With days passing at the speed of a hadron collider, it’s easy to forget how fast time flies. It seems just yesterday you were listening to Smashing Pumpkins on your Walkman sipping on Capri Sun, and now you’re dragging a bunch of grown-up people responsibilities in what feels like an ultra marathon.
But even then, we often remain totally unaware of the fact that hey, we are not kids anymore. So when Redditor u/spp25 asked “When did you realise that you are officially 'not young' anymore?” the answers started rolling one after the other, with people sharing all too relatable moments.
From realizing Avril Lavigne falls under the category of what teens call “dad rock” to medical emergencies that happen only when you age, like dislocating your jaw while yawning, these are some of the most telling responses that make you go, “wait, this is me.”
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When I saw a smoking hot redhead on the subway, and instead of thinking "wow, she's smoking hot" I thought, "I hope she uses lots of sunscreen because she's vulnerable to skin cancer."
When a song I loved as a teenager appeared as an oldie on the radio.
When I opened a new pack of sponges for dishwashing and became all excited to use a fresh sponge.
Nope. I'm young, and opening a new anything is always exciting!
Bored Panda reached out to the author of this thread, Redditor Spp25, who said the idea to ask people “when did you realize that you are officially 'not young' anymore?” came while he was busy doing chores. “Basically I was doing some cleaning and I dropped something and it broke,” Spp25 recounted.
“Instead of swearing I said the word 'ratbags.' I laughed because this is something my mam used to say around us children growing up and I always thought it was an old person's thing to say,” the author explained.
When I went to a nightclub last weekend and everyone looks like children...
I felt a sneeze coming on while I was bent over and legitimately thought, "I have to stand up straight for this if I want to keep my back."
When I only got 4 hours of sleep before work and felt like I was literally going to die. Ten years ago, I would drive 5 hours after work on Friday to see my SO, we’d party all weekend, then I’d leave at 1am on Monday, drive all night and go to work Monday. And i was exhausted but fine. Now, just one night of not enough sleep… I got old.
Just five years ago i was working with one day off per week and during this off i was going on tours, going to the beach, eat out and go for a drink at night too! Now i need two offs per week, i do almost nothing and still trying to pull myself together the next day at work!
As for the responses, the Redditor was surprised by how many stories were the same. “People with back issues, for example. It was nice knowing we aren't going through aging alone. Another one was how people who were aging had to really work to keep up with all the types of new slang!”
When I hated loud music, wanted to go home early and wanted my neighbors to keep the noise down. I am now Squidward.
I've been like this since I was a teenager. It's not exclusive to "old" people.
When I started getting excited for 9pm bedtime.
Believe me, after having a long day, most people would get excited for an 8pm bedtime
Saw some neighborhood kids messing with a stop sign while driving home. I slowed the car down, rolled down a window and said,
"Hey... I think maybe you shouldn't be doing that."
Which in my mind meant cut it out before an adult catches you.
But these kids look sheepishly at the ground and give me an ok like I was the adult in the situation. Which I was, gently chastising children for fooling around with public property.
Well, either that time or when I buried my father and realized I was the oldest living male in my family. That was more sobering than fun.
When asked whether our society overestimates age and aging, Spp25 said we actually underestimate it. “I suppose what the thread has taught me is that it's a different process for everyone and happens at different times.”
“You can be in your 20s and feel in the prime of your life then someone will say something and knock you off your perch! I have a good relationship with it.”The Redditor said he's at peace now since “I've accepted the fact I now have a role,” he said. Moreover, “I'm an uncle who tries to embarrass his nieces and nephews and if I want to know what the new slang is, I google it. I will do it with pride,” Spp25 concluded.
When a 22 year old offered me their arm to get down steps. I'm not old, I was just tired you little punk!!
I’m scared of teenagers now
I'm actually in awe of teenagers. I'm twenty this year and I see some 14 year olds doing things I can't even dare and 18 year olds building empires. Awesome
When I realized having a one in front of my birth year is all anyone needs to know I'm old enough to purchase alcohol. I don't know why but that dumb fact just hit me like a ton of bricks.
It used to be that 30 was supposed to be the traumatic birthday. Well, for me it was 25...when I realized it wss a quarter of a century.
When my daughter asked to listen to oldies. Like nirvana, pearl jam, foo fighters. I'm thinking no they are not oldies.
When i stopped healing as fast as i used to.
Mystery bruises aren't from partying anymore, it's probably from gently brushing against something
I just bought a new mop and was really excited to go home and use it :( I mopped the whole apartment in absolute bliss. I finally decided that I will not fall for the Swiffer commercials again.
I think this has to do with the person. I’m 18 and I get excited about new cleaning products because I love cleaning
We went to a trampoline park for a friend's birthday. I pulled a muscle in the first ten minutes.
