What (if any) are the advantages of growing older?

[NJmaverick]

seems like a timely topic for the lounge.

Besides the obvious- It sure beats the alternative, what are the advantages.

I will start with there are less social pressures on you as you get older.

I will also add that with age comes experience, which brings wisdom. That wisdom can often improve our outlook on life.


What else?

[PassingFair]

1. Less self-conscious.

I could give a flying *uck whether
people find me sexually attractive
or not.

As long as I am not REPULSIVE, I
could care less.

:)

[NJmaverick]

2. That's very true. You spend way less time worrying about what other think

or trying to live your life to impress others.

[PassingFair]

4. I was going through some old clothes ...

and found a size 6 skirt that I used to wear.


I remember thinking how FAT I thought I looked
in that skirt!

I am far more comfortable with my body NOW, in a size 14!

[NJmaverick]

5. Exactly your enjoyment is not hampered by needless and unimportant worries

[raccoon]

3. If you're female, you don't have periods any more. It's almost worth it to get older

just for that.


I think I've become more accepting of other people's idiosyncrasies.

[RebelOne]

14. That's the only advantage I could see about aging. n/t

[WinkyDink]

39. Ditto.

[Blue_In_AK]

42. Oh, absolutely.

I forgot that one. Great point.

[KurtNYC]

6. you can get out of any social gathering just by saying "i'm going to take a nap"

-G. Carlin

[Radical Activist]

11. He had a whole 20 minutes of reasons why getting older is good.

You probably saw it, but anyone who hasn't watched his last special should check it out.

[Swede]

7. You get to chase kids off your lawn?

nt

[NJmaverick]

9. That's true there are so many things you get away with saying

or doing, as you get older

[mcctatas]

8. You finally have irrefutable proof that gravity is more than just

a theory?

[NJmaverick]

12. like evolution?

[BurtWorm]

10. Every day is better than the next.

:crazy:

[many a good man]

35. ROFL!

Best answer. I wish it wasn't so true!

[Aristus]

13. "You don't have to worry about dying young." - George Burns.

B-)

[RebelOne]

15. You get a lot smarter and wiser with age.

I just turned 70 in January and I don't like that number at all. But as you said, it beats the alternative. Also, things that bugged you when you were younger don't faze you any longer.

[cherish44]

16. Wisdom

I'm so much more comfortable in my skin, stronger in my convictions and happier overall than I was in my younger days. Oh I'm 41 and every day I wake up, look myself in the mirror and say "Damn! You are one sexy bitch!" (Thank you Wanda Sykes) :D

[no name no slogan]

17. Shit falls off you on a more frequent basis

[NJmaverick]

18. so that would mean you have less shit to deal with

:P

[seabeyond]

19. there is a total freedom (for me anyway) from the social bullshit game playing

i just dont give a shit what others think about me. not out to impress anyone. acceptance of self.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

20. You don't feel compelled to be up-to-date on everything

You know who you are, and you don't care as much what other people think.

You have more perspective on everything, so that you know the difference between a minor annoyance (a stain on your clothing) and a tragedy (fatal accidents, for instance).

You don't do crazy, stupid things, not even on a dare.

[kwassa]

21. I care far less what people think of me ...

recognizing how subjective human opinion is.

I recognize the difference between the big stuff and the small stuff much better, and don't sweat the small stuff. I tolerate ambiguity much better, and am less willing to jump to conclusions.

I also find myself less judgemental about other people and their choices.

I recognize all the blessings and privileges I have received in my life. While I don't have as much as some, I have a lot more than many, and for that I am grateful.

[AlCzervik]

22. you don't need as much sleep, you care way less about what people think of you

and you've figured out what to sweat and what not to, at least in my case.

[Arkansas Granny]

23. Senior Citizen Discounts.

As long as you are going to get the gray hair and wrinkles that usually accompany growing older, you might at well get something out of it.

[Redstone]

24. If you hurt yourself badly enough when you're young, there aren't any. Even the only

alternative starts to seem like it's not such a bad thing.

Redstone

[hippywife]

27. Hope you aren't

feeling THAT bad. I've seen the posts recently and wishing you better days. Please, if you haven't already, talk to the doc about that rapid weight loss. I'm not likin' the sound of that one little bit.

Hang in there, Redstone.

