Does Life Really Begin At "40"

[Lipz]

Hi i keep hearing that life begins at 40 but is this just said by liars or optimists as surely once you get to 40 life goes down hill, teeth starts weakening, more and more wrinkles appear, we start losing muscle mass or get fatter as our hormones start declining, sex drives disappear, we start going greay as our hair cells die, the bodies new cell growth starts slowing down, we get weaker, cancers and mutations and our brains start shrinking with many of us developing alzheimers or other brain retardations.

Employers don't want to employ you going for younger sharper candidates, your circle of friends and family shrinks as people start dying and your kids, grandkids become adults and then you really realise that you're not long for this world.

So does life really begin at 40 or are we really fooling ourselves?

[mccfluff]

I reckon life begins when you take your first breath

[ladybirder]

You forget things. You get a pain here and another pain there. But you just carry on as best you can. Have a laugh about it with your friends, as they are getting the same as you. As I said, it's better than the alternative.

[Mamyalynne]

I am galloping merrily towards 60, have battled depression , anxiety and like many widowhood - certain bits hurt and am partially sighted, however I grab each day and enjoy it to the fullest.

Later am off to Wales for a week with 3 of my very boisterous grandchildren , I know there will be very little peace and quiet but am as excited as they are.

Address your depression and you may get some joy back in your life.

[Lipz]

Ladybirder i feel i've wasted my life and everywhere i look i'm reminded of the things i should've done but didn't. My life is full of regrets and i hate myself for this.

[cazzz1975]

Its a shame you feel like this approaching 40, how are you going to feel in 10 years time? will you look back at the last ten years spent worrying about your appearance and your body and not embracing life? I dont think its good to write yourself off so soon, you are only going to make the next 40 or 50 years miserable.

[Brinjal]

I will be 60 this year and don't feel any older than I did about twenties I still love my rock music , am fit a little fatter, so what. Don't have to answer to anyone. And as for being u nemployable for women that isn't so. Women in their late 40s to late 50s are very employable as they don't have small children to be picking from school taking time off when sick etc. so life begins at what ever age you want it to. You o ly get o e go at this. It's to a practice so go and enjoy

[rockyracoon]

Age is just a number, we're all dying from the minute where born, it's just a matter of when and fitting in everything you possibly can, I'm 45 and don't feel any different to when I was 35.

If you're going to get depressed about age then you're setting yourself up for a miserable life.

[Lipz]

Thank you all for your time, patience and advice. I will try and turn this all into a positive for myself. I know i shouldn't but i need to go out and have a drink. (Vodka) If i don't speak to you again have a great weekend and i hope to come back here another time.

[RATTER15]

Lipz //Is age really a state of mind?//

Its clearly a state of your mind.

[CatGirl4]

I don't feel old,'though i'm much older than any one mentions on here!you're "as old as you feel"

[woofgang]

Lipz if you are abusing alcohol, how will that help you to improve anything? Go see a doctor and GET HELP.

[ToraToraTora]

lipz, don't even think about it, just get on with it. I'm 50 and there are so many things that I feel better than ever about. I just wish I knew what I know now when I was 18 when of course I knew everything! It's not all about the physical either. I get all that "employers only want young people" pony from Mrs Tora. We are hiring anyone who has the skills at my work, age doesn't come into it, we hired a 60 year old last year. It's never too late to start a new career and at 40, no problem, learn something that interests you. I felt a bit depressed at 30 but I look back now thinking what a plonker! good luck!

[Arksided]

OP, I'm forty-one and still waiting ;-) I'm really not much different from ten years ago except I can't run about on a football pitch as long as I could and pace is slower, maybe a little wiser but that's about it.

[ladybirder]

Lipz, re your reply to me at 11.41. All I can say is that you feel as if you have wasted the first half of your life, then make darn sure you don't waste the rest of it. It's up to you, nobody else can do it for you, but there are people who can and will help you but you have to help yourself as well. Say sorry to those you have hurt, put the regrets behind you, and focus on making yours a life worth living. Perhaps you could help people who have been where you've been? It's all up to you Lipz. X

[viv38]

I'll let you know in two years time !

[Connemmara]

Ladybirder (just curious) what kind of a job were you doing being 62 I think that is great.

[Old_Geezer]

Yes it's a big fat lie. But the secret of life is, as always, to get what you can out of it. Your state of mind is what gives you the good or bad feeling. Choose the good.