At Getting Fed Up at Being Constantly Told I'm Past It?

[geegee888]

I'm 37. In the past few weeks, I've been reminded, variously, that I'm getting on a bit, I'm no longer young, I will be slowing down, I won't be able to do the things I used to, theres no point in me going to the gym because I'm not going to make the Olympics at my age, I should give up doing up my older house and buy a new build, because at my age, I don't want to be doing stuff like that, I'm too old to have children now at my age (not that I expressed a desire to), it was just suddenly mentioned out of the blue in a conversation. And so on.

I don't feel any different at all!

Really?
I'm 56 and have never had anybody speak to me like that.

Who are these people?

They don't sound like they want the best for you, maybe they have their own issues with ageing....

I'm not going to make the olympics either at 40, still taken up running

37 is not even considered old these days!!! I think you are best off ignoring them - how weird

Oh dear well in that case I'm in trouble. I'm 38, living in a house that needs renovating & am due to give birth in a few weeks.

I've never been told I'm past it though

How have you managed to get onto this website. Surely you are just tooooo old to use technology

YANBU

Tell them to funk off

And also. Who goes to the gym to train for the Olympics? WTF? (aside from potential Olympian's obviously)

People at work, my DH's family. Apparantly I'm also too old to be using things like Facebook! I suppose mumsnet might be acceptable. That was my FIL's comment about the gym, btw. I think they mean I should just give up and slide into comfortable middle/old age.

YANBU
These people are unbelievably rude and must have issues.

I had my DC in my late 30's and have never heard such tosh as any of those things listed.

Ignore these nutters.

Shit. I start university in two weeks. I'll be 36 when I graduate! We're also about to put planning application to build a house.

I must be insane, eh?

(although my uncle told me I was too old
For uni, he shut up though when I got into a RG institution. )

I have never had comments like this and I am 50.

What do you say to them?

LOL greenhill. I'm back at college in the evenings, studying a couple of Highers for interest. I've had comments about how I'll find it hard to go back to study at my age. Its as if people don't want you to do things!

Feel a bit mollified by comments on here. I'm beginning to think I just know an awful lot of very boring people!

Seriously? I've got 10 years on you and no one has EVER said anything like this to me. 37 is well young! Time for a new job, perhaps? DH's family slightly trickier - though they should definitely wind their necks in. How old are they? 12?

Seriously?

Carry on with what you want to do, and let them slow down.

Maybe they compare themselves to you and realise how far they fall short of your example.

I've just turned 40 and don't feel any different to how I was at 30.

I'm ten years older than you and nobody has ever said anything like that to me.

Do you mention feeling your age a bit though? The reason I ask is that I went through a phase of saying half-jokey things about feeling old and my mum pulled me up on it, saying that if I was old, what was she?

Thirty seven is really young.

DHs family are like OPs family. SIL is settling down into middle age at 39 despite being in perfect health, single, childless and comfortably off. I'd be having adventures in her shoes!

It's really really bizarre when you're living with it. DH (37) gets the odd comment from his mum and we exchange all the clothes she buys him as they're suitable for men aged 50+. MIL was speechless when I took him to a toga party my friend threw and is rather disapproving that when we have dinner parties we tend to have friends stay over so that everyone can drink then cook big fry ups together for breakfast.

My role models include a couple who for their 50th wedding anniversary erected a big yurt in the garden and hired a live band and booked a hog roast and everyone danced until 2am.

No, I don't feel my age at all Laura, in fact I'm fitter and in better shape than at 27, and certainly less fat! I never mention getting tired, never get ill, do quite a lot, keep active.

Actually know a couple of people not yet 30 who moan about their knees and "not being 26 any more"!

Its like the bloody BBC round here!

Oh yes, I remember now the best one - am toying with the idea of doing a Masters abroad for a year (in actual fact with short terms and it