what's good about

Making it this far, not out. (I'm not joking!) I'm grateful.

Yes I agree with making it this far! Also, grandchildren, retirement as long as we are fit enough to enjoy it. Free bus travel and fuel allowance Not having anyone to answer to (work I mean), being able to choose quiet times to shop, not getting up at 6am for work.

Waking up and thinking 'Well, I'm still here'!

Grandchildren - so lovely and I adore them but they're not there 24/7

Being able to do absolutely what I want each day and seeing my children and grandchildren growing up and living their lives.

I read someone who said that growing old is great because it's much better than the alternative

I've always thought that sentiment about being alive being better than the alternative is weird. If you are dead you don't feel anything. What's bad about that? Dying, the process of dying, is the potential bad guy, not being dead. I've absolutely no worries about being dead. Being alive or being in the process of dying are much more scary conditions.

But then, that's life.

Getting up when I feel like it.
Having had terrible menstrual problems. The main joy of age for me is that's all behind me

I agree, thatbags. It really is a cliché and just...wrong!

If I don't feel like doing housework, I don't. There's always tomorrow. If I'm not here tomorrow then housework is no longer my concern

I'm much more confident now, and less worried about shallow things like looks and clothes. Yes, that may be evident from my appearance!
And I've spent today with 6 friends all over 70, they all had such interesting tales to tell about their lives, people they've met, books, places they've been. It is lovely to share memories.

Well, I think it's better to be alive than dead. Long may it continue I say.

I guess it is better to be alive then dead if you are ok. I cannot think of anything good about old age though. I hate it so much.

It has its positives Shanma, enjoying life without the constraints of work, seeing family growing up and getting on with their lives. No need to be competitive just enjoy simple pleasures, walking in the countryside, meeting with friends without having to look at the clock, reading all the books you want to. I know a lot of people have health problems which make old age difficult but we can't go back so make the most of today. I'm lucky to be an optimist but know it's annoying to others sometimes.

I agree with brOadwater I've often used the "it's better than the alternative' adage. I thinks it's because my mother died quite young so never got to enjoy grandchildren and the time to fulfil some of the dreams I've been able to fulfil. She had all the hard work of bringing up a big family and just as we were entering independence and her life was getting easier she died. She never got to reap what she worked so hard for. So for all its drawbacks I think I'm really lucky to have lived longer than her.

I think being an optimist is the best attribute to have to help live with the increasing difficulties which come with increasing age.

I've always been a glass half-full positive thinker and still am so I am able see the good bits and minimise the not so good. Unlike my dear sister who is the polar opposite. It is sometimes difficult to keep her going. Throughout their life together she and her DH have consistently made the wrong choice at every juncture and yet it's always someone else's fault! I love her dearly but she is someone who drains energy.

I often wonder how we can be so different when we came out of the same nest.

Oh Shanma my heart aches for you. How awful to be in a situation you hate so much.
I can only urge you to force yourself to write a list of the things that you do like about being older. Most of us would agree we preferred being younger, fitter, prettier, wealthier etc but really we still have so much to contribute and enjoy. I love talkings to babies and toddlers in shops. I never had time for that before.

'Time to stop and stare'
Grandchildren plus the love and support of my DSs.

Being old enough to know what I want and feeling young enough to still get it

I'm only 68 so not able to comment

Another thread about getting old?

I think it's nice that people's expectations of you are not so high.

In what way? Do our standards drop when we reach a certain age...?

Jalima do you really think that on waking? I usually think, "shit Oh blow! Late up again".

Perhaps we can't always measure up to our old standards. Or at least, it gets harder to do so.

I guess I mean, you can afford to not strive quite so much. People get a bit more forgiving. Unless you want to strive, of course.