With age comes wisdom. And stiff joints, less energy, worse eyesight, worse hearing and less tolerance for hangovers and technology that you don’t understand...
When I was a little kid, I couldn’t wait to turn 16 and get my driver’s license. Freedom, here I come! When I was 20, I couldn’t wait to be out of university. Even more freedom, here I come! But then one day I woke up and realized that not everything gets better with age. In fact, sometimes things get worse.
Reddit users have recently been sharing some of the things they enjoy less and less as they get older, and to be honest, some of the replies are a little sad. From being less enthusiastic about Christmas to dreading nights out in loud bars, we’ve gathered some of their most spot-on responses down below to see if you aging pandas agree with them. Keep reading to also find interviews we were lucky enough to receive from gerontologist and host of the Aging Greatfully podcast, Holley Kelley, and writer, editor and host of the B[OLDER] podcast, Debbie Weil.
Be sure to upvote the replies that make you feel less alone, as you realize that all of our preferences shift with age, and feel free to share anything else that has become less fun over the years in the comments section. Then, if you’d like to read a Bored Panda article highlighting the most hilarious parts of getting older, you can find that piece right here!
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Honestly leaving the house, I used to be a social butterfly and now I have to convince myself to go get basic necessities and go to work..
Being a certain level of presentable to be in public. Me in my 20s wouldn't have left the house in sweatpants unless I was deathly ill on my way to the doctors. And the idea of a family function without a full face of makeup was horrifying. F**k that noise. I'm grocery shopping in my sweats and y'all lucky if I show up to family functions at all, much less in a full face of makeup.
This needs to be higher! I won't dress in a trash bag, but I do NOT care what other people think of my dress sense in public. Girl bye.
Apps.
Everyone and their mother has to have an app to download for every little thing, especially if you wanna use a coupon, or earn rewards, or whatever. I'm tired of places asking me to download an app. I don't want your f*****g app, I just wanna buy your s**t and be done with it!
Aging is inevitable, and there’s no reason to fight it. But it is fair to admit that, as we age, some things just don’t feel as enjoyable as they used to. I no longer want to wake up at 5am on Christmas morning, and I feel wrecked any time I stay up past midnight. Sitting in traffic is a lot more painful than it was for teenage me, and I no longer feel proud when I make a large purchase on my own. Spending money brings me more anxiety than excitement, and a busy weekend is something I often dread, as I know I won’t be able to feel refreshed on Monday morning.
To gain some insight on this topic, we reached out to gerontologist and host of the Aging Greatfully podcast, Holley Kelley. We asked Holley if there’s anything she has come to enjoy less and less with age, and she had an excellent answer: appointments. “I’m a huge advocate of everyone overseeing their best medical, health, preventative, and general well care,” Holley told Bored Panda. “The amount of these tend to increase as we grow older and spending more time at these various appointments isn’t something that is considered fun but they are still very important not to neglect.”
I haven't liked religion since i was 15, but I downright hate it now. Now that I see in even more ways the ridiculous hold it has over people, and how that affects everyone's lives. It's like this unquestionable monolith that prevents rational thought.
And my beef isn't that people believe in deities and such, I don't care about that. I'm not one to make snide comments about "Sky daddy". I simply hate how religion dictates how everyone lives. How people are basing policy and votes on what their own misguided religious beliefs tell them. Add to that how straight up crooked and slimy so many churches are.
Believe in God all you want. But quit standing in the way of science, psychology, and other people's well-being. That's all I damn ask.
This is a bit of a sideways move - but - people who have survived a medical trauma, they are thanking the lord, all down to Jesus, nooo!!! down to the hundreds of medical staff with years of training and experience, modern equipment and medicines. With age I lose my rag even faster to rage at these ********* (choose your own expletive)
I used to believe in god before I developed an autoimmune disease, now after every surgery and hospital admission I am praising the medical staff.
Load More Replies...The older I get, the more I'd rather be around animals than humans
One of my biggest beefs is that we don't really choose our own religion. It is dumped onto us and, depending on how religious our parents are, we are brainwashed into it. Hardly anyone leaves their birth religion after having had a hard think about it and converts. Most popular choice seems to be becoming an atheist though.
My wife moved away from her small white AF, hick town and met people. She suppressed being a lesbian, was racist, conservative, pro-life, went to church every Sunday. Even when we met she was hardcore. I introduced her to my trans friends, my atheist friends, friends from other races and parts of the world. Now she's out, proud, pro choice, and liberal AF.
