Get to an age where you think "Well the best has past?"

[Sooooootired01]

Or is it just me?!!
I'm 43 so my "best years" well and truly behind me!

I'm late 40s. Parents are ailing and I expect the next few years to be very tough (dementia diagnosis). DS approaching the difficult teen years. I'm a single parent, not much disposable income and with a mortgage that takes me to 65. I'm a high earner but can't afford things like holidays. Life isn't easy at the moment.

I read a powerful thing recently about how in 20 years you'd give anything to be where you are now and it really resonated with me. I can drive to my parents and chat with them, DS lives at home and (just) is happy to stay in the same room as me with his games console. My friends and boyfriend are all well and happy. I'm trying to get my focus back to the present, because that's all we really have.

Yes I feel this sometimes

I know I will never experience the excitement of my early twenties where I think anything is possible. There are things now I can never do. I can never have another child, my sciatica means I will probably never do yoga again.

But you can still have fun and enjoy life. You have to have things to look forward to and you have to keep trying out new things.

My mum is mid 50s and she lives a more energetic life than me, lots of friends, parties, events, hobbies and grown up kids - probably ly because I’m early 30s going through the newborn phase and things have slowed down. I imagine myself at 43 getting my life back. I’m sure your life is different but you can find the spark.

Are they?! I’m 41 and I hope there are great years ahead of me. The youngest is 2 so we have our first international holiday since COVID planned for next year, they are all learning and growing, they won’t be up all night so work life balance will be easier, I’ll get promoted, my garden will grow, we will travel, I’ll learn to sew better, when I retire I will cook and read and garden and help with grandchildren if I’m lucky enough to have them… lots of good years ahead!!

I’m 53 but I felt that way at 45.

I was 52 when my youngest was 12! It's fine!!

Early 60s now, and yes, I know I have more life behind me than ahead of me, but I hope to make the most of it.

I'm 60 and still don't feel this! Definitely didn't at OP's age.

Yes, but I'm coming up for 64 and I'm a widow with no immediate family.

You're never going to be younger than you are today.

Repeat daily until you die.

Thanks all. Just off to work and my little one isn't feeling at all well but that's life I guess!!

I'm 48 and feel like I'm getting to the next stage. I have three adult children and one nearly 15yo so I'm finally getting time to do what I want again so it feels like the world is opening up again. I had a big trip to see friends in Montana last year and I started an OU this year in the hopes that I can have a career change before I'm in my mid 50s.

My best years were my teens.
I had a great teenage.
Life is good now but can’t match my teens.

God no, i wouldnt want to be in my 20s again if you paid me. Horrid marriage, young kids, working full time in a job i hated. Im early 50s now, 2nd husband, early retired and kids are both late 20s doing their own things (no grandkids yet!) Also couldnt be doing with all this pro-noun nonsense workplaces seem to implement now!

Nooooo!! I took up a new hobby 10 years ago at 50 yo (amdram) and love it so much I wonder what I did for fun before!

I'm 46 and if I had that attitude I'd be so bloody miserable. After 15 years with a man that made the so called best years(20s and 30s) absolutely horrendous I am now living the best years of my life.

Having to start again at 40 makes you re-evaluate your life. Whilst life has its ups and downs I've done some amazing things, been to some amazing places, met some amazing people, had some rather handsome men 🫣,and I have my family and friends who support me and build me up. My best years are still to come.

You don't always need money for plans. For example I have a list of 50 things to do before 50 plenty of which don't involve spending. Currently walking the North Downs Way with my son for example (across the summer).

This is a pretty sad attitude to have to be honest. Life isn't all about being young.

I have so many plans for the future. Train to do pull-ups, walk the Pacific Crest Trail, take a ceramics course at Central St Martins...

I really enjoy the small things as well. A good book. A walk. Sex. My weekly study evening. My teens were fun and everything, but I know who I am now and what I want. I've had my children. I know how strong I am. I wouldn't give any of that up.

This is a pretty sad attitude to have to be honest. Life isn't all about being young.

I agree. It’s not all about having money either.

I'm 40 and I feel like I'm living my best years right now.

Once I hit mid 50's I thought this. Now in 60's and although I still enjoy my days I have a few health issues I never had before.

@Thepossibility 40/early 40s was my peak, although I did not know it at the time.

There will come a time when you can no longer do all or some of those things. And you realise your choices have contracted. You are not there so none of this is really relevant to you.

Don’t be daft. 60 very soon, husband nearly 66. Really looking forward to a fulfilling retirement with lots of adventures.

Depends what you consider the best.

I have a young child and in many ways these are the best times of my life, seeing her grow and develop. I look forward to the future because of her - I feel like I need to live and stay healthy as long as possible to be with her for longer.

In many ways these are also the worst years - having a young child with additional health needs is really hard. Motherhood can be amazing and terrible at the same time.