Neighborhood kid next door, must be 22 or so calls me sir. First time it happened I was like “sir? Dude I’m like….okay a lot older than you.”
When my best friend and I were planning for a concert next month and for the first time in our lives we were like "Do we... want to buy seats instead of standing in the pit?".
It hits you when you’re 36. That’s the year you could’ve had a child at age 18 who would become 18 and possibly have a child, making you old enough to be a grandparent.
When I dislocated my jaw lying in bed yawning. Didn't even think it was even possible.
s**t! that's a possibility? i dislocated my toe trying to adjust the blanket once though.
When one of my younger coworkers took it upon herself to explain to me who Cardi B was. I already knew who she was and was familiar with her music. Apparently I just looked like I needed to be supplied with this info.
When I started viewing guys on motorcycles with concern instead of awe… damn kids gonna get himself killed vs. oooh look at that hot rebel.
Read about Bikers Against Child Abuse and you can still look at bikers in awe. :)
"reasonably recent" references are met with dead silence and confusion by young adults/teens.
Kids call you "sir" or "that man over there"
Body aching the morning after moderate physical activity.
Food starts to give you problems while you used to eat tons of it with no repercussions.
Yes! "Reasonably recent." I will hear that Hollywood is doing a remake of a movie and I'm like "but that just came out!" Yeah, 25 years ago when I was in grad school.
7/23/2021 I was drying off after a shower looked down and realized... I am 40 and now have graying pubes. I actually wrote this on my calendar.
...and when I was 50 I had to slightly bend over in order to see my gray pubes below my belly.
One day my back decided to leave a memo
Yep. At age fourteen I fell into a 4 meter deep well and just walked it off. Last week I cricked my neck by laughing too hard and was sore for two days...
It was when I went to casually step off a 4 foot drop.
I had one foot of the ledge and my brain screamed Danger, I had to stop reset and prepare myself to absorb the impact and make sure I bent my knees.
20 year old me wouldn't have thought at all about that.
I was in my mid thirties at the time.
I got "ma'am"ed by a random twenty-something. Broke my heart
I took my fiancé back to the University I attended and we went for a drink at my old favorite bar. Ordered a margarita & the waitress said, “Do you want the well tequila that we serve to everyone or like…. adult tequila?”
Looking in the mirror. I'm in my mid 20s, but within the past year I've noticed that my reflection has reasonably changed and I definitely wouldn't be mistaken for a teenager anymore.
Wait until your brain is still telling you that you're still young and people are thinking, "what is this crazy old person thinking?". That was me. Talking to my neighbor like she as an old lady and I was still the hip younger neighbor. I said something that offended and she barked back, "we're just about the same age you know?" My brain screamed, "NOooooooooo". Then I knew.
Note: this post originally had 34 images. It’s been shortened to the top 30 images based on user votes.
Making that grunty noise when getting up out of a low chair
Yep. Getting up from anywhere will elicit many strange noises from me...
My dad's knees sounded like he was shelling peanuts
And when sitting down after being on your feet for a while.
My children hate that :-)
Dad noises (check out letterkenny for the reference)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dCDbHjpuuY
When everything is "too". Too loud, too cold, too late, too far, too old for this s**t.
Ha! My favourite saying is "I'm too old for this s**t!"
I HONESTLY LOVE that now (I'm 41) I can finally say "I'm too old for that s**t" without sounding like a loser, but I've always thought that more or less. Crowds? Loud music? No sleep? No thanks
It's a great (and honest) saying.
The fact that I know which movie that quote's from says it all, I think....
When everybody in a store politely is waiting for the (older) Lady to be served.... i'm waiting with them - only to find out that everybody is waiting for me 🙈🤣
😅😅😅😅that's so funny and cute
Thank you 🤷♀️😂
The first time you get offered a seat on the bus.. that did it for my mom.
Making that grunty noise when getting up out of a low chair
Yep. Getting up from anywhere will elicit many strange noises from me...
My dad's knees sounded like he was shelling peanuts
And when sitting down after being on your feet for a while.
My children hate that :-)
Dad noises (check out letterkenny for the reference)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dCDbHjpuuY
When everything is "too". Too loud, too cold, too late, too far, too old for this s**t.
Ha! My favourite saying is "I'm too old for this s**t!"
I HONESTLY LOVE that now (I'm 41) I can finally say "I'm too old for that s**t" without sounding like a loser, but I've always thought that more or less. Crowds? Loud music? No sleep? No thanks
It's a great (and honest) saying.
The fact that I know which movie that quote's from says it all, I think....
When everybody in a store politely is waiting for the (older) Lady to be served.... i'm waiting with them - only to find out that everybody is waiting for me 🙈🤣
😅😅😅😅that's so funny and cute
Thank you 🤷♀️😂
The first time you get offered a seat on the bus.. that did it for my mom.