Ever feel like going out until 3 AM and smashing Four Lokos as if there's no tomorrow has lost all its meaning? Or that the Lord of The Rings trilogy is not as deep and profound as you once believed it to be? Well, if you're afraid that something's wrong with you, you're not alone.
Pondering what we are all secretly thinking, u/To55ursalad opened a flood of great, relatable answers by asking the AskReddit community, "What do you feel you are losing interest in as you grow older?" Ranging from your usual suspects - video games, opinions of others, dating - going all the way to more philosophical takes like "society" or "life", we've gathered the most interesting answers that will surely resonate with many. Unless, of course, getting old has made you lose all interest in that too.
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Any and all celebrities.
I loved Anthony Bourdain. I read his book and watched all his shows. I thought he was really cool and sexy and I loved cooking shows, I learned a lot watching him. When he died, I cried - the only celebrity I’ve been upset about. I felt guilty for being upset about a celebrity because my friends made fun of people like that, but my chef sister told me “he doesn’t count, he’s actually a cool celebrity.” Ever since then I’ve felt weird about this sentiment :/ it feels really judgmental. Let people like stupid shallow things; people are multi-faceted. (I like true crime which some people think is shallow and f****d up, I can’t hate people for enjoying the Kardashians)
Dating. Being single and living alone is amazing.
I absolutely love living alone. Well not totally alone. It's just me and my doggo.
Trying to impress…I am at the "What you see is what you get" stage in life and I love it.
Politics. I just don't care anymore. I don't want to paint with a broad brush here, but every politician in the world is a lying, selfish, conniving dick. Left, right, center — it doesn't matter. They're lying to you, and they don't give a s**t about you.
So, none of the honest people that want to change the world for the better get into politics? Or maybe they get corrupted immediately? Or maybe everything in the world isn't going your way, so you throw a tantrum and blame "every politician in the world". Sorry if I offend all you upvoters but I'm so tired of this dumb trope.
Movies. Nowadays most movies are as generic as off-brands from a grocery store that nobody goes to.
Society. Serious answer. I’m done with people and politics and consumerism and all of it. I spend countless hours fantasizing about liquidating everything I own and living in a small cabin in the woods for the rest of my days and just letting the world burn. But I have a wife and job and kids and all that stuff. So I’ll just keep working and paying my bills and going to social events and pretending that I give a s**t about any of this.
Romantic relationships. I used to base my entire happiness off of them but the older you get; the more you realize that finding “love” doesn’t solve all of your problems. If anything it just creates more.
Social media. I uninstalled Facebook a few weeks ago as it was just taking up space on my phone, and I don't miss it at all. I can't believe the embarrassing c**p I used to think was social media worthy, and I cringe whenever I see my old Instagram stories.
I recently came across this statement, that I agree with...
When you're younger you spend more money on "fun", when you're older you spend more money on comfort/convenience.
I find as I've gotten older, I'm less interested about having "fun", and I'm way more concerned in being comfortable.
It's not that I don't want to have a fun time, it's just comfort is more interesting to me now, lol.
I still love fun, but in comfortable way. Like, everyone, come to my house and have fun at your own way! Take a nap, play videogames, be introverted or whatever.
Oh yesss! Having my friends and my siblings over at my place, and play video games, mage knight or just talk and laugh and eat lovely food with nice drinks of our choice ❤️❤️❤️ I'd never exchange it for a loud party or festival.
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I have a magnet on my fridge ' the older I get, the more I appreciate being at home and doing absolutely nothing '
I'm older now and spend money on good food. The less I do prepping or cleaning, the better. I eat out a lot. That's my new fun
And then you reach the point where all of your activity is about reducing pain from orthopedic degeneration.
I remember buying my first real mattress, an expensive, long-term investment, after years of sleeping on just about anything. That was the first sign that I was veering towards comfort.
Hm. Hard disagree on this one. As I get older, I spend more and more on travel and less and less on shoddy/trendy material goods. I am not always comfortable when I travel, but I always learn something new.
I am the opposite. When I was younger I was poor. "Getting by" was all that mattered. I mean, thinking about retirement, I want to put so much more in my Roth IRA. When I have the free time with retirement, I want to travel. I am starting a job that pays way more money. I am going for it.
If i look at my bones/joints most of the fun thing actually mean pain to me, so yes comfort and fun where i don't have to move that much, like gaming.
Also, young people want new and exciting things. Older people want predictable things.