Load More Replies...Are you saying that it's not okay to force people to live by the laws of my roach religion? But it's the bestest of them all!
It's sharing a home with a million other roaches that kinds of puts me off :)
Load More Replies...Many scientists and doctors believe in a god too. Their religion doesn't stand in their way at all.
Tell that to the doctors who refuse to treat trans kids on the basis of religion or perform life saving abortions on the basis of religion.
Load More Replies...Guys I'm a Christian who doesnt support trump, pro choice, part of and supports lgbtqia+, not an absolute a*****e who forces mt religion on others. I think god gave us free choice so we could choose him, if you know the message were trying to tell you and you dont choose, cool. Forcing it means NOTHING spiritually. Christianity is supposed to be a religion of love, why don't most of the people who folloe it actually love then? i love you guys. If i respect your beliefs, please respect mine, reading some of these comments made me feel a bit invalidated
I used to respect Christianity. I didn't like it, but I'd keep my mouth shut. Then Christians just kept doing awful stuff, to me and to the world, and I lost that respect. How can I respect a religion that doesn't even keep its own people in line? So I'm going to say this in the nicest way I can. I respect that you're trying to take a message in the best way possible. I just don't agree about the message when taken in context.
Load More Replies...I've said it before, but religion is the greatest evil ever forced onto the world. If people want to hold beliefs privately, have at it. As soon as you start organizing, congregating and trying to use your baseless beliefs as a means of judging or controlling anyone else, you're not only a horrible person, but you've missed the point of the thing you proclaim to live your life by. I get that people are trying to impart meaning into the chaos, but it's the wrong view to take. No one is watching, no one is waiting to hand out rewards or doll out punishment, this is all we get, and everyone needs to learn to take responsibility for that fact. Every choice, every success and failure is your own and chances are quite good that no one is going to know you existed in 100 years time. Our only collective goal should be to ensure we leave the planet, if not better than at least no worse. Humanity has spent centuries failing in that so hard that even in death we pollute one last time.
I loved reading this. My thoughts but expressed better than I could. Thank you.
Load More Replies...I've been brought up Christian, catholic, mormon and jehovah witness... depended on what family I lived with at that time. Been baptized jehovah and Christian....doubly baptized, 2 different religions. And....I am not religious. Being exposed to these different religions only turned me away from it all.
Here in the USA there are some that forget that their Guaranteed religious freedom ends at the point it encroaches on another person's freedom. (Non-belief or Agnostic is still a religious belief system that should be protected by law) Thus is why we are supposed to have separation of church & state.
If only there were an easier way to get the benefits of religion without actual religion and dogma. You know, community, belonging, hope, a social safety net, networking, ... I've ditched religion completely, but I do miss these aspects of it.
I'm in my seventies. (Who else's seventies would I be in?} The closer I get to death, the more comfortable I am that there's nothing on the other side of it.
Me too, but I envy those who can face the endless dark knowing that they are going to heaven.
Load More Replies...Having been raised in a neutrally secular family, my last words on this Earth will be: "Thank you for not shackling me with a crippling obstacle right out of the gate making it difficult or impossible for me to discern fact from fantasy, thus also saving me from cults, pyramid schemes, "supplements", woo in general. Thank you, thank you, thank you, MOM AND DAD."
THIISSSSSSSS!!!! My parents and brothers got sucked into a fundamental Christian church, and most of the people there are honestly scary.
To add to this concept; Hero/dead relative worship. I can't understand how some people violently refuse to accept their hero/dead relative was capable of being just as shitty as everybody else.
The biggest thing that ruins every religion is people. Not the true believers who actually live by its rules for living life, but those who use it for their own selfish reasons.
My brain got confused and read your comment as " As a sex JEW" and then I got very confused about what branch of Judaism that could be.
Load More Replies...I was just thinking earlier about this. My ex is catholic, raised our kids catholic, but they aren't interested as adults. All catholicism does is perpetuate the dogma of men being superior. Girls in white dresses for communion and marriage is such antiquated b.s. I was supposed to convert after we married, but I never intended to actually do it. Glad I'm still an unbaptized Pagan.
