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It seems like now in America everyone and their mothers keep talking about how they can live longer and all that bladderdash. But i wonder, why do people want to be old? I mean, wrinkly skin, no fun, boring clothing, failing organs and such.
All I know is that if I ever turn 70 (if i ever last that long), I'm shooting myself in the head. Before I start forgetting things.
What about quality, not quantity?
no one wants to get old, but everyone wants to live long. People can't help but hope that somehow they won't get as old as the people around them, they just don't see it. I've seen people in homes for the elderly that I would have thought couldn't possibly be happy, yet they were, while others that would seemingly be happy weren't. So while quality and quantity are two interesting ways to describe life, a combination of both is preferable, what if you only reach the age of 30, but had a qualitatively rich life? It's not what I want.
You need to put it into perspective, to you it seems boring, horrible and seemingly impossible for the elderly to have a good life, but that simply is not true. They are fully capable of having fulfilling lives. There comes a point where people do begin to fall apart, and some people desperately cling onto life, but it's something of all ages, not just the elderly. The fear of dying sometimes does strange things with people.
As for me, I don't know if I want to grow old, or die (relatively) young, I don't like growing old, not so much the actual ageing, but rather the passing of time is what bothers me, because it cannot be controlled. I can't skip through time like some multidimensional being so I am stuck in a single point. The present. I can project myself into the future, and look into the past, but it has no effect at all on the present.
What you just did is project your own perceived future onto all the elderly people that have ailing bodies and/or failing minds. Instead of asking yourself questions about the future, or even looking at the past with regret, stick to the present, because that is the only place in time where things happen for us humans. That's not to say you can't plan ahead or have dreams and ambitions, just don't let them rule you by living in the future.
Well, now I must really start to follow my own advice :lol:
First one to answer (or was I?:p) Oh. No. :( The only thing I know is... I don't!:D
The only difference between us two is that when I turn seventy, I will definitely not stand in a corner with some gun pointed to my head, much less pulling the trigger; instead, I'll work twice as hard to stay young and never age a single year. Of course that isn't possible, but who can tell? Scientists have already discovered a way to preserve living cells, and maybe someday I'll help them develop more efficient ways to help living things stay youthful all the time. Being a student in a science high school, I don't find such an ambition very far away :)
And why do people want to be old? Who does? And what put that in your mind? :p Well, perhaps it has something to do with the wisdom-comes-with-age principle that most of us (are made to) believe in. Personally, I think it's crazy. People can be wise without having to be old and bent. And who said the only measure of wisdom is the number of wrinkles on your skin?
Of course, we all believe in different things and I'm not saying some are wrong while I am right. :p
Baki, you are too young to be thinking about this. Besides, who said that when you get old (70+) that life is boring, no fun, boring clothing, etc?Quote:
Originally Posted by Bakiryu
My mother who happens to be in her early 70's goes to the gym 5 days a week, travels all over the world, wears up to date clothing and is very healthy. She doesn't look like she's in her 70's. Yeah, she may have some wrinkly skin but the key is taking care of oneself.
My grandfather lived till he was 94 years old and he led a very active life until he passed. After his wife passed away at 84, he had himself a girlfriend. They would do all sorts of activities together.
Since I happen to be someone, actually I did, when I was five. :D I mean come on, all the respect the elders seemed to possess, and you could drive, spend money whatever way you wanted to, and act oh-so-independent. At least that's how it sounded that time. :pQuote:
no one wants to get old...
Hmmmm and now...now I just want to be. Why would someone just want to be? That's a good question. Should those who do not possess eye-sight, legs, are dumb or all special kids stop living their lives? How boring it must be for them....why live? Now that's something to wonder about...maybe they just want to experience something rather than the life of non-existence which mostly believe to be nothing?
Hopefully, if I ever make it to "old," I will be happy and content and I will have grandbabies to make cupcakes for and wrinkles and such will be the last thing on my mind. The things that are important to you now, may not be as important to you then. For example, I used to loathe elastic waisted pants in my early 20's and I swore I would NEVER wear them. Well, now I am thirty (one), and I have a job, and I have a pair of elastic waisted pants in my closet. Of course, when I wear them to work (that's what they are - work pants), I wear a jacket or sweater over the elastic part and of course I have the cute shoes, and no one can see that they are elastic waisted pants, but I know. I also know that I could wind up one day as that forty-something fifty-something lady with a pair of elastic waisted pants pulled up to her arm pits with a turtleneck tucked into them. She doesn't care, because she has her family and whatever else that fulfills her.
Me personally, when I'm old, (If I make it) I am going to get some SAS shoes and some elastic waisted pants and a little rascal to ride around in. I am going to put a flag on the back of it and I am going to the store in it to buy produce.
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...bucket/sas.jpg
http://i108.photobucket.com/albums/n...calscooter.jpg
Go Shalot !!!
Papaya, the later years:
http://ellasprella.blog.is/users/97/...stretching.jpg
http://www.scottybud.com/images/old%20people%20bird.jpg
I don't necessarily want to get old but given the alternative I'll take it.
I vote for quality, not quantity. *sucks on cigarette* I don't think I'd shoot myself in the head, nor do I mind getting old, as long as I can enjoy my youth.
:lol: this reminds me of that Molly Shannon bit on Saturday night live doing Sally O Mally. I wish I could find it on youtube. It's hilarious.Quote:
Originally Posted by papayahed
Quote:
Originally Posted by papayahed
This is awesome.
Hey I know a 96 year ol lady who does yoga, pilates, bowls and I do believe she went on one of those sky dives when your hooked onto someone last year or is she 97 now ? :confused: I foret, shes hasnt been very well this year though which is sad but when ever she is able to she is up and about winning trophies or cycling around town or other things. She is just brilliant, and one of the most amazing people I know, in fact now that I think about it alot of the amazing people I know are old, and I mean really old.
And Baki you can get early onset Altzhemier's so age really isnt that much of a factor in it.
:nod:
Not many people want to be old in the sense of debilitated by age related diseases, but great age is a side effect of staying alive, and the instinct toward survival is very strong. I have already written my obituary; I will die on October 12, 3008 as a result of injuries suffered in a tractor rolling over onto me on the 10th.Quote:
Originally Posted by Bakiryu
Memory loss is not is a normal side effect of aging. If you avoid the things that tend to cause memory loss, then you can expect to have an excellent memory far into old age.
BTW, middle age is from 20 to 90, so ending things at 70 would mean that you would miss a significant part of the middle years.
I want to be old so that I can shake my cane at any passing whippersnapper and complain about how when I was their age I had to work 27hrs a day down the pit
:lol: Some might say I do that now, only without the cane. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by kilted exile
Baki, at any age, life is what you make of it.
Yes, canes are good.Quote:
Originally Posted by kilted exile