have I said this already? I believe what we all have to guard against as we grow older is known as hardening of the attitudes

I think many of us will find fantastic examples from our own parents. My Mum had to give up her rambler's club at 78 because the bloke who ran it was coming on to her all the time. So she took up swimming with her friend Mia instead, and only gave it up in her late 80s when she had a stroke and couldn't balance any more. She died at 94.

She travelled here to Australia to see us at 74 and 78, and often went to France to see my sister. She lived in a council retirement flat, and spent a lot of time helping 'the old folks' as she called them, many much younger than her. She would cash their pensions for them, do their shopping, help them filling forms out - stuff like that.

She ignored her age, and never bothered with doctors. I wish she had, because they'd have discovered her high blood pressure and she wouldn't have had a stroke.

But apart from ignoring her health, she is a fantastic role model for refusing to act old.

What a wonderful role model your mother was, *FlicketyB!

I agree about the walk [I think it's one of the first things an actor does when taking on a new role is to perfect the walk; I was very aware of that watching Helen Mirren in The Queen..the film not the stage play] but, alas, my knees won't let me swing along the way I used to .

At 80, and beginning to find her busy social life a bit tiring, my mother's solution was to refit the kitcen and install a dishwasher. She then continued to party and entertain until she died suddenly in her sleep at 85 while on holiday to recover from a rather hectic social period.

Like a good daughter I intend to follow my mother's example.

Granny23 what a wonderful father, good for him.

I think we all know people who were old in their 20s I certainly did, people who never did anything non conformist.

There are many restraints on carrying on doing all the things you did in your earlier years especially if you have medical conditions but you can still take an interest in the world.
If you choose to just sit back and let the world go by in my opinion it's like giving up on life.
However if that is what a person wants to do in their winter years then who is to argue with this.

I personnaly intend going out with a bang, there is nothing I don't do that I want to do.
I went backpacking round the world for 12 months on retirement when I was 62 years old.
I bought my first pr of roller boots in my 50s and would skate regulary if I could find a local rink, I ice skate in the winter with the kids and don't give a jot.
I learned to sail in my late 60s life is good and I intend enjoying it as long as I can.

petra I've recently acquired a Nissan Micra after my VW Polo packed up. I'm delighted with it.Its only done 18,000 miles- one lady owner for last 14 years.I rarely drive more than 40 mph and no longer on motorways.
Why even if speed limit is 60 mph should I feel pressured to drive at that speed.

I'm not a fan of his but will always remember Bruce Forsyth's comment that getting old is all about the walk and posture. He said if you shuffle along you'll look and feel old but if you stand straight and walk confidently it makes all the difference. He has a point...

I've just come to this thread so have read through all seven pages (and was a bit taken aback to see 'Happy New Year' mentioned!! Lol) and now feel I need to change my attitude! At 56 I'm already catching myself saying 'at my age' and thinking of myself as old! How did that happen?

As for staying young - it is all in the mind and my mind is still 19 (the most dangerous age of my youth - great memories!)

Gosh ps I'm glad my husband never continued with diving after he trained in the Navy. Mind you, it wasn't fun stuff - mainly working in murky waters. He did parachute jumps instead.