As a Social Scientist, I believe it is the person who chooses their path. Having read various religious texts, from the Torah to the Vedas, I have come to the conclusion that these texts are a test, of sorts. They contain stories of heroism, and depravity, of good deeds and evil deeds. And I think it is the person's character, even their heart and/or soul, that determine which examples they decide to follow. It is humans that can be evil, or good, and religion can be their vehicle, but so can a polical regime, an extreme government; so many things can inspire a cult-like devotion that can bring out the worst in us. But flip the coin, and a good person can find the good, and do their best to live up to an ideal, and do a lot of wonderful things in their lifetime, but they could be from the same repressive country, or be of the same faith.
Final sentence where it is mentioned "quit standing in the way ....other people's well-being." I would emphasize that. But not to be trodden upon like a doormat or putting one's own well-being so that you are trodding upon others.
What gets me is when you're channel surfing, and come across a televangelist. Begging you to send your $600 "seed" so you'll have a wonderful "harvest" and maybe even get unexpected money. Apparently, money is the root of their entire ministry.
Actually, a lot of the policies that are voted on in the name of religion is not actually in the Bible. It is half quoted or not in there. I believe in science and God as well. But church and state should be different from each other. Our country was founded on desperation to flee from religious persecution, only to try to be hypocritical and demand others to follow one religion. It's disgusting. You can believe in both. But you should know what you are talking about before pushing it on to others.
When I was 14 yrs old. I got woke up to strange sounds in my home. So I work up the nerve to go see what's happening and I hear it's coming from the living room so I see the light is on in room and I can hear some one laughing, crying, and also praising God and thanking Him all this at the same time. It's my grandma sitting in her recliner just a thanking God rocking back and forth. Now I've made it to the side of the doorway of living room and I'm pretty sure I'd done said grandma at least a couple of times and she had not even acknowledged me in anyway so I'm kinda freaking out a little thinking well she is older and we had just lost grandpa the year before maybe she is going through whatever. I just really didn't know what was going on. I need to say this my grandparents had me in church had all they kids and grandkids in church since the time we was babies. I had seen my grandparents pray, worship, praise the Lord many many times in my 14yrs and seen all sorts of people in church
Speaking in tongues then another church member telling everybody what the message was the person just spoke. I've seen people with or getting (not sure how to say) the Holy Spirit and dancing, falling plum back, and even running through the church with there eyes closed and not ever hit a church pew or another person! So with all that being said what I seen no what God allowed me and my mama both to see and hear and now to be able to be a witness to speak here today is a true blessing from God and I just hope that this is a blessing to whomever needs to hear this message
Load More Replies...Everyone has faith, even atheists. It's religion that gets corrupted. "Faith is for your soul, religion is for control."
Not Everyone has faith. I believe in gravity but I confirm its existence daily. Some people need a god, some don't.
Load More Replies...Where to go with this comment? Blame God for the devils work? Been there, done that. Makes no difference. Fixing medical trauma. We're good at that, getting better every day. Could I attribute my skills to myself alone for my abilities? Sure. But that's not where my head is. God makes more sense to me now I've lived some. I now live a life saved from sin, yet not from my own endeavors. I used to promise myself eternal salvation because I'm a nice guy. That doesn't fly with God. End of story.
Then I might ask that other people's science, psychology etc etc not interfere with my choice to worship God. And btw, I frequently will thank God for guiding the people who take care of the sick, or for giving them the knowledge required. I don't feel like that detracts from anyone else's "greatness".
You are one hundred percent correct. Keep your damned religion out of my face!
Yes. In the United States we're only a few generations from the pilgrims/puritans.... Still very much affected by puritanical culture. Still a ton of elected officials that believe Jesus is coming to fix everything, the rapture, etc. I finally woke up and left Mormonism. I have very little respect for all these patriarchal religions and their arrogance. People just buckle down on their beliefs, they love their feelings of certainty.
Unfortunately this country is replete with Christo-fascists. In true Handmaid's Tale style they want to tell a woman what she needs to do with her body and when she needs to procreate. Don't even get me started on the heinous Christian conversion camps for people who they believe are sinning against God by being LGBTQ. The dogma and politics of religion has nothing to do with being spiritual or believing in God. They should also start paying taxes because they're all up in our political system trying to make this country a theocracy when it should be a secular socialist democracy.
The older I get the closer God is to me. He’s made my years full of excitement and joy. I can’t believe how real heaven is to me and I can’t believe how much I love to talk to him.
I come to the point I love the Lord, and I talk to God personally, I dont really listen to the preachers anymore; I read the bible on my own. I am an adult and I don't need other adults telling me how to live.
All these ppl in this thread speaking on a a GOD they clearly know nothing about or researched to find out.
