Didn't think 50 was "old" anymore!

[Asta19]

I'm nearly 50 and menopausal. Apparently, according to a few comments on threads I've seen on here recently, that makes me a bit loopy and a candidate for dementia! Ok, I'm not 20 anymore but I don't think I'm ready for a care home just yet! I thought people were less ageist nowadays but it seems if you do anything "unexpected" after the age of 50 then the first thing some people jump to is dementia! I don't know the stats but I think it's still pretty rare in people of my age. I am suffering from menopausal symptoms but again that doesn't render me incapable of any intelligent thought! I think ladies over 50 should be given a little more credit!

Of course it's not old!

Take no notice. I've known several people who lived to twice your age and they still spoke far more sense than quite a number of people on here

50 is not old. but mn is rife with agism at both ends of the scale.

^^^

What she said.

I am now 59 so that is really really young, believe me!!!!

I'm 50, feel more like I'm 23 most days. Certainly don't feel, or regard myself, as old.
I know a lot of ladies in my village who are 80+ with bags of energy and get-up-and-go who would also argue that they're not old, either!

I'm 50. I don't feel old in my outlook and behaviour but my body is falling apart! I do sometimes feel old amongst young people at work though.

But when you’re in your 20s 50 does seem old. It’s only once you get to 50 that you realise it’s not old at all!

Meh, they can say what they like. Wisdom can only be acquired with age and experience

I'm fifty soon. Not menopausal yet. Feel better than I did twenty years ago. I think I have a good twenty years yet again before I start to consider myself old. My face is beginning to show my age now but I believe I am far from dementia (although I can't remember the names of people I meet recently)

im 62 still work two jobs, go to motorbike rallies in the summer, live gigs of heavy rock bands, go all over on my other halfs motorbike at weekends, still have long red hair , go to bike meets and shows, sorry but i dont feel old even though i dont look as good as i did in my tewnties , barring ill health age is all about attitude

I am nearly 50. I have been peri menopausal for 5 years with all the joy that entails. However, although my body is falling apart slowly, my mind is still sharp enough and I never consider myself to be middle aged (although obviously I am). However, I feel mentally better in myself and more self assured than I have done all my life, I wish I had felt like this years ago! As for dementia, I’m not going to worry about what could happen, as I don’t have a clairvoyant to hand, so live for today and just enjoy it!

It’s not old but early onset dementia can start at that age.

frigging hell

I'm 55 and been taking me fish oil, vit d and whatnot and for the last few weeks have been feeling bloody brilliant!!!!!!

went back to work at 53 after years of being SAHM...learned to drive and passed test at 54 and I feel at me peak- powerful, wise and don't give a shite that my skin isn't line free blah blah

using the parlance of my youth and origins I feel 'hellish'

I think the problem with ‘50’ is it brings a certain ‘old person’ image to peoples minds, I know it does me and I am 50! I It needs re branding!

I am staring down the barrel of 50 too
The main advantage is my bullshit detector is now excellent

52 next birthday and I’m only just starting to feel I’ve been around the block more than once!
I have regular moments of Forster’s “connection”, an understanding of how things are interlinked over time and the effects of history on the current situation. How human nature is predictable and basic needs or desires are common to all. How landscapes and cities still bear signs of past events.
When I was younger I took things as they happened, blundering from one event to the next. It was exciting but such a waste of energy! Now I have a healthy attitude to people who get offended or angry about inconsequential things. I’m too old for that shit!

I fully enjoy where I am right now. The DC are making their own way and I have time for myself and what I enjoy. I’m looking forward to retirement and even grandchildren. The only sad note is that I won’t be able to go on forever adding layers to my understanding of life. Both DP declined mentally quite fast after 80 so I’m making the most of my last decades!

It’s late middle age. I’m 65 and very late middle age aka old.

I'm 49 and I don't think it's as old as I used to think it was. I'm sure it's old to 30 year olds because we could be their parent. I guess I identify with forty year olds though, who still see me as old though, cos they see themselves as thirty.

I wear sun screen every day, don't smoke, don't drink much, stay slim, love fashion and have to remind myself not to be too fashionable, so I look around my office (forgive me lord) and think how unfit, prematurely aged and dull some of my colleagues 15-20 years younger than I am behave. But I don't delude myself that they don't notice how old I am! They think ''well at least I"m not old''

But when you’re in your 20s 50 does seem old. It’s only once you get to 50 that you realise it’s not old at all!

Wait until you get to 60+!

It’s late middle age. I’m 65 and very late middle age aka old.
Exactly!

Exactly. I agree with so many of you. I am more wise now, more confident, more calm. Just generally much better mentally overall. As a pp said, I wish I felt like this when I was younger. Yes I can be lazy at times (but I could also be lazy at 20!) but I am still active, like going on trips where I’m out walking and doing things. I like being this age. I feel happy in my own skin, and that wasn’t always the case.

I think the run up to fifty is hard. I have a good self-esteem but I am adjusting to the 'fact' ("?) that I will never generate ''desire'' in a partner. Not really. Have to be honest. IN good nic for my age but still. That's hard. I want to be desired if I have a relationship. I'm in a relationship now and it's not a long term one. If it ends I don't knwo if I"ll bother again. I feel ''othered'' at work by the younger people. I want to meet all of you.

Don’t agree that a 50 year old woman can’t be desirable, depends on what you look like and your attitude, I’m sure, Kylie, Salma, Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Anniston etc don’t class themselves as undesirable and it’s not just because they are celebrities, if Jennifer Anniston was the receptionist at my gym I would still think she was vibrant and gorgeous.

DM is nearly 60 and I shout at her when she looks at granny clothes! She is NOT old enough for that 😂

MN has a disappointingly high amount of casual ageism.

I challenge it quite a lot (and only rarely get shouted at for doing so)