On Aging...

[MadamMack]

This makes a lot of sense, but I also think that the rise of the internet has damaged our memory capacity as we don't exercise it quite as much any more. When you know the answer to pretty much any given question is just one google search away on your pc or phone, we just don't do the effort to remember things as much. I know I don't and it annoys me.

My memory scares me . . .I don't forget anything and I am an IT professional --have been for over twenty years. I really don't forget anything. It is spooky. It scares the crap out of my family. I don't use it against anyone.

 

[MadamMack]

I avoid overexposure to the sun . . .I don't think we're meant to just soak in the sun. I eat a lot of vegetables and mostly drink water. No caffeine.

 

[GNTLGNT]

....I started going gray at 16, so I figured-well, what the hell?...if I'm gonna look old and extinguished, I might as well indulge in all the pleasures...oh strike that, nasty habits-yeah that's it, nasty habits that are supposed to make you look "mature"...so, I now appear as a well preserved Neanderthal caveman found in a thawing ice pack....I are a handsum deevil....

 

[HollyGolightly]

My memory scares me . . .I don't forget anything and I am an IT professional --have been for over twenty years. I really don't forget anything. It is spooky. It scares the crap out of my family. I don't use it against anyone.

Ah - you know, I noticed that about the IT guy I had to call in. I have to write every little thing down: he just flipped between screens and had all those numbers in his brain from the previous screen. I was in awe. You IT pros rock! My husband is one as well, but I hate to make him work at my office when he's done with his day.

 

[HollyGolightly]

I avoid overexposure to the sun . . .I don't think we're meant to just soak in the sun. I eat a lot of vegetables and mostly drink water. No caffeine.

Oh Lord: no caffeine? I am just doubly impressed by you. For my daughter's science project one year, we did a study on the effects of caffeine and came across interesting stuff. Google spiders on caffeine - the marijuana web was better than the caffeine web.

 

[Neesy]

Oh Lord: no caffeine? I am just doubly impressed by you. For my daughter's science project one year, we did a study on the effects of caffeine and came across interesting stuff. Google spiders on caffeine - the marijuana web was better than the caffeine web.

This is a "Mockumentary" rather than a "documentary" - it is pretty funny!
I tried Googling "Spiders on Drugs" and this is one I found (as well as actual real documentaries). I prefer the funny version

 

[HollyGolightly]

@Neesy - that was stinkin' hilarious!!

 

[Neesy]

@Neesy - that was stinkin' hilarious!!

Thanks - we used to watch the actual videos when we were growing up, so it was so funny to hear that same voice, only in a sort of farcical Monty Pythonesque video!

 

[ghost19]

...soon?....oh how we so easily self-deceive...

Hey! No comments from the peanut gallery.....now what was I doing????

 

[king family fan]

Hey! No comments from the peanut gallery.....now what was I doing????

umm..let me think on that awhile.

 

[GNTLGNT]

.....ummm, who are you people and why are you on my laptop?....do I LOOOK like freakin' Santa????....

 

[Chuggs]