Everyone has found the "One True Answer" and insists that you believe it too, even though every answer is different. God save us from those people, and I'm not being sarcastic either.
I agree, there are some mind buried idiots, that take the Bible wrong, and twist it into whatever they want. A Real follower of God, God says, he helps those, who help themselves. Go to that psychiatrist, or whatever doctor you need. Then, I will help you. I'm a Christian, and I have run into jerks that think, and act like their holy. I HAVE put them in their place. I also believe in spirits, and elementals (God created them), ghosts are real, even Jesus proclaimed it in front of doubting Thomas. It sounds like; you had preacher that taught from it's head, and Not the Bible. I'm so sorry.... That's why Jesus said, preachers like that, make their people twice the son's of Hell. Never, go by soly on what a preacher says!! Read the Bible yourself!
Half full, half empty. I believe we all have those periods of time, that we're down and then up. Although I agree with a lot of hypocrisy going on with many religious people I have contact with, there are far too many examples, science can't explain. God, a higher power or just unexplainable luck, good or bad. So let's cheat on our spouse, taxes, life, drink a case of liquor while out gambling, bar hopping, stealing, abusing etc., and in the morning, that's 10 I'm sorry, all is forgiven. Can't stand shady, no matter how it's portrayed.
Science and psychology are fallible (coming from a person with a psychology background) and people need to remember that because one day there is going to be a discovery that disproves everything you based your life around and all it will boil down to is religion by a different name. (Yes I believe in science, but if you know ANYTHING about it you know that probability is never 100%. There's also no such thing as "objectivity", so fight me)
But aren't you supposed to vote based on personal preference, beliefs, and how you want daily life to be? Kind of hypocritical for you to vote based on your belief in science, psychology and well being well telling others they shouldn't when they are voting for thing that are best for them just like you. Welcome to a free American we all have freedom to live the way we want and singling out one group is pretty shortsighted.
For me,I've never met anyone who was super into Jesus and God to a toxic level.My own personal belief was that I hadn't accepted God yet but now as i am now an adult in society's eyes,Im debating more on if I'm agnostic or an atheist or a satanist or a combination of one with satanism
This is your right to believe this way even if I don't agree with your life style. All I would ask is that you show the same courtesy to those that do believe in God.
Load More Replies...I'm not sure who the offended ones are but I am up voting any comments that have negative downvotes.
I used to think religion was a good way to teach people to be moral. I've now realized that religion has been grossly bastardized. To make it worse, most religions are prejudice and hateful when it comes to non believers and other faiths.
How was it snide? Snide is sneaky and indirect. This was all pretty direct.
Load More Replies...Weaponized Relegion will destroy personal choice in all areas of our lives. Freedom from religion is being obliterated as church is no longer separated from state and has slithered into power with the churches use of money and incredibly unethical behavior. It is definitely more prominent in the Christian demoninations. (sp🤔).
It's so funny too, how they think they need an even stronger death grip on the new children being forced into the horseshit and think that's how they'll keep the numbers. Excuse me you total f**ktards, if you're bleeding numbers, don't you think there should be a change in the system? It's not the people leaving who have a problem.
Im a scientist and an inventor, and totally a Jesus freak... Please take your death shot so I can profit off your death when your insurance company I'm shorting right now tanks....fyi. I'm making a killing...#5 insurance company is paying out 163% more this year in deaths, than the previous year of just fictional covid.. which is radiation poisoning...go get Geiger counter r****d..
Yes, let’s trust science, you know, pets can spread Covid so people killed their animals, 99.7% of people not mortally effected but let’s shut the world down and fear mongering stupid people, where masks that have 0 impact and barrier qualities, spend billions on cancer research and basically get know where but somehow aids and Covid are cured almost instantly, cannot cure the common cold after hundreds of years, dementia and heart disease continue to plague the world. Yeah, let’s trust science. Oh, and if we tax the hell out of people and stop cows farting we can stop hurricanes and bad weather. What a joke
Know I will catch a lot of flack for this and that's ok. God is everywhere and one doesn't need to show up at church - of any religion, on a given day. Ones actions speak louder than words. You do good and not try to screw anyone over intentionally, it's ok. I spoke with the pastors, priests, reverends at a bunch of religious houses of worship in my area. Hands down it is high school all over again and I don't have time for that and told these "people of the cloth" - and that was that. Also the worst offenders during the week, show up on Sunday and the slate is wiped clean. And guess what? It's not. And it's Peyton Place all over again. Biggest perverts on the planet all in the name of religion . . . Just my experience. And . . . I will never turn down a request for the church Bazar or white elephant or Holiday Craft Show. And to bake sweets for after the service even if I didn't go.