I am the exact opposite. I’m in my late fifties and I spend a lot of money and time on fun things. I think it’s sad if you don’t. It’s as you’ve given up on life and are just waiting to die…albeit comfortably. To me, I want to create memories and experiences. When I’m gone, my kids are going to remember parasailing in the Bahamas, or watching the America’s Cup Races in Bermuda. They are not going to remember your “comfortable “ night watching Netflix.
I agree. I used to want more material things when I was younger. As I getting older I don't care as much about having material things.
I spent my money on building a company and making payroll every week
I do both. I spend money to make out home cozy when we are here, but also to make sure I have some experience that isn't sitting on the couch watching TV all day.
Competition. I don’t have to time or interest to want to compete on who’s better looking, who’s carrying more expensive bags, who’s driving better cars etc.
At this age I’m happy with being happy.
Maintaining relationships with people who don't reciprocate the same effort or consideration. And just generally engaging in small talk and getting to know people. Too much selfishness in the world.
I can maintain 3, maybe 4 worthwhile relationships at a time. My wife and kids fill those slots. Sorry not sorry, I just don't have the bandwidth to deal with anyone else.
Working. God I hate working now. I used to think I needed to be passionate about my job, but now I'm just trying to make enough money to support a family. Means to an end lol
I had to stop working in my mid-40s... I miss my job - company phone/car/computer, travel with a per diem every few weeks. But even without the perks, I miss the purpose. Thank goodness for my daughter. BP is heavy on "I'm never having kids and here are 30 reasons it's awesome" but she gives me purpose and happiness.
Christ, what *aren't* I losing interest in as I grow older. My idea of a good day is one where I don't have to get out of bed before midday and I have literally nothing planned for the afternoon.
Growing older any day that I don't have an appointment with my doctor, dentist, hospital, chiropractor or any other specialist is a good day.
Brand names. Can’t believe I used to pay extremely large companies like Nike for merchandise that was just a walking advertisement for them.
Childish drama and gossip.
I have 2 jobs. One job has a massive amount of backstabbing, lying, drama the other is really the healthiest work environment I have ever had . One has money the other has healthy relationships
Buying new stuff. Thrift stores, estate sales, and yard sales are the best!
TV. You see the same shows with the same scenarios remade and remade under different names. There are quality TV shows out there still but few and far between.
There's a saying that there's really only about half-a-dozen different kinds of human story, and every fictional book, drama, or comedy ever is just a re-presentation of one of those basic stories.
Having Saturday and Sunday off. I prefer to have my days off in the middle of the week. Less crowds, nothing is sold out, stores are open longer, staff are less stressed, doctors and libraries are actually open and Wednesdays church is way better than the Sunday services.
Living downtown or anywhere near it. I thought buying a house in the suburbs was basically death when I was 21. Now the last thing I wanna do on a Friday night is wade through crowds of drunk college kids, step over the homeless, and shout over the music in a bar. Currently house shopping in small towns with cute main streets that close down at 9.
Owning things/stuff. I feel like I don't really buy anything except for necessities anymore. Just don't see the point in having a lot of stuff. I've gotten rid of most of my possessions, even my album collection that used to mean so much. Now it's like... meh.
I grew up poor and became a collector - coins, sports memorabilia, wine, chess sets, sake sets(?!)... but they all sit in boxes I rarely open. I am slowly getting rid of everything, but keeping the most valuable stuff for my stepkids and daughter. Honestly, I don't even care what they do with it...
Arguing. It's just not worth it.
Contemporary popular music. The last time I bought music, it came on a CD. I really don't like what is popular now, they all sound like contestants from American Idol.
Reading, unfortunately. In my 20’s I literally had a collection of over 600 books and if I had the time, would finish a novel in a day. As I get older, I feel like I’m getting dumber? And I just lose more of my attention span and being able to read for long periods of time. It sucks.
You're not getting dumber, our brains just have less room and time. I moved to audible books cause I missed reading so much but didn't have the time or headspace to sit with a book ❤️
Drinking alcohol. In the exchange, I’ve gained interest in caring for my long term health.
Music. I used to listen to music all the time and was constantly on the hunt for new bands and keeping an eye on the local concert scene. Now if I'm listening to anything it's usually an album I loved back in college and the idea of going to a concert sounds absolutely exhausting.
