When you're reaching the start of another decade (turning 70) and dreading it.

[Tolkienista]

Well not quite yet......almost 27 months time I turn 70. Ouch, I can hardly say that number without wincing.
I've never really been a birthday person, always glad when it's over for another year and the years are simply flying by. I look at celebs who celebrate their landmark birthdays in style, very publicly, very loudly and it's just not in my makeup.
I remember turning 60 like yesterday and I thought I was so old, but now I'd give anything to be turning 60 again.

I don't know if it's others perceptions of you at certain ages that I dread most.
I'm fit, slim and healthy, (both physically and mentally) not on any medication at all, I can't remember the last time I saw my GP.
I'm very comfortable financially, have close family and friends.
Retired from a fantastic career in teaching with great memories.
I always see the positive in everything and the good in people, but turning 70 feels like old age is imminent and it's kind of dominating my thoughts.

Snap me out of this negativity and share your positivity on preparing to reach a new decade.....27 months away with something I just don't have in my possession.

I’m feeling similar about 40!
but I do remember when I turned 30 I felt younger than 29 as I was the youngest in my decade. Maybe hang onto that? And set a goal for 70 eg you’ll be the fittest strongest 70 year old you can be and start lifting weights and doing yoga now

Better to be turning 70 than to be dead.

One day, you'd give anything to turn 70 again so hang on to that. You're going to age anyway so you may as well embrace it.

I am similar and embrace life! Im healthy, comfortably off and determined to max out the next few years by doing lots of stuff.

Having lost loved ones 30 and under I cannot sympathise with people who dread getting older. Many people don't make it. So for that you should be grateful.

I think this is 'normal' especially when it's a decade birthday.

Perhaps I'm lucky or it's just my mindset, I don't have a problem with aging.

I feel privileged that I get the opportunity to age (2 of my friends sadly did not get this opportunity).

I also have friends of wildly different ages but I don't see a massive difference.

It's just another birthday, if you are fit and well just take it as that. I tend to (at least pretend) to forget how old I am these days, but older than that.

I've just turned 70 and sometimes I look at my wrinkles and saggy skin and feel really old. Then I think that I outlived my mum who died at 68, and my husband who was 67. It makes me realise that I'm lucky to still be here.

I’m in my early 70s. I vividly remember the disbelief when I turned 50 and now, here I am. The poster who said that “One day, you'd give anything to turn 70 again so hang on to that” makes a very valid point!

I don’t have an answer. Other than every human’s life on earth is limited, everyone who has ever lived and died went through similar experiences, and somehow you will do so too.

I think the key thing is to try and make every day count, but without becoming obsessed with cramming stuff in to fill every hour of every day. I do lots of things that give me joy, but I also ‘waste’ a fair bit of time just chilling, relaxing, recharging my batteries.

My key non-negotiables include keeping fit (and I mean really, seriously fit!), having regular health checks, eating healthy and delicious food, stay connected with friends and family, and keeping up with my interests and hobbies.

80 is the new 70. My parents are still rocking on at 78. You're awesome and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Keep rocking on until you drop dead or fade out.

I love the start of a decade- feels a bit like that "new pencil case" feeling at the start of a new school year. I'm really looking forward to being a bright new 50 rather than a rather shop-soiled 49.

I’m 70. It’s not any different to 69. Or 68. Or 67…

I had a month long celebration of my 70th, full of activities and entertainments with friends and family. I have travel arranged for every month of this year, I’m volunteering at two different projects that fit my interests, I am physically active, my garden has never looks better, I’ve just finished renovating a house. I’m about to start studying paleography, which I think will be nicely challenging.

My mother was dead before she reached my age, so I’m not inclined to whine about getting older, but even without that impetus, I’m enjoying this decade a lot so far.

I know some amazing, stylish, intelligent and fascinating70 year olds who are still travelling, falling in love, sailing and heading up companies and i really do think that if i were 70, I'd just feel so lucky to be alive and in good health, comfortably off, with friends and family. Honestly op, it doesnt get much better and by that age, you shouldnt give a stuff what other people think. Go out and enjoy life!