You got lots of reason and motivation to do so. :hug: :hug: :hug:

[Redstone]

32. Thank you. It's all kind of ganging up on me right now. But I'll be OK.

Redstone

[crimsonblue]

25. you make more money.

that'd be nice, seeing as I have none.

[DBoon]

26. Cops actually listen to you, and sometimes show you deference

Much different than when I was 19

[NJmaverick]

28. That's true and store clerks don't eye you suspiciously or with disdain

[zingaro]

29. Perspective. nt

[Raven]

30. When I want to tell someone to fuck off, I do and I don't look back!

[hippywife]

31. While I agree that

it takes a lot of social pressure off (I don't give a bit fat rat's ass about what people think of me anymore), I don't find it brings wisdom in the case of an awful lot of people.

I also have to disagree that it makes one sweat the little stuff less. I find I am getting more intolerant of people being stupid, lazy, greedy and inconsiderate.

I work in a retirement center so I'm constantly watching people grow feeble of mind and body, so my perspective on aging isn't really great.

I just turned 50 this past summer. Ugh!

[rug]

33. It's much easier not to give a shit.

[old mark]

47. ...and really mean it, not just adopting the pose.

I just saw a video of Les Paul who will be 94 in June, saying that the 2 things he really looks forward to are going out to play in a club every Monday and going to the bathroom.

Doing simple things and enjoying them - we take little drives every day, just to go out walking a little or minor shopping etc.


mark

[SPKrazy]

34. It means you aren't dead

:shrug:

[trof]

36. "I don't WANT to" is a perfectly valid reason.

I decided that when I hit 60.
There are some things my dear wife likes to do that I could'nt care less about.
Symphony, ballet, Mardi Gras parades.
No apologies, I just don't enjoy those.
She is as free as the breeze to go and have a great time.
I encourage her to do so.
Their are plenty of other things that we enjoy together.

It's nice (and honest) to not have to make up excuses to not do something I don't want to do.
So I no longer feel I have to spare someone's feelings and say "Gee, that's the day I'm getting a pedicure (or have a dentist's appointment, or whatever)".

"No thanks. I don't want to."
:-)

[rcrush]

49. Thats the best reason ever.

[madinmaryland]

37. Realizing that you have seen all eight trips the Cowboys have made to the Super Bowl,

and the five victories that they got!

:hi:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

44. That's not a benefit where I come from...

nt

[Lil Missy]

38. You can act like "Maxine", and people give you a pass cause you're old.

[Lucian]

40. I want to stay 26 forever.

Anyone know any vampires? The prospect of growing old scares the shit out of me.

[Blue_In_AK]

41. There are many.

Kids are grown and out of the house, you get all those "senior discounts," I've got a fishing license for life. In a couple of years I won't have to pay property taxes on the first $150,000 value of my home, I only have to work some of the time and only when I feel like it, social securty check, cute little boys calling me "grandma" (I wasn't so sure I was going to like that, but now I think it's great).

And since I'm going to live to be 93 according to the psychics, I still have a third of my life to go. I'm loving it.

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

43. Lower Insurance Rates....

Plus you're not burdened with the belief that you know everything.

[lunatica]

45. Your 'mom' look withers grownups

'cause you remind them of their moms and make them feel like they are five years old again. 'The look' takes years to perfect and works every time.

Plus you're free from all that hormonal emotional crap and you're actually smarter than before, AND you know it.

[abq e streeter]

46. I'm envious of all the people here who've gained perspective, wisdom, etc

I'll be 58 this summer ( WHAT????) an I'm still an insecure , clueless fool.

[rcrush]

48. You just dont give a fuck.

Things that bothered you when you were younger just dont matter anymore. Like how you look, getting laid, being afraid to tell people to fuck off etc.

[Shine]

50. Hopefully, more Compassion for oneself and others.

that, and Wisdom, of course.

:D

[Callalily]

51. Many wonderful attributes, like

less self-conscience, more self-assured, more socially conscientious, more gracious, more understanding, more forgiving, and obviously more life-experience.

The downside? Well, although the above listed attributes IMHO are good, at the work place all those attributes are considered attitude.:nuke:

[blue neen]

52. Self-acceptance

and with that comes more tolerance for others.

[Nikia]

53. Depends on what you mean by older

I think that you are taken more seriously by other adults when you are in your 30s or 40s as compared to your early twenties. When you are elderly, you can get discounts in some cases and if you choose not to have a job people don't look down on you.