As a musician, I stopped going to live concerts. The people controlling the sound system are idiots. They think they have to make the music sound like a car stereo with all bass cranked up. Cannot hear all the instruments. But the drummer's kick drum is at 130 db volume.
Sex. I mean I enjoy it but I certainly don't have the sex drive I did as a younger man and I'm happy about that.
Trappings of ‘success’ flexing; home/cars/clothes, all of it. Just want quality goods and healthiness.
Interactions with humans. Hell I don't even read the replies to my comments on reddit or social media. Both inboxes are filled with messages I will never read. I like to come, say my part then leave. Face to face is even worse and I would much rather be with my kids or my dogs then hang out with people. I enjoy my solitude
You won't read this but I have to say it, anyway: your kids are people! (Edit: missing word)
Going out.
PM_ME_CLEVER_THINGS replied:
This.
Some of my friends will go bowling and have beers once a month.
I have yet to join them because I'd rather chill with my dog and have beers. Especially since it would be a 30min drive one way for such a meh event.
Do what you want but this seems to be less about bowling and more just hanging out and catching up with your friends. If they do that in other ways, or just don't care to at all, is perfectly fine, of course. But calling being with your friends a 'meh event' says more about that person than about the event itself, in my opinion.
Socializing.
SyzygyTooms replied:
Same! I sometimes lament that I don’t have huge friend groups like some people I know, but I also rarely have the energy for social functions when I do attend.
I also have the tendency to attract sh**ty people as friends, so that’s a whole other bag of worms.
In addition to material things, I’ve lost interest in gossip or hearing about any mistakes people have made in the past. To be, bringing up someone’s past or any gossip about them is a sign of very low intelligence. It suggests you have no original thoughts, so you rely on the imperfections of others to fuel conversation.
Nobody is perfect. People make mistakes. What’s important is who you are today, right now, and who you’re trying to be in the future. If you try to talk to me about someone’s past, it’ll be the last time we speak.
Decorating a Christmas tree. Haven't been able to muster enthusiasm for one for the last 2-3 years now.
I have an artificial Christmas wreath now with lights and decorations and I hang that up in the living room. I feel just as Christmas-y with it
I only stopped putting up the tree when we took in a stray about 2 years ago, first thing she did was climb on my new curtains, I’ve seen her curiosity level, and her skill in parkour, an Xmas tree will be a total disaster
Trying to control things.
Video games. It's getting harder and harder for me to find new games I like playing. I just end up replaying old games again.
The USA. I used to be very politically active. Worked on a few campaigns. Always debating irl and online.
But as I’ve aged I find myself politically homeless.
I’ve lived in deeply blue and deeply red counties and cities. Both are greedy. Both are self declared arbiters of their version of morality.
So I’ve checked out of voting and caring.
It's elections day today in Spain. The campaign has been dreadful and I hate all the candidates. But... some candidates are worse than others. The extreme right is on the rise and is expected to win, so I've crawled to my polling station to vote, not for the candidate I like, but against the candidate I hate the most.
People pleasing, fitting in, spending time with unkind people just because they have some redeeming qualities, dairy, getting drunk, spending money on luxuries, living with other people, my college friend group from like 8 years ago.
The last one kinda stings; I can't imagine completely falling out of touch with all of them, but we're certainly drifting apart in some ways.
Making my boss happy (it's one of those "were a family" bosses that talks s**t about everyone else and thinks I'm coming to work to listen to it for hours.)
People from work always assume from my hair color, piercings and tattoos that I'm liberal. I used to be, swung the other way in 20s, now ended up in the middle of the fence on different issues. So coworkers/boss s blathering like I'm going to agree with them politically always ticks me off. Keep it out of work!
Events starting late. Local fireworks show started at 9:22 last night. Like cmon do all the thank yous, 50/50 and national anthem at 845 and have the first boom right at 9.
Well, fireworks should start when it´s dark. Way better effect and you can see them better. Fireworks during day time sounds kinda lame.
Sports. When I was young I took my identity from the sports teams I followed. Now I'm 52, and don't have the time or energy to keep up with all of the minutia of sports that I used to care so deeply about.
