loss of youth and vigour

My body has served me well,it carried and gave birth to my children.

My face has more laughter lines than sorrow lines.

I shall never be as young as I am today.

Remember how good you look and feel now because in ten years time you'll look back on THIS time and wish you had appreciated it! I realise at 69 that being 59 was pretty good!

You are lucky then KatyK I have definitely flagged over the last few years. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. I have learned to pace myself more and not try to fit too much into each day. I am also trying to let things go a bit more, not to worry about dust or cleaning each room every day. Looking at the calendar I see there things booked in for most days so at least our social life isn't suffering. I count myself lucky I can still enjoy my life even if it is a bit more limited.

What I miss is the unbroken sleep of my youth. I could sleep for 12 hours or more, in one go. No aches, no pains, no angst about anything. Just pure sleep and waking up fresh , opening the curtains and looking forward to the day.

I am almost 70 but I don't feel any different vigour wise than I did when I was young. I'm not overweight, can still run for a bus. I've never had thick hair and now have total hair loss so I do miss my hair and regret not appreciating it, fine though it was. I have vein free legs. I have always looked after my skin and have few wrinkles. Despite this, my face is red, blotchy, has thread veins and spots! Swings and roundabouts I suppose. I am relatively healthy but worry and mither about everything, which doesn't make for a happy life.

What I am quite conscious of is not the envy of smooth skin, vigour and energy but 'time envy'. Unless tragedy or health issues intervene the young have what we oldies once had and now have so much less of - time.

It seems an incredibly obvious thing to say but I do wonder if the envy of the future time of youth is behind some of the criticism of "young people" that seems to have gone on forever. I meet many lovely and inspiring young people and am quite blown away by their knowledge, passion and skills.

Or we oldies may feel that the world is going to hell in a handbasket, politically and environmentally and are glad we won't be here. Who knows? I certainly don't.

In some ways I feel I'm getting some youth and vigour back. Requiring, getting and recovering from the surgery for two new knees took up so much time and energy over the past decade or so. I'd been reduced to going from seat to seat to avoid the pain resulting from total loss of cartilage in my knees. Now however, no more pain. Walking is a pleasure again and I feel I'm getting my life back.
Re how I look: with my glasses off so I can't quite focus and, preferably with the bathroom mirror a bit steamed up, I look great (to myself!)

I feel frustrated that I can see things that need doing, especially in the garden, but cannot do them, either through lack of mobility and flexibility, or through pain. Grrr!!!

I would say I have aged 10 years physically in the last l8 months. I think living in Spain for 15 years was health in the bank. Since I've come back the aches, pains and stiffness have arrived. I put it down to a much healthier climate, outdoor life, plus healthier food. There is too much temptation over here in the supermarkets and I am not strong willed enough to resist it.

"I am a stroke survivor, I have nothing but gratitude for the passing years"
When I read these words said by Sharon Stone I realised that aging and the loss of youth are not to be feared. I am 67 and I have lost too many friends and people who I loved to worry about the passing years.
I wish I had the energy I had at 50 but I am still here.

Sorry my post should hav read unable not able

well what I never had I don't miss ! I never was possessed of a Lithe taut body .
I was a lanky ungainly child , a fat spotty teen , had a brief tolerable bit in my twenties , then pregnant and fat ... sigh .. now fat wrinkled and stiff

I agree travels what we took for granted eh?
With the DGC I have discovered that I can’t hop around the garden ( only managed three hops!) and climbing over a style in my village has become gruelling.
The reality is that we have less energy and less of everything, but in the words of the One Foot In The Grave song, given half a chance we can still misbehave!?

I miss the strength and endurance I used to have - working full time and then going home to cook dinner and do housework, take my children to sporting practice a few times a week, and then watching them play on the weekends. Those were the days !

But I don't mourn the loss of smooth skin and straight fingers - I'm not an old hag yet at 70 ! Still OK for my age so "carry on regardless" I say.

Antiques have a value far above a bit of plaster board and a lick of paint.
The patina which comes with age is reverently cared for be it furniture figure or face.

I don't regret any changes in my body, it has given me darned good service for 72+ years and I'm proud of it.

When I feel bleh and lacking energy I know for sure it's my own fault because I've not been eating enough green vegetables.

I sometimes get by on snack meals: cheese or poached egg
on Paleo toast - or even a bowl of porridge, rather than the balanced meals I know I need.

Then I have to self-medicate with a head of broccoli or a big bowl of spinach, silver beet, cauliflower or crispy salad medley. All of these guaranteed to zoop me up.

Without these vegies, which I actually enjoy most of the time, it's often a struggle to get through my day and sometimes I even need a nap But when I eat correctly I feel hearty, energetic and full of (green) beans.

So you'd think I'd learn my lesson, wouldn't you and have my 5 vegies a day?

But I don't always want greens; I feel more like a boiled egg with soldiers, or a bowl of cornflakes with a banana or some sardines and a tomato.
Delicious though these are, they don't fire me up like broccoli.

I might just mention that wheat products, regular tea with caffeine and eggs all leach iron from the body.

That is why so many people feel run down - it could well be the bread, cake, biscuits and that 'comforting brew'.

It's the vigour and energy that I miss most of all and not knowing how I'm going to feel from one day to the next.

I'm not so much bothered about the loss of youth, that's to be expected with age it's the slowing down process that I'm not keen on being that I've been a very active person. The wit has slowed down too because I forget some of the one-liners I used to come out with.

Oh travelsafar, there’s beauty in every age and stage, it’s just different. Yes. I do sometimes miss the physical stamina I once took for granted but decided it isn’t helpful to dwell on it. I still do what I want, just differently. Having said that now and again regrets creep in that I didn’t appreciate what I had and who I was. You sound wistful and perhaps a little sad, think of all the knowledge and skills you’ve gained through life experience, it’s worth a lot, be proud of who you are.

Well, I've just bought some face products that promise to restore me to youthful splendour. I'll let you know in 28 days whether it's worked!

The body is certainly less willing nowadays but I'm much happier and content in myself than in my youth.