Religions used to be about teaching you how to worship and to a much lesser extent, the why and how. Along the way to this day, it's become the chains of Authoritarian cults seeking to create impermeable caste systems. These are people who have become complacent because they have invested deeply to entrench specific traditions and systems and wouldn't accept the influences of diversity, enlightenment, and technology. Progress still changes the world whether you accept it or not, and as the world changes, so do our priorities, needs, and perspectives. Anymore, "religion" has been the cloak of the "future" and "other" - phobic.
I can read and understand very well Don't need a bigot telling me chit
Religious people basically want to go and live forever with the Invisible Sky Daddy, in his house made of rainbows with his pet unicorns.
If that is what some one believes and wants to do who are you to stop them? As long as their belief is not a danger to the public or others why do you care so much? If you believe God is not real why does he make you so mad? So many double standards these days
Load More Replies...How fast time is slipping away from me rather than how slow it used to be as a kid
That’s one of the worst things about getting older. But you also value time so much more than you ever did.
Shopping. for anything... including groceries. Shopping used to be fun. Now it is a chore.
But according to Holley, it’s perfectly natural for our preferences to shift with age. “Our preferences can shift for a variety of reasons as we grow older. For example, if you’re referring to a shift in cuisine preferences, this can be due to the fact that our taste buds not only decrease but can become impaired with aging,” Holley told Bored Panda.
“These changes in taste can be due to medication, infection, medical treatments, smoking, or other injury, ailment or disease but are also a normal part of aging,” she explained. “My grandfather, who never enjoyed spicy food when he was younger, really enjoyed it later in life because it really stimulated his taste buds. We see older adults adding salt to their foods to activate taste. Similarly, our sense of smell can also tend to wane. So, taste tends to shift.”
Feeling like I've done all the right things yet the goal posts keep moving farther out.
Social events. The mental preparation beforehand followed by the wide range of personalities at said event.. exhausting.
"If you are referring to general preferences shifting as we grow older, I believe this is not only natural but indicative of the fact that we are growing in our life wisdom through the amazing process of becoming," Holley shared. "In youth, we are finding our way and it is a time of great discovery. Through life experience, we learn, grow, adapt, discover and blaze our own distinctive trail to the best of us that has been there the entire time just waiting to be unearthed!”
And if anyone out there is a bit scared of aging, Holley has a great perspective on the topic. "It beats the alternative! And, aging is happening to all of us, from newborn infants to supercentenarians. Aging is our gift of life, if we’re lucky enough to be doing it," she told Bored Panda. "With that, not only do we want to do it as long as we can, we want to do it with a positive attitude and with passion, vigor and vitality. As we grow older, there may be some things we cannot do as we once did. But with some childlike wonder and an optimistic mindset, we can find FUNdamental ways to mine our passion and purpose in creative ways to give life meaning and even make a positive difference in the world around us.”
The ultra wealthy.
I was never a fan to begin with, but seeing how the can grow their wealth by billions, live in extreme luxury, and pretty much never pay taxes, really makes me sick.
Elon Musk was able to increase his wealth by over $100 billion in less than a year, without paying taxes. He was able to buy twitter using a leverage scheme so that the majority of the $44 billion was money that was never taxed.
And he's far from the only person benefitting from tax laws that let the ultra wealthy pay little tax.
I've met the Duke of Westminster (richest man in UK, owns Mayfair, Kensington). Nicest person, his kids went to local schools and he funded all local shools whilst they were there.
Going to theaters to watch movies. They're more enjoyable to watch at home now.
Social Media
It’s a literal biblical level plague
Aging isn’t all bad. According to Holley, the best part of getting older is “Being able to answer ‘PRESENT’ to the roll call of life.” And as she shared with Bored Panda, there are plenty of things she actually enjoys more now than she used to. “With age comes a deeper appreciation for life and the opportunity to experience grand living by design,” Holley says. “I believe attitude plays a big role in our life experience. That doesn’t mean every day is rainbows and roses. Because as we know, life is full of surprises for all of us. It simply means choosing to take nothing for granted and cherish life’s special “whatisness” – big and small, in the spirit of gratitude.”
The world in general, it feels less and less like it has anything to do with me, more alien and absurd with each passing year. Perhaps that's natural for a creature that is closer to death than birth.