My home town is a HUGE sports city. For a time it was called championship city, we had the Steelers, winning so many Superbowls, the Pirates winning the world Series, and the Penguins winning the Stanley Cup.then all the football players started going crazy and committing suicide. iron Mike, Terry Long,Justin strelzic...I know the spelling is wrong. From CTE. Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, from so many head injuries and concussions. The game produced so many permanent untreatable brain damage, I didn't have the heart to watch football. Lost interest in the pirates too. BUT I WILL NEVER GIVE UP THE OENGUINS
This isn’t really a good thing to lose interest in, but honestly, my fitness. I saw an ad yesterday that said “get the abs of your dreams” (or some s**t like that) and I just didn’t care; I thought “nah, had abs in my 20s, that’s enough of that.” I’ve been big into working out and had physical hobbies, and was toned, trimmed and strong. I spent my teens, 20s, and early 30s competing in martial arts, doing CrossFit, running, biking, powerlifting, always making time for the gym . . . And within the last couple years the desire has just gone. I felt myself getting out of breath going up stairs recently (in my defense I was going up like 16 flights with heavy gear after just jogging from the back of the parking lot); like how the f**k does that happen?!
When I was really active, I used to dream of having defined abs. Got close a couple of times, but never really made it. Now I'm overweight, but making changes and getting healthier. I have a few goals, but defined muscles is not one of them. I want my cholesterol and BP to be healthy. I want to have enough energy to be able to run around with my daughter when she starts walking. And I want to be slim enough to fit into regular clothes, without having to go to the big and tall store (I live in a country where clothes sizes are much smaller than my home country).
Happiness. Not by choice or anything; I just can't pay bills with life satisfaction. My only real option is to work until I die because if I tell my apartment office that I can't make rent because I'm overworked and overstressed, they'll just tell me to get out and that I also owe them the remainder of the rent on the lease and also a lease breakage fee.
Star Wars and super hero movies, which is all I consumed for nearly half my life.
For me, drawing. I used to be an avid artist, especially as a teenager, and I was pretty good at it too. But as I’m getting older, I find myself making less time for it and feeling like there are more important things to do. I’ve also kind of adopted the “if it’s not productive it’s a waste of time” mentality (not saying it’s a good thing, but I’m too busy with work and school to not be productive).
I had very few interests throughout my life.
Food
Television
Manga
Pokemon
Food doesnt taste as good as it did when I was younger. It also makes me fat, so I cant just eat what I like. And as I get older, my taste buds and digestion system will get worse.
Television has been less entertaining over the years. Predictable and sanitized. Everything being political or a remake or a live action version of a cartoon doesnt help.
Manga that I like is hard to fond in English and I often lose track of manga I like
Pokemon is fine but...lonely without someone to play with. And I've never had that.
Interestingly enough, my interest in making a friend or having a relationship is rising. I was always alone as a child, and even in college, I was content being alone. But now i'm on decade 3, and I have been putting in real effort to find connection. Nothing but failure so far, but who knows?
And maybe my fading interests will be more interesring with someone to share them with.
I'm 69 and didn't have friends as a child, because of where we lived. I believe it stunted me in so many ways. Try and get out a little. The few great but temporary friends that passed quickly through me life were the best. Miss them all.
Existing. As I get older, I've lost the will to continue. I'm currently existing and living for others in my life and not for myself. The only thing that keeps me going some days is the thought that I will cause pain to others if I disappear.
I know that feeling. It's called depression. It doesn't necessarily mean that you spend all day crying in bed. I have a type of depression called "persistent depressive disorder" (though I prefer the older name "dysthymia"). Symptoms are "mild," but last at least two years for diagnosis. In my case it probably goes back decades, and at times spirals into bouts of major depression. It basically sucks the joy and excitement out of *everything*.
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From this list I gather that people don't care about anything. Sounds depressing
Yea a lot of those posts or Comments come from people who could do with some help or at least someone to talk to
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I think some of these people have far bigger problems than simply losing interest.
About half of these sound like plain old depression! "I've lost interest in friends, going out, doing things, and myself."
...and the other half are apparently people who are shocked that your tastes change as you get older! "I'm just not that not Pokemon anymore..."
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Money. I used to be very careful with it, and worried about it, up until I turned 55. But now that I'm retired I couldn't care less.
So very true. If you have what you need what more could you want? And I find that I actually don't need very much.
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I felt almost every single thing on this post. I guess it's some kind of midlife crises. What could it be else? Hopefully not life...
Imagine living during a period and society where you have enough free time to even think about any of this rather than simply surviving then not using that time to do anything productive.
Boy, people it's ok to lose interest in a lot of these things. Don't let age cause you to loose your JOY. Depression is a dark place. Don't let yourself slip into it.