I look back on my late teens and early 20's with much reverence and those memories always make me smile. As time goes by and I realize, in all likelihood, there are more years behind me than in front of me, I'm amazed at how my memories of my years at the U of A stay so vivid when other memories seem to fade. At the time, I thought everything mattered so much. I was convinced all of us "grunge rock" college kids were so cool and we were going to set the world on fire. I felt every word Layne Staley and Eddie Vedder belted out on countless songs, smoked two packs of Marlboros a day, drank to excess and indulged in other vices best left unsaid. Unfortunately...or maybe actually it is fortunate, life has a way of kicking in your testicles a few times and those kicks tend to teach you some very important lessons. Personally I think aging teaches you the best life lesson, perspective. Perspective teaches you the girl you once swore you would kill yourself over was actually as shallow and narcissistic as you were. It teaches you how to take some of the raw emotion you possess and funnel it into something productive instead of using it to accelerate your own demise. Perspective makes you realize the woman you have been casually dating, the same woman who is obviously interested in staying with you for the long haul and who is waiting, hoping you feel the same, is the same woman you can't tie your shoes without. I smirk often and shake my head thinking about myself during those times. I always get irritated with myself for being so short-sighted back then, only wanting to bend the world toward what I thought I needed, but only really wanted. I'm lucky to be alive at 41 years old, I told myself back when I was 20 I could care less if I ever saw 30 and did my best to make sure I didn't. I got lucky and met someone who was much further along the path of the beam than I was or ever will be. She is someone who, for whatever reason, was willing to let me figure out what time and perspective can teach you, if you take the lessons to heart as they come. I guess as good an example as any is that it's time to stop typing and hit the treadmill for an hour before retiring for the night. I can only imagine how the thought of walking on a treadmill would have cracked me up at 20 years old. For that matter, going to bed before midnight would have gotten a laugh also. I'm sure I would have lit another Marlboro, threw back another shot of Wild Turkey and told my 41 year old self to "let me know how that lame ass $hit works out for ya", then made fun of myself. Ahhh, to be young, full of yourself, piss, and vinegar. It's a journey I'm glad I survived, but don't want to go thru again. I worry about my nine year old son. I'm very much hoping he doesn't have the issues I had but it seems like everyone has them, just in different ways. That age makes your issues seem like the only issues in the world. I sure hope he has a easier time getting over himself than I did. G'night all.

Great post. And so true!

 

[Autumnlyn]

I'm very comfortable with getting older. I wear my grey and wrinkles like badges of honor (I guess I should say 'right now', ask me in a few more decades and I may change my tune LOL). I just accept I'm not 20 anymore, and never will look like that again, and that's okay Cause, I'm digging the Grandma look.

As for giving up my vices...ummm, no. Haven't done that yet. Just learned the value of moderation. (Well, most of the time anyway)

 

[Lisey Landon]

I certainly do not act my age. And I don't care what anybody thinks. I go to more concerts now than I could do in my youth, both because I can afford it now, and because there are more concerts where I live (or close to where I live) now. I smoke, and I am not planning to stop. Every weekend, I go out with my boyfriend to meet friends and drink wine. The hangover is totally worth it, we have so much fun!
I don't worry so much about dying before my time, it is more important for me to enjoy life every day. I have my father's genes, so my hair has not gone grey/white yet. But I hope, that when it does, the color will be nice
Age is, when all comes to it, just a number. My outsides may wrinkle and become grey, but inside I am the same person - just a little wiser (I hope) and calmer.

 

[MadamMack]

Oh Lord: no caffeine? I am just doubly impressed by you. For my daughter's science project one year, we did a study on the effects of caffeine and came across interesting stuff. Google spiders on caffeine - the marijuana web was better than the caffeine web.

It makes me mean so I stay away from it and it took me a long time to adjust to that but I'm glad I did. Whenever I eat chocolate I get a major rush . . .but it doesn't make me mean.

 

[FlakeNoir]

It makes me mean so I stay away from it and it took me a long time to adjust to that but I'm glad I did. Whenever I eat chocolate I get a major rush . . .but it doesn't make me mean.

 

[Todash]

I'm 42. I literally feel better than I ever have because of (finally) taking care of myself, both physically and mentally. I eat clean (ish) six days a week; Saturday I eat whatever the hell I want. I've been slacking on the exercise lately, but my goal is to work out six days weekly. Just this week I started planking. Planking is awesome. I'm still trying to fit in time to write and read again, just because life has been so crazy lately. At least I know I need to for my sanity, though, and I'm not apologizing for needing to.

In my 20s, I operated mostly out of fear. Fear of what people would think. Fear that I would do the wrong thing. Fear that I would never be good enough. Well, feck it. Life is beautiful—current personal trials notwithstanding—and I want to live it. There are things I want to DO. Things I'm going to do. Carpe diem!

When I am old, which is not yet, I shall be a force to be reckoned with, because I will have gathered a lot of steam by that time. Stand not in my way if you have a care for your soul.

 

[Todash]

I've never been reckless, and I like me that way.

We like you too.

 

[HollyGolightly]

@Todash ugh PLANKING. just when I thought there was nothing worse than push ups -I met planking. I'm not sayin' it's not a great full body strength move, but oh how I hate them.

 

[Todash]

It's all about the core, baby.