Junk food! I can tell when I’m malnourished and it feels good to eat vegetables
I have started craving salad. It is weird. But after a day filled with junk food and sugary treats all I want is a nice salad.
Anything with a lot of hype that requires me to stand in a long a*s line.
In other news; that shop has to have the least inspired banner I've ever seen.
“I remind my listeners to be active stakeholders in their growing older journey and design life on their terms to discover meaning, purpose and passion over and through the years,” Holley told Bored Panda. “Sure, growing older can have its share of challenges; it can serve up lemons we didn’t want.”
“But I love seeing how with resilience, grit and passion that bitter lemon can be sowed, and the next thing you know there’s an entire grove of lemon trees capable of serving lemontinis to the entire world. In other words, we can take that unfortunate circumstance and transform it into something greater than we ever realized was imaginable.”
"We continually fill our Virtual Treasure Trunks with the many Gems we collect along life’s way making us rich with Pearls of Wisdom, Emeralds of Empathy, Garnets of Gratitude and so many more. What fun we have mining for each of them in our life-long journey of self-discovery," Holley says. "With that, I invite everyone to love the st’AGE’ they’re in!”
If you'd like to hear more wise words from Holley, be sure to check out her podcast, Aging Greatfully, right here!
I hate losing interest in things I used to love.
It's worse when you physically can't do things you used to love. I love horses but my hips won't allow me to ride anymore. I want a dog but I couldn't walk it. I used to climb mountains in Scotland and the Lake District. My fingers hurt when I do crafting... But I still really love K-pop!
Small talk
I cannot, I cannot stand pointless yapping! So much so that I have become the quiet one that goes to work to do my work and go home to my bed and cat.
We also reached out to host of the B[OLDER] podcast, Debbie Weil, to hear her insight on the topic as well. Debbie is a 71-year-old former journalist, story designer, podcaster and grandmother of 6 who divides her time between the coast of Maine and New Haven, CT.
When it comes to things she's noticed she enjoys less over the years, Debbie told Bored Panda, "Going out to a nightclub or a party, staying up late, and then sleeping late the next AM. Much prefer to skip the party, go to bed at 9ish to read, and then get up the next morning at 6:30. I realized this about 10 years ago," she noted. But she also think it's natural for our preferences to shift as we age. "Partially because one’s tastes change and partially because one starts to be clearer about what’s important."
Capitalism. F**k working until I die for profit I don't get to enjoy.
The way the internet is in 2022.
Ads, subscriptions, pay walls, unhelpful sites with more pictures than words, and streaming service content split up between around 200 platforms, and most of the good content is exclusive to one, and never available elsewhere.
On browsers, you have to have multiple extensions or the like to tell Cookies, Trackers, and Ads to go away. For people in Australia, we're also Geo-Blocked, so we have to use VPN to get around it or turn to other means.
Commercial radio is unlistenable, with the same 25 songs on repeat at the only five I can remember the channel for, and even that is preferable to the afternoon talk show of cackling, squawking gossip. (I'm happy to pay a contribution to my group's spotify; I can have that going on my phone, instead of listening to any of that c**p; I can have long playlists, *my* kind of music, and I don't have to pull over to change CDs).
Changing phone service provider is simple enough on the surface, but then you also have to update your 2-factor authentication, and if it's tied to the old number, which is out of service, you have to go in person to a store or office, or call customer support. For each instance.
Those are the most prevalent grips I have with modern life. It's all in regards to what I watch, listen, or read, and the devices I do so on. It's this tangled web of inter-dependant, exclusive-pushing, paywall-blocking, subscription-requiring noise that really does distract from more important, more healthy, use of time, energy and money.
Huge gatherings of people.
Parties are cool. But like festivals, concerts, anything where people are shoulder to shoulder and packed in somewhere, no thanks.
We also asked Debbie if she has any wise words for anyone who might be scared of getting older. "As they say, getting old is not for the faint of heart," she shared with a laugh. "You have to be 'bolder' in order to keep trying new things, going new places, and meeting new people. I’ve taken up the cello because a wonderful teacher lives a few blocks away and because it’s satisfying as well as very challenging. AND I’m okay that I’ll never be very good. Who cares?!"
Contrarians. A lot of people dislike stuff simply because it's popular, they think it makes them edgy and cool but they just seem like defiant teenagers to me nowadays.
Crowds. I’m the guy at house parties that sits outside by the fire pit all night.
