I think after living eighty years. Old age is a bummer.

God takes back slowly the things you were born with. Eyesight, teeth, hearing and mobility. all slowly reclaimed.

10 hours ago, swissie said:

We can't wait to reach the age of 20. Then we stumble into life, lacking experiance, foresight and wisdom.

50 years later we are old. Now we have experiance, foresight and above all "Wisdom". Things that would have served us so well when we were younger. Now, 50 years later we have all those qualities, but no more able to apply/integrate those qualities gainfully in our lives.

I insist: Our creator (creators) have it all mixed-up. Us humans would have needed those traits when we were young and not now, us swinging in a hammock, awaiting the "grim reaper".

Speak for yourself. You don't just morph to 70 from 20. You are accumulating experience, foresight and wisdom as you go along, so may have plenty of time to put it into practice.

Also, there is the accumulated knowledge of your family, friends and environments to give some a leg up.

Do you think all of the old people on this forum are wise?

At 68, I enjoyed your post and living it, well stated.

My perspective is that we live in chapters throughout our lives, praying that the previous made the next one worth reading. The hardships you state explain why we changed or corrected our direction for the future.

Great read!

Oh, middle age is now statistically defined at 38, since average lifespan is around 76. Bummer! Mentally, I’m a better me at 68 with the assets to do what I wanted to do when I was 30. But, as you stated, my body and personal choices have changed … greatly!

Thanks, again!

On 5/18/2026 at 8:34 PM, Pear Shaped said:

I think back to my younger teenage years. There were struggles, little money, dangers, and so much uncertainty. But somehow, all of that chaos created some of the greatest experiences of my life. Things just happened serendipitously, some good, some bad, leaving behind a mixture of beautiful and painful memories. And even if I focus only on just the good parts, I could never truly repeat them now.

Of course, I have the means to recreate those moments today, probably in ways that would be far more comfortable and satisfying. But it would not feel the same. It is strange to realize that without the struggle, without the chaos and uncertainty, those experiences lose something essential. The things I once did would not carry the same meaning if I did them now.

When you are young, you imagine getting older and finally reaching a better life. Even if you are not consciously thinking about it all the time, somewhere in your mind you are hoping for a future where things become easier, where you are an adult who can finally live more on your own terms, even without knowing how, or if, you will get there. And yet, when you eventually arrive at the place you once hoped for, you discover something unexpected. You no longer have the same hunger for the things you once believed you would want forever.

That is one of the hardest changes that comes with age. Having the ability, the security, and the certainty to do the things you once dreamed about is not enough without the reckless cravings you had when you were younger. So you do not do those things again now, even though part of you still desires to, and another part of you absolutely could.

But it is not because you do not want to. It is because you no longer need to.

You are in a different place in life now. A quieter place. A place where the things you want become more basic, more human. You wake up in the morning and feel grateful simply because you woke up again. Because you stood up without pain. Because your body still totally works. Because you have all your limbs, nothing terrible happened overnight, or through the slow physical accumulation of decades of time.

And it is not even about living in fear of danger or illness. It is simply the awareness of how fragile and precious life really is.

At a certain point, you realize that none of the things you achieved in the past, and none of the comfort you may have now, can actually give you more life. None of it can buy another minute. And because of that, every minute starts to feel important.

You become thankful for time itself. And it's not about longevity. It's about being the best version of you that you can everyday that you have remaining.

To be middle aged and still physically capable, mentally stable, and able to experience another ordinary day begins to feel like the greatest gift of all. To look up at the sky and the trees. To feel the sun and the cool air against your skin. To walk with smooth and confident strides. To be able to effortless lift things up without strain. To eat good tasting food, swallow it, and feel fulfilled. A gift that cannot truly be measured by money, status, or any superficial idea of success and only measured by being an independently living and breathing human being.

Translation Blah blah blah.... im gonna die soon

What was the question?

On 5/19/2026 at 6:48 AM, Rams86 said:

I enjoy good health even though I'm 81 yo. I eat well, restricted my beer intake and I walk at least 90 minutes every morning. The one thing I've noticed as I got older is, what I used to do all night takes me all night to do now. You might say " the wheel of the wagon is all but broken."

Couldn't agree more!

This is for us.....

On 5/19/2026 at 4:20 AM, novacova said:

You’re overthinking it.

Keep it simple.

My young wife keeps me in the delusion of my youth.

Fair comment- keep life simple- avoid stress and try to be kind to others each day- not easy but worth trying

6 hours ago, Celsius said:

Translation Blah blah blah.... im gonna die soon

But hopefully not before you open at least one 7-11 in my far flung village and make me up half a dozen toasties. Still so much to live for!

Edited May 20May 20 by Kyoto Kyle

15 hours ago, Front Row said:

What was the question?

Oh my ..... Oh my.. jealously never fades as you get older, one would think you become wiser but not so

I have seen jealous old men even their 70's at the most ridiculous things

Oh my ....oh lordy Lol.... people never change

Edited May 20May 20 by georgegeorgia

A wind up post probably created via AI by a member who only joined last Saturday and probably has another dozen or so Spam accounts hereon Asean Now

I did 90 days of silent retreat at the inside meditation center in Massachusetts.

I also did four days in a cave, except for going out to pee and <deleted>. North of Nong Khiew.

Definitely rewired my brain.

Every second is a choice. The only one who cares what do you do with themis you. Use them wisely or at least consciously.

As to the rest of it, I reminded of the title of his health health book written by a cancer survivor

No such thing as a bad day.

On 5/19/2026 at 6:21 PM, Rockyroad said:

Well then go sit in a cave for 120 days and report back

Edited May 21May 21 by Prubangboy