Get Old. Get Awesome. Or Something.
I have always been the youngest.
I was the youngest girl on the volleyball team.
I was the youngest person in my graduating class.
I was the youngest manager in the company.
I was the youngest employee assigned to the project.
I was the youngest consultant in the company.
But then one day I woke up, and suddenly I wasn't the youngest anymore. At first it wasn't a big deal because there were only a few people who were younger than me, but slowly life marched on and I started to be MOST DEFINITELY NOT the youngest.
I don't know how I feel about that. I would love to be one of those people who wraps their arms around aging and embraces it with grace and dignity and a sense of welcoming, but I'm not. AT ALL. I kind of want to punch puppies when I find a new gray hair, and I most definitely dropped a few not-nice words the first time I noticed a couple of the lines on my face that are more than shadows.
Just thinking about it makes me want to punch things.
But, yet, as I grow older, so does Alexis. When it comes to the short person getting older, I really do embrace every change. I mean, I like babies just fine, but each year she gets older, I like the kid more and more and more. Aging has made her WAY more fun. Right now our favorite thing to do together is to go to the mall and shop until we drop, and that just wasn't fun five years ago. I fully expect she'll be even more fun to hang out with in a few more years, even as she changes and becomes a new person with crazy hormone-fueled ideas.
Talk about conflict. I want her to get older, but can I please just stop right here?
It turns out I'm not the only person who is completely conflicted by the notion of getting older. Pfizer's GetOld.com is a website dedicated to the process of aging. The landing page poses the question, "How do you feel about getting old?" Once you've answered the question, you can meander your way to quotes, videos, and photographs by people who are at the same life stage as you.
There's some serious wisdom in those little squares. I spent an hour clicking and reading and nodding my head and riding a roller coaster of emotion. Growing old has a lot of advantages (it's way WAY better than the alternative!), but it's not all roses. I appreciate that others feel the same and have been willing to share their thoughts.
If you were to fill out a square on GetOld.com with your thoughts on getting old, what would you say? Answer below in the comments to be entered for a chance to win one of three $500 SpaFinder gift cards. Please note winners will be selected from a pool of all participating bloggers.
Please do not mention or imply any pharmaceutical products in your posts. Posts that mention or imply a pharmaceutical product will be subject to removal.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt at the bottom of this post.*
b) Read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
*Note: if you want to comment but either (i) are not eligible or (ii) do not want to enter the giveaway, please include something similar to the following statement in your comment: “I do not wish to enter the sweepstakes.”
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Medical professionals who are licensed (or are otherwise authorized) to prescribe medications are not eligible to enter. While BlogHer encourages you to share your thoughts and experiences about getting older, comments discussing medical conditions and/or medical products are not permitted, may be deleted, and are invalid entries. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
This sweepstakes runs from 7/30 to 8/31.
Be sure to check out the BlogHer.com Get Old page to find out more about the Get Old platform and read how other bloggers feel about aging!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Reader Comments (83)
Although sometimes my body feels very old (I'm 55 years old and have Lupus) - I truly believe you keep getting better with age. I'm having more fun now and chasing goals, I didn't have time for before!
Getting older? Love caring less about what people think. Love how much I've learned from (ahem) more than 40 years on this planet. Grateful to God every day for blessing me with a late in life child. Scared that I could end up with Alzheimers like some family members, and what that could mean for the future. So, good and bad. You do what you can to slow the aging process (and a spa treatment definitely helps!) and put the rest in His hands.
I turned 30 this year, did not have a big birthday but it does feel different a bit. I never had a boyfriend, I'm not married, don't have kids and while I know I would love to do these things soon so as I can enjoy them I'm not rising into any of it. The way I'm thinking about it is Life can only get better from here. But I am enjoying life one day at a time, I'm not focusing on the past nor my future.
I got married right out of high school and BOOM, had my first child(Oct '89). I didn't know how to be a bride, let alone a mother. My husband was not much of a husband or father, work all the time then close down the bar. Then BOOM, pregnant again. This time not only was his drinking bad, but I found out he was cheating (ALOT) Baby born (Nov '90). We move away to try and save our marriage, get away from his drinking buddies, then BOOM pregnant again (Dec '91) This time he moves in with a girl friend, still drinking ect. I finally called it over after 8 years. Thank GOD!! But, in Oct '97 OOPs, I had another child. Well, it was easy going raising my babies and even harder watching them grow up and leave. They have been there when no one else was. Now, I am 42 and am raising another child (Sept '97) and as fate may have it, she is my ex-husbands daughter from a different relationship. I don't get around like I used to, especially after chasing around kids most my life. I suffer from migraines, over weight and tired all the time.