But getting older certainly isn't all bad. Debbie says, "The best part of getting older is that you care less about a lot of things (whether you’re good at something, for example). At the same time, you gradually, very gradually, start to appreciate the simplest things: getting outside for a walk on a fall day when the sky is blue and the leaves are yellow. Or walking down the street holding your partner’s hand (in my case, a husband of almost 50 years)."
If you'd like to hear more wise words from Debbie, be sure to check out her podcast about making the most of getting older, B[OLDER], right here!
Kids.
I can't wait to get a cane so I can shake it at them while yelling to get off my lawn.
Ignorance. It's almost always harmful and, at sone point, seems willful.
Going to work. Working in general.
I totally feel incompetent to do any job now days. Why does everything have to be "fast paced, multi-tasker, blah blah blah"? I don't want to be a multi-tasker anymore.
Nobody can stay young forever, so we might as well embrace the beautiful process of aging. But that doesn’t mean we have to enjoy everything as much as we used to! Keep upvoting the responses noting things that don’t feel the same as they used to, and feel free to mention any more you think of in the comments below. But we’re also curious, what do you pandas think gets better with age? Christmas might not feel the same, but I’m guessing a cozy night in and the satisfaction of having a clean house are a lot more enjoyable now than they were to teenage you. We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Deciding what to cook for dinner. You want chicken and chips great, 3 course meal great just tell me what you want to eat
This is so true. I swear if they say " I don't care, whatever" they are getting a can of cat food and crackers.
New music, I don't have the time to care about what's relevant or "in" anymore. I'm sure it's great, but it's just so much easier to stay in my comfort zone with all the to-dos of life.
Holidays. As kids it's about opening presents and eating, but as adults you need to be the one to cook the big meals all day and buy the presents for everyone. Halloween was getting excited about dressing up and getting free candy but now it's about buying candy to give away and maybe buying an expensive costume
Dating. I just turned 40 and I feel like I may never find someone
I understand this one to the core of my soul. Before meeting the beautiful woman I'm with now, I was single for over 6 years (I'm 44). I had gone out on dates and 99% of those dates, the check couldn't get there fast enough and I couldn't wait to get out of there. I can truly appreciate what you're saying and feeling, because I thought my heartbreak and loneliness was just going to be it for me, for the rest of my life. I found a great woman though who took a chance on me, and me with her and I've haven't smiled and laughed so much in such a very long time. My heart finally fills good again. I'm not hurting and feeling hollowed out inside any longer. I finally feel love again in my heart. I know it's difficult, please don't give up. I know I almost did, I was so close to giving up. Please hang in there.
Having social interactions, even going out with my friends is tiring.
I'm supposed to take part in my university bazillionth graduation anniversary tomorrow and the closer it gets, the less interested I am.
Lack of leisure time. When I was younger, it wasn’t a oh deal to go from work to gym to home to right back out half an hour later to bar hop or movie or something.
Now it’s like work…. Aw hell, gym? Not even half an hour to chill? No? F*ck. After gym I’m not doing sh*t the rest of the night.
People with huge "look at me!" life-of-the-party personalities who have no off switch. I spent my younger years seeking friendships/relationships with this type of person, maybe because I wished to be more like that, but after years of being the supporting sidekick bestie to a series of main characters, I find them exhausting.
my other answer was "doing anything at all" but that's probably depression.
Yes and also feeling like you have to shrink yourself back for these people because they get jealous if any attention is taken away from them.
Going to the damn grocery store
I still love a good grocery store. But toy stores lost most of their luster by the time I hit my 30s.
Rollercoasters. The more I see how little people care about their jobs, the more I questions how well put together those things are—especially at fairs and carnivals 😬
Driving. I used to drive to do fun stuff like pick up my friends, go places I wanted to be, or just cruise during the night and enjoy the air.
Now I drive to work. Even though my car is a million times more fun to drive, Im perpetually annoyed.
Former rally driver here. I've realised that I'm quite happy being a passenger these days.
Alcohol. It’s getting harder for me to bounce back on Sunday Fundays. So much so that I moved them to Saturday.
18-19 at uni - party every night study every day. 30's - 2 beers on a Friday, hungover till Tuesday. Now 60 - have to cross the road not to walk past pub, fumes will kill me ;o)
Note: this post originally had 64 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
I hate that when I am looking for information on the internet that the first thing in a search is a video. If I wanted a video I know where to look. I can read ffs and it's not my fault people can not. Especially in public I do not want a video of someone teme an answer just give me the information ffs.
