I’m not despondent. I’m not negative. But… growing old generally sucks.

Yes, I know there are upsides. I am aware of the many wonderful things old or elderly people say about growing old. I am one. I also espouse some similar views. They are not untrue. They are also not wholly correct. Not for all old people.

By the way, who is an old person? When does one become an old person? The old age goal-post moves depending on who you ask. There are different terms or words used to describe people who have crossed a certain chronological age or threshold. Is it when we have more grey hairs and wrinkles or retired from work and receiving a pension? Or when we have no clue what Tik Tok is or anything related to mobile phone apps? Or have grandchildren and care for them or dawdle along everywhere? Or all the above? I cannot be sure.

‘The World Health Organization (WHO) says in most developed countries, old age starts at 60 years and above. According to their predictions, the world’s population over 60 years will double between 2015 and 2050, reaching 2 billion. Ten years ago, people were considered old at age 59. However, today you would be considered old at 70… [1].’ Another take on old age, which I thought was interesting. ‘… a starting point for considering the span of old age. Between 60 – 75 years = young old; Between 75 – 85 years = old. And, those 85+ are considered the frail older population[2].’ Hmm. I am a YO or a young old person.

Back to the upsides of being YO. I have more time, maybe not always. For myself. For holidays. For hobbies. For family and friends. Less commuting. Less stress. Fewer money worries – hopefully greater financial independence from savings and investments. An in-place insurance policy to take the edge off bigger medical bills. Comfortable companionship and fewer relationship issues as a result of being together longer, and knowing each other better. Hmm. More compassion and empathy for others from having experienced challenges and difficult events during our lengthy lifetime. More accepting but not really understanding how people think or why they behave the way they do. More comfortable with myself, most times.

Now, why I think being YO sucks. There is not very much to look forward to. I have more years behind me than ahead of me. Unless I live to be over 120. Another 60 years? No, and imagine the state/form I will be in – frightening. Yes. Yes. I know I’m still YO now. Not frail. Not yet. Agreed, there is still a lot of life in me. And, I can do a lot of those wonderful things that I have listed above. I know that.

‘Surveys show aging and happiness often form a U-shaped curve. From your youth to your middle years, the line dips slowly. It then rises in your 40s and 50s. About 1 in 3 people in their 60s say they’re “very happy” — slightly more than those under 35. Life probably taught you to savour good times and know that bad times will pass. But your golden decade can bring new challenges, like health or money worries and the deaths of loved ones[3].’ 

The last sentence is nigglingly more true than not. Unless you are super-duper fit, healthy and wealthy, amply blessed by God and have gratuitously inherited unblemished family genes. That said, most old folks like me will inevitably catch an ailment or two or more. Some terminal. Some debilitating. Some seriously painful.  Like cancer, heart and lung diseases, as well as arthritis and osteoporosis. ‘If you ever find out you have cancer, you’re most likely to get the news in your 60s. …Older age is what’s most likely to raise your odds of having all types of cancer. … Your mid-60s and beyond are a prime time for a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure[4].

Some old people, not all, will also experience a poorer quality of life. Not just from ailments but from wear and tear from living longer. Like an old car that has chalked up a lot of mileage. It needs new or reconditioned spare parts. Or worse, it will have to deal with irreplaceable parts – no longer available or useable. Hearing loss. Memory loss. Vision loss. Bone loss. Loss of skin elasticity. I cannot hear, see or remember as well as before, and I creak. My skin, more specifically, just above of my knees and my wrists, have rings or rather loose skin with folds just like the annual growth rings of trees. I have other grouses but that is for another day.

Old age will usher in health problems, death (mine and loved ones), loneliness, loss of independence, waning get-up-and-go and fewer fun and lively activities. Again, I’m not disheartened. That’s life.