We are living a chaotic life. We were never meant to live this rat-race existence and I for one, am taking measures to be semi retired by 45 (I’m 39). I have chronic illness and my partner works away over 70 hours a week. What’s the point. We are being taken for a ride on political coattail’s and we are brainwashed into thinking it’s “normal”?!? Eff that.
Lol ain't that DEPRESSING 🤣🤣🤣 I mean I agree with most of them, but these guys made wanting to stay in bed sounds really awful. I mean it's a phase, people. I was in multiple bands when I'm younger, dreaming to become the next rockstar. It didn't happen. But i wouldn't trade the memories for anything else. That's just what young me was. This thread made it sounds that everything we did when we were young was bad, it's depressing. Holy c**p...
Stuff,god i have way too much and would love to get rid of it all but so overwhelming.when people ask what do u want for cgristmas,bday nothing nothing nothing.givecto a animal rescue or shelter instead
Losing interest or giving up seem very close together or are even interchangeable for a lot of these posts.
I used to be a rabid "Trekkie", or "Trekker", or "Trekkist" -- whatever. I don't have cable, so can't watch the newer incarnations. But when I heard that Klingons have two penises, I just gave up, because that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. cha' InSepDu', my a*s! I should probably rephrase that, but I'm not gonna. Pun not intended!
No TV, no cellphone, no social media, no subscription of any kind, true friends are dead, false friends are dead to me. I am a happy ghost !
Existing. As I get older, I've lost the will to continue. I'm currently existing and living for others in my life and not for myself. The only thing that keeps me going some days is the thought that I will cause pain to others if I disappear.
I know that feeling. It's called depression. It doesn't necessarily mean that you spend all day crying in bed. I have a type of depression called "persistent depressive disorder" (though I prefer the older name "dysthymia"). Symptoms are "mild," but last at least two years for diagnosis. In my case it probably goes back decades, and at times spirals into bouts of major depression. It basically sucks the joy and excitement out of *everything*.
Load More Replies... From this list I gather that people don't care about anything. Sounds depressing
Yea a lot of those posts or Comments come from people who could do with some help or at least someone to talk to
Load More Replies... I think some of these people have far bigger problems than simply losing interest.
About half of these sound like plain old depression! "I've lost interest in friends, going out, doing things, and myself."
...and the other half are apparently people who are shocked that your tastes change as you get older! "I'm just not that not Pokemon anymore..."
Load More Replies... Money. I used to be very careful with it, and worried about it, up until I turned 55. But now that I'm retired I couldn't care less.
So very true. If you have what you need what more could you want? And I find that I actually don't need very much.
Load More Replies... I felt almost every single thing on this post. I guess it's some kind of midlife crises. What could it be else? Hopefully not life...
Imagine living during a period and society where you have enough free time to even think about any of this rather than simply surviving then not using that time to do anything productive.
Boy, people it's ok to lose interest in a lot of these things. Don't let age cause you to loose your JOY. Depression is a dark place. Don't let yourself slip into it.
We are living a chaotic life. We were never meant to live this rat-race existence and I for one, am taking measures to be semi retired by 45 (I’m 39). I have chronic illness and my partner works away over 70 hours a week. What’s the point. We are being taken for a ride on political coattail’s and we are brainwashed into thinking it’s “normal”?!? Eff that.
Lol ain't that DEPRESSING 🤣🤣🤣 I mean I agree with most of them, but these guys made wanting to stay in bed sounds really awful. I mean it's a phase, people. I was in multiple bands when I'm younger, dreaming to become the next rockstar. It didn't happen. But i wouldn't trade the memories for anything else. That's just what young me was. This thread made it sounds that everything we did when we were young was bad, it's depressing. Holy c**p...
Stuff,god i have way too much and would love to get rid of it all but so overwhelming.when people ask what do u want for cgristmas,bday nothing nothing nothing.givecto a animal rescue or shelter instead
Losing interest or giving up seem very close together or are even interchangeable for a lot of these posts.
I used to be a rabid "Trekkie", or "Trekker", or "Trekkist" -- whatever. I don't have cable, so can't watch the newer incarnations. But when I heard that Klingons have two penises, I just gave up, because that's the stupidest thing I've ever heard. cha' InSepDu', my a*s! I should probably rephrase that, but I'm not gonna. Pun not intended!
No TV, no cellphone, no social media, no subscription of any kind, true friends are dead, false friends are dead to me. I am a happy ghost !
