Yahoo Lifestyle Older Adults Are Revealing The "Lies" About Aging That No One Talks About, And It's Shocking
We recently wrote a post where older adults revealed the "myths" about aging that more people should know. In the comments, more older adults revealed realities and "truths" about getting older, and it's seriously eye-opening. Here's what they had to say:
Note: Some responses were pulled from this Reddit thread.
1."I always assumed that if I didn't have my career by 40, I would never do anything I would enjoy and be stuck with whatever brought home a paycheck. However, now in my 50s, I've finally realized a career in education after many years of floundering and trying to 'find myself.'"
"Don't give up your dreams; they are always possibilities!"
—Anonymous, 56, South Dakota
2."That your sex life is over. I am 70, my wife is 63, and our sex life is better than ever. We have sex at least two times every week — sometimes more."
—Anonymous, 70, Rhode Island
3."It's so interesting to me that at what age a person is considered 'old.' It can be different in different contexts, cultures, and to different people. To a 5-year-old person, 45 years old might be considered old. To someone who is 80 years old, a person who is 60 years old might be a 'youngster.' To me, this is evidence that 'old' is almost always a cultural construct, like 'beauty.'"
—Anonymous, 65, Georgia
4."That as you get older, you become boring. Nah, you become content. Being content is the best feeling. Knowing you don’t care about missing something/FOMO because you’re happy to be in the safe space you created? Magical."
—Anonymous, USA
5."[Your age] is not [your age -10]. You're older, and you're not respected by the youth. That is the way it is, and that is the way it shall be. Pretending you can get away with it doesn't change reality, and you need to cope with it."
—Anonymous, 49, Minnesota
6."That you lose friends. Being an introvert at a young age with social anxiety, I had few friends, but as I got older, I made more friends who understood better what I was going through."
7."That when you are older, you will be ready and able to handle the losses and trials that life throws you. I'm 38 and have just lost my Dad. I feel completely unable to emotionally handle this loss."
8."I thought I'd be able to save money and retire someday. I lost my job, and as a woman in my 50s, I simply can't find employment. I applied to work at Whole Foods, but they say I'm 'too qualified.' Like, I don't want anything but a standard job. I don't want to be in leadership anymore."
9."I used to think that when you're older, you become more mature with a completely different way of thinking, but I discovered that you are basically the same person...just chronologically older."
—Anonymous, 65+, Europe
10."I've been nearsighted forever. When you get older, you lose the ability to focus on close things, which farsighted people experience. So, I had this idea that at some point, my increasing farsightedness would cancel out my nearsightedness, and I would have perfect vision for a time. Nope. Turns out, you can be both nearsighted and farsighted at the same time."
11."I turned 50 this year and still feel like I need an older adult to help me navigate life as it happens. I'm so grateful to my 72-year-old father-in-law for his financial and homeowner advice!"
12."I used to think that growing older meant having it all figured out. It turns out that it's more like collecting a bunch of keys without any idea which doors they open! 😂"
13.I thought I'd retire, live maybe three to four years at home, then go to a nursing home. I've been retired for 12 years, have an active social life, drive anywhere I want, and am very accustomed to this lifestyle. I'm 76 years old."
14."That wisdom comes with age. It doesn't; it comes with experience."
15."That I could continue to do 'what I've always done.' Well, I looked at the calendar, and I'm 78 — I was just 60. And I can't (shouldn't) lift heavy boxes anymore. I tried to, and my left shoulder said, 'Boy, am I gonna hurt for two weeks,' and it did hurt for over two weeks. I'm tired, so I go to bed earlier than I used to. I get up later, too — no job to go to."
"I've always worked on all my cars/trucks — think I'll have somebody else do some work. It's been different, retiring and adjusting the physical and the financial. Doing what I can and hiring what I'm learning I can't do. It's interesting and frustrating."
16."It being linear. My grandparents were fit, like actually fit, their whole life. Going on bike tours for hours, no end in sight, before the BS e-bike hype. Eating right, doing puzzles and quizzes, sports, gardening and stuff around the house, and renovations whenever we needed help. They seemed happy and enjoying life. Then, one super bad bike crash, landed them in the hospital for a month, recovery was good for their age, due to their very good condition."
"But the scars scared my grandma to get back on a bike, and my grandpa stayed home in solidarity. It's been three years, and they are shells of their former selves — both mentally and physically — especially in the last year. It's horrible to witness. I love them both and try to spend as much time with them as possible, but it's just depressing to see."
And finally...
17."I'm 61 and wholeheartedly believe my mind is still 26. I have to constantly remind myself I can't do a cartwheel in an empty hallway. Also, aging is a GIFT that is denied to many. I hate hearing people complain they're 'old!' Like seriously, if you're not aging, you're dead. And lastly, many people assume everyone in a certain age group is a 'cranky boomer.'"
"The most insufferable people have always been insufferable, and they were annoying complainers in their 20s."
Fellow older adults, what are some other "lies" and misconceptions about aging that more people should know? Feel free to tell us in the comments below, or if you prefer to remain anonymous, you can use this Google form.
Note: Some responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.
