The absolute sheer joy of ageing

Pamina… inspired by you… did 2 times one minute planks last night and planning to increase!

You're absolutely right.
We can't do much about shit in the past, but now is your time!
I'm sure you pull out better phrases than in your twenties or thirties, at least I do.
😁

Definitely enjoying not giving a shit what people think of my choices any more. But really need to work on not taking shit - that later realisation/disgust of how much someone has been an asshole to you and you said nothing at the time. I mean, do people have stock phrases they just pull out when their cheeky fucker alarm goes off?

Physically, my menopause was a breeze. Mentally it was a bloody car crash. Awful anxiety, horrendous mood swings and my self esteem went through the floor. Contributed to my jumping at the chance to retire early when I got the chance.

This. ^ My menopause was a breeze. I didn't even know it was happening, or even when it happened actually. No hot flushes, no mood swings, no brain fog, no anxiety, no depression, no nothing.

Some women who had a rough time, seem to get a bit annoyed when you tell them your menopause went smoothly, and the only way you knew you were there was because your periods stopped!

But I refuse to lie and say I had a bad time when I didn't. Younger women need to be told that menopause is NOT always bad. And they may get through it easily and smoothly, and not even notice it!

Unsure why you think this is a riposte? Having to have surgery is bad luck. Which Illustrates my point: it doesn't disprove it.

I live the confidence and self assurance I have now.

And I have money to do all the things I want to do.

43, peri and couldn't give a shit.

I've spent too long and too many years pleasing everyone else. I've cut people off, adjusted my friendship circle and I'm now living my life for me.

I wear what I want. I read what I want, I work when I want and do the hobbies I want.

I'm also more confident to stick up for myself rather than do what everyone else wants as they don't have my interests at heart.

I was looking forward to the next phase of life. Had hysterectomy last year, to rid myself of a cancer. But blow me down, a secondary cancer appears, so I often worry what that fucker is going to do to me soon.

Aside of illness, yep, I say what I think, do what I want and tolerate no nonsense. I've made some not so clever life choices, but hey ho. I do feel much more mentally stronger and assertive than during my younger years.

Same - hardly any sleep for years during perimenopause and 2 years into menopause I changed jobs to one with a later start. Took a huge pay cut but when I’m awake at 4 am it helps to know I don’t have to be suited, booted and driving sleep-deprived at 7 am.

I really really wish I could give less shits. I’m 50 and finding the ageing process tricky. I look in the mirror and see my Nan looking back at me!

Perimenopause has been hard and the anxiety makes me worry even more about what people think about me. I constantly think people are talking about me and I lose sleep over the most trivial things.

Still a long time to go until retirement and we don’t have any savings as such and still have a hefty mortgage (both kids still at home so downsizing isn’t an option yet). Money is tighter than I thought it would be at this stage of life

mentally sometimes feel like I’m losing the plot, brain fog and can’t remember the words for things sometimes when I have a really responsible job is pants. On HRT which has helped the joint pain but night sweats and the anxiety and brain fog isn’t much improved.

Physically I exercise 4/5 times a week and im a healthy weight but I’m beating myself up constantly that I’m not as fast or strong as I was. Compare myself to others constantly which doesn’t help my mindset.

just hoping my time to not give a shit comes
soon.

Wish I could just feel more positive

Ah I get you. DH and I met at university and enjoyed 12 years of complete hedonism before we had our children.

Love this thread. I'm almost 57, couldn't care less what people think of me.. apart from the ones I care about.

What’s that line..”What will you do with this, your one wild precious life”?!..I think about that all the time .Hopefully Im about to embark on a new chapter , taking early retirement at 55. Ive been through the stuff but now Im mortgage and period free Im hoping I get a good few years of doing what I want to do. Yes Im fatter, wrinklier etc but Im loved and I love, have a roof over my head and I live in a free safe country with clean water. LIFE IS GOOD.

Whereas I spent all my 20s and 30s restricted by kids so now it's my free time

Loving this thread and lots of good vibes but being in your 40s does not mean being invisible, I sometimes wish it did (in terms of pervy men) but the confidence I've gained means I get more sleazed on and approached more than I ever did in my younger years.

Hitting 50 very soon. I'm nearly divorced, I have 3 fantastic teen aged kids, I'm moving to the other end of the end of the country next year, mid way through menopause, couldn't be happier. I'm excited about the next phase of life. I may ache a bit but I am grateful to have made it this far, three of my friends weren't so lucky.

That's absolutely fine. I would honestly rather eat pins than backpack around Asia. My idea of going rustic is being able to see trees from the window of my 5* hotel.

I was a true party girl for so very many years, and it was fantastic, but that was then. I love the calmness of my life nowadays.

56yrs and loving life, best times ever, not bothered about weight, happy with my natural grey hair, dont feel need to spend time and money on make up, lips, tattoos, hair extensions, eyelash extensions, fillers for this that and the other. Life is better then ever.

See I'm in my 50s and have a totally different lifestyle. Spent 2 or 3 months each year backpacking round Asia. Work ( at least a few hours 7 days a week) have a decent social life where I'm out with friends or occasionally ( cos bored me if do to often) a meal with OH. Id be bored senseless " pottering" and in bed early with cup of tea

I would agree :) that there are some good things about getting older!

I had a hysterectomy at 45 after a life time of heavy period (endometriosis and adenomyosis) and awful, chronic pain.

I am now on HRT and not having periods anymore is absolute bliss and gave me my life back.

I am 53 now and I am more comfortable with myself/my appearance and finally feeling I am being myself and no longer afraid of speaking out/establishing healthy boundaries.

I am making sure I eat a balanced diet and exercise regularly to try to keep as healthy as I can. That really is my priority.

I wasted so many years worrying about men, other people or what I looked like. To me it feels like liberation!

God yes, absolutely. I honestly think I'm enjoying my fifties more than any other decade since, maybe, my teens? I began my fifties recovering from breast cancer, so every day since has felt like a lovely gift.

I love those slow weekend days just pottering at home. Love a new jigsaw. Love going out for a lazy lunch with DH. And I absolutely love going to bed early with my book and a cup of tea.

Well I sailed through menopause but definitely changed shape after having a radical hysterectomy. ( 4 years after last period)

Yep, 50 this year, did menopause in my early 40s so got it out of the way.

I feel fine about who I am and what I have done. In my 30s I stressed about what I hadn't yet achieved. Now I just say, well, I didn't do this, this and this, but I won't be doing it now, so it isn't worth worrying about. But I DID do this, this and this, there's plenty of time to do that, but it doesn't matter if I don't.
I think I am kinder to myself. I don't give myself such a hard time about not being massively clever or pretty or popular. I appreciate what I have more.
That sad, I am lucky I have good health, and 50 really isn't that old. I might feel different in 30 years, and just saying that, it's odd to be at the age when you start tagging on 'if I am still here' when talking of 30 years hence.

I absolutely LOVE being 'old' (in my 60s). I am the me now I was always meant to be.