I hate the thought of getting old...but I hate the thought of missing everything even more.
I hit a very BIG birthday last month -- 60! Probably the worst of my wife. I am now officially old. I never wanted to be 30 but to be double that is unthinkable. I still see myself like I was in high school but the mirror in reality tells me otherwise. I hurt now in the morning and that never was the case before. But .... somehow I'm enjoying this! I'm starting to travel. My children are grown but local and still visit. No grandchildren yet but they will come. I can still do what I want pretty much when I want. Maybe 60 won't be so bad afterall!
Fear it but embrace it. Continue to build that legacy for your children.
I feel prepared. I have taken care of myself and I am looking forward to grand kids!
The part of getting old that I dislike is illness, pains, etc. that come with it. When I was around 35 I felt great, looked great and loved life... then I got diagnosed with a fatal (although controllable) disease at 43. I look in the mirror sometimes and don't recognize the person looking back at me. The part of getting older that I like is the freedom it brings. You just don't care as much about what other people think when you get older.
Live every single day to the fullest and live with no regrets. Live a life worth living.
I am 55 and see many postives of being older. I have experience and knowledge in my corner and have come to see my children successful and see the fruits of raising them. I have energy and assertiveness. In my younger years I was fearful to try new experiences but at 40 I took my life into my hands and began living. My best advice is to embrace life to the fullest
Live everyday like it was your last!
The best thing in my life is my children and 7 grandchildren,. To hear them laugh and giggle and see them grow. I wish I could help them more as I want is to be able to see my kids smile and do well with this resession goin on. It has hurt so many lives..
I want to see my kids grow up and get married some day, getting old isn't all bad
You ARE what you eat. Choose wisely.
Beats the alternative
I was always afraid I'd be old when I turned 40, but at 43 I'm having thetime of my life. It's the best decade yet.
I would say that I feel prepared. I am only 19 right now though, so I have a long ways to go before getting old!
You can't help getting older, so you may as well accept it!
I think "getting old" is beautiful, and should be embraced. Older=wiser. I would love to win this giveaway! Thanks!
Getting older just makes me feel happier and more comfortable in my own skin.
As I get older, I can appreciate the small things more. I'm more patient, understanding and forgiving, as well.
I wish there had been as much info on staying healthy/active when I was younger as there is now- you get one body, you really should take the best care of it you can. Aging doesn't bother me, but feeling like crap does.
I actually feel younger and healthier today then I did twenty years ago!
If I knew I could always take care of myself physically and financially I wouldn't worry, but those are the uncertainties that plague me. How will I take care of myself if I can't work to pay my bills? I don't want to rely on public assistance after working my whole life.
I feel like getting old is inevitable and I only make it worse if I try to fight it. When I think of getting old, I don't really think about my body aging, wrinkles, gray hair, etc....I think of the time I have left to spend with loved ones and the desire to live a better life...to be nicer, to stop dwelling on the past, to love more, to make others happy, and to cherish the time I have left.
I would say, that despite your age, make sure you still aren't willing to compromise your quality of life. Keep doing things you enjoy and take care of yourself.
I was 25 when I had my first child...and I thought I was ready. I had my next child (and last child - believe me) at 38. And I am a far more patient woman than I was at 25. I am wiser, braver and a far better mother. Getting older has brought me wrinkles, gray hair and most importantly, a comfort with my own skin that is reflected on my beautiful daughters.
I don't want to get old. But getting older is better than the alternative...
megans.zorn (at) gmail (dot) com.
For many, getting old means you become insignificant and invisible to society. It's a painful feeling to see so many older people runing errands on their own, barely making it because their families either don't care or don't take the time to help them.
I don't mind getting older other than more aches and pains than when I was younger. I am comfortable with who I am.
I'd say it isn't easy, and that you'd better be aware of what you're putting in your body...since it does matter!
long as you are getting old, it means your still trucking and that is ::wink: thats a good thing
Thanks for a super giveaway!