I think it’s that you don’t feel older mentally. I though I would feel a certain maturity once I reached an age where I had a solid, advancing career and owned a house. Turns out, I feel pretty much the same and am just better at dealing with things that arise and pretending that I’m mature. My body hurts more and my face looks older, but I don’t feel all that different. I’m sure I’ve mentally changed to some extent, and I notice it more when I talk to younger people, but I still feel the same.
I used to think this. I was in my late 20s but still felt like a teenager in my head.
At some point in the last few years, after I crossed into my early 30s, I realized that wasn’t true anymore. I don’t feel like a teenager, I just feel like a 20 something now. Which is still incorrect but there’s definitely been a shift.
Maybe it stopped because when I’m around teenagers, I realize how much distance I feel from them. Not in a “kids these days” way, just in a general sense. A feeling like “…oh…I’m not like this anymore. I remember being like this, I still kind of am, but I haven’t really been like this in a while.” The juxtaposition is so evident that my unconscious self-perception can’t maintain the denial.
I certainly don’t feel my age, but my “internal age” (so to speak) has progressed a bit. I guess it’s a sliding scale.
Preach. I just turned 45 and I’m finally starting to physically feel older, but mentally I feel better than ever. I had a lot of mental issues due to being raised in an abusive household and I finally buckled down and got a lot of therapy. I’m not 100% and never will be, but I’m 90% and fighting for more every day. It’s great, feeling like I actually have my shit together.
Talking to younger people, people in their twenties mostly, is a bit depressing, though. I’m so out of touch with their culture and I don’t know where to even start to get caught up. One lady offhandedly said something “slaps” and I had to ask if that’s good or bad. Ughhhhhhhh.
I think it’s that you don’t feel older mentally. I though I would feel a certain maturity once I reached an age where I had a solid, advancing career and owned a house. Turns out, I feel pretty much the same and am just better at dealing with things that arise and pretending that I’m mature. My body hurts more and my face looks older, but I don’t feel all that different. I’m sure I’ve mentally changed to some extent, and I notice it more when I talk to younger people, but I still feel the same.
This. Still feel and act as I did at thirty. This is going to get sad eventually.
So far nothing like my ‘parents’ thankfully.
I used to think this. I was in my late 20s but still felt like a teenager in my head.
At some point in the last few years, after I crossed into my early 30s, I realized that wasn’t true anymore. I don’t feel like a teenager, I just feel like a 20 something now. Which is still incorrect but there’s definitely been a shift.
Maybe it stopped because when I’m around teenagers, I realize how much distance I feel from them. Not in a “kids these days” way, just in a general sense. A feeling like “…oh…I’m not like this anymore. I remember being like this, I still kind of am, but I haven’t really been like this in a while.” The juxtaposition is so evident that my unconscious self-perception can’t maintain the denial.
I certainly don’t feel my age, but my “internal age” (so to speak) has progressed a bit. I guess it’s a sliding scale.
I’m in my sixth decade. It’s not bad. Finally not giving any fucks at all. It’s a sliding scale.
Being Gen X is pretty good.
Enjoy.
Same for me. I don’t sweat the small stuff anymore, and fairly much everything is small stuff now.
Very best to you. Live long.
Thank you! May yours be peaceful, prosperous and as long as you fancy
That’s a melodious turn of phrase. Thank-you.
I heard someone say, “We don’t grow up, we grow old”
Agreed. I’m almost 50, but I still feel like I’m in my 20s in many ways.
Preach. I just turned 45 and I’m finally starting to physically feel older, but mentally I feel better than ever. I had a lot of mental issues due to being raised in an abusive household and I finally buckled down and got a lot of therapy. I’m not 100% and never will be, but I’m 90% and fighting for more every day. It’s great, feeling like I actually have my shit together.
Talking to younger people, people in their twenties mostly, is a bit depressing, though. I’m so out of touch with their culture and I don’t know where to even start to get caught up. One lady offhandedly said something “slaps” and I had to ask if that’s good or bad. Ughhhhhhhh.
Exactly!
I came here to write this.
I can only add that with years I started doing the same stupid things with no regrets.
Looking back, it would be hard to explain to the younger me, that there are no adults, but just ugly kinds.