At last put captions if it's a video, I'm always already listening to something and don't want to pause it. No captions, I don't even bother.
Load More Replies...Society, as a whole, is ageist. I hate that I'm looked on as middle-aged when I don't feel it deep inside. People of my age and older can be treated differently in stores. People in positions of authority are mostly younger than me, eg, doctors, police, accountants, they used to be older!
I’ve always wondered what age people really feel like inside. I’m 42 and I think I’ll feel like I’m 25 forever-mentally anyways. It really changed my perspective when I realized that for the first time
Load More Replies...The older you get the less likely you are doing something for the very first time. Whatever experience it is, you habe probably witnessed something similar before. That can make life a bit less exciting than it used to be when you were younger. Less excitement isn't necessarily a bad thing, though...
I miss my sense of wonder. I'm so busy trying to survive, the magic of things are lost to me now.
Makeup. Most makeup. I have hypothyroidism, and lost my eyebrows my last year in HS. I draw them on and have for all time.... now? To do grocery shopping, errands, etc. i do not fracking care they are not on anymore.. I look strange? Then don't look. I could care less now. Sunscreen id what i put on now. For protection!
I used to love long distance road trips. Now, if it talkes longer than 3 hours, this girl flies
Or finally getting a chance to get on the internet and cannot read the story because of all the overlap in ads, and hit Next page puts it in another ads.
News that's always on videos. I'd far rather READ an article, please, than to listen to some gritty-voiced "professional" newscaster's blah-blah-blah about what happened. Can't stand loud restaurants, nor the serious lack of quality in most restaurant food, so rarely eat out anymore. HATE "social media," so don't have myself on any of it. At my age (70), I'm far more aware of how little time there is left to accomplish certain things I thought I wanted to do when I was younger. Now I realize they don't matter---I no longer want to go skydiving, for example---but certain other things matter immensely. Priorities change as we age, and most of us are smart enough to change with them.
Man I'm only 22 and yet I feel the same as most of this list. How did I get so old ?
Man..I'm only 22 and I pretty much feel the same for most on this list. How did I get so old
I hate that when I am looking for information on the internet that the first thing in a search is a video. If I wanted a video I know where to look. I can read ffs and it's not my fault people can not. Especially in public I do not want a video of someone teme an answer just give me the information ffs.
At last put captions if it's a video, I'm always already listening to something and don't want to pause it. No captions, I don't even bother.
Load More Replies...Society, as a whole, is ageist. I hate that I'm looked on as middle-aged when I don't feel it deep inside. People of my age and older can be treated differently in stores. People in positions of authority are mostly younger than me, eg, doctors, police, accountants, they used to be older!
I’ve always wondered what age people really feel like inside. I’m 42 and I think I’ll feel like I’m 25 forever-mentally anyways. It really changed my perspective when I realized that for the first time
Load More Replies...The older you get the less likely you are doing something for the very first time. Whatever experience it is, you habe probably witnessed something similar before. That can make life a bit less exciting than it used to be when you were younger. Less excitement isn't necessarily a bad thing, though...
I miss my sense of wonder. I'm so busy trying to survive, the magic of things are lost to me now.
Makeup. Most makeup. I have hypothyroidism, and lost my eyebrows my last year in HS. I draw them on and have for all time.... now? To do grocery shopping, errands, etc. i do not fracking care they are not on anymore.. I look strange? Then don't look. I could care less now. Sunscreen id what i put on now. For protection!
I used to love long distance road trips. Now, if it talkes longer than 3 hours, this girl flies
Or finally getting a chance to get on the internet and cannot read the story because of all the overlap in ads, and hit Next page puts it in another ads.
News that's always on videos. I'd far rather READ an article, please, than to listen to some gritty-voiced "professional" newscaster's blah-blah-blah about what happened. Can't stand loud restaurants, nor the serious lack of quality in most restaurant food, so rarely eat out anymore. HATE "social media," so don't have myself on any of it. At my age (70), I'm far more aware of how little time there is left to accomplish certain things I thought I wanted to do when I was younger. Now I realize they don't matter---I no longer want to go skydiving, for example---but certain other things matter immensely. Priorities change as we age, and most of us are smart enough to change with them.
Man I'm only 22 and yet I feel the same as most of this list. How did I get so old ?
Man..I'm only 22 and I pretty much feel the same for most on this list. How did I get so old