I’m approaching my fiftieth and feeling more mixed feelings than I have about a birthday for years. I didn’t wobble about thirty or forty at all, but I think beyond those ages, there is less of a clear path for women - i am trying to see this as liberating and an opportunity to forge my own path. I am focusing on the older women I know who are amazing - in their attitudes to life and what they spend their time doing. I see women who are independent and strong and are using the opportunity of their later years - without childcare demands and the responsibility of aging parents - to do what they want, whether that is spend time with family, travel, volunteer, take up a new hobby or do all of these things! Ive read you don’t become better or worse, but simply more yourself as you age so I am seeing aging as a chance to figure out what that means for me.

From your post, it sounds like you’ve done pretty brilliantly in life so far and with a positive attitude and your health the world is your oyster. Just make sure you celebrate what you’ve achieved so far and start to make some plans for the years to come.

(I always feel it’s a bit unfair for people to say, it’s better than being dead - obviously that’s true and, of course, you don’t get older without seeing young people who don’t get that opportunity, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have feelings about getting older and the things that can come with that. You could say, it’s better than being dead about most things people complain about…)

There’s no guarantees 👀

I'm 70 on Friday. I've got several fun things planning and I'm really looking forward to them.
I weight 20% less than when I was 60 and discovered Strength and Conditioning classes last September so I'm much fitter and healthier than I was at 60.
My mother died 4 years ago at 90 of dementia. I live every day to the full. I don't know a better way to do it. The future is uncertain but I can make the most of today and hope to make the best of tomorrow.

Get you mate, I’ve taken myself to my bed for every decade change. Just turned 60, hates every second. Trying to kick myself and think it’s better ti be 60 pver 70, but I’d go back to 40 in a heartbeat.

Bill Clinton, Joanna Lumley, Dolly Parton, Mick Jagger, Cher, Diana Ross, Sylvester Stallone...all a decade (or more) older than you. Still working. (And, if you want to go there... David Attenborough and Mary Berry.) You are a spring chicken compared to them.

Having just turned 70 I know what you mean. I'm very much like you, even the same profession, healthy, fit, very active but I've become very aware of the time passing.
My DSis died of cancer last year at 66 after a lifetime of working for the civil service and only seeing 7 months of her pension. I almost feel obliged to make the most of life. I have a wonderful family and spend as much time as I can with them, making great memories.
Having said all this, I remind myself that I probably have a good 20 years left as I still have my DM around unless I'm as unlucky as my DSis. Remember you're a long time dead.

Thank you everyone for your thoughtful posts.
Brilliant reading and I honestly agree with the general consensus of being grateful for what I have (which I honestly am)

I also agree that when I turn 70 in (27 months time) I'll be fully aware that I've reached an age many people have never seen and I think the older I get the more I will appreciate that.
My mother is 97 and until the age of 95 her health was incredible, she was so fit and active.
If I follow in her footsteps I'll hopefully have many more decades of living.

Wishing you many, many, many more happy and healthy years ahead. Truly. 🫂

I get the feeling, @Tolkienista. Going towards 70, and only the last year, was the only decade I've approached with apprehension, not one of the others bothered me at all.

I'm in fair health and comfortably off and live in a pleasant place so have nothing to grumble about, which is what I keep telling myself.

Age is just a number .

No it isn’t.

I am 72 and physically fitter than many (most?) women half my age. I lift weights, I do cardio, yoga, etc. I ski, cycle, ice skate, play tennis, go on long hikes.

But I cannot outrun my age. Most of those unfit women half my age will still be alive long after I’ve popped my clogs. That’s just how life works.

I refused to acknowledge my 60th two years ago, wasn't having any of it. I've sorted my head out now; I know I'm lucky to be here. I've decided I'm going to fully embrace this decade and celebrate the fuck out of my 70th when I get there. I might as well, my parents are both still here in their early 90s, my grandmother lived until 98, so chances are I'll be around for a while. Might as well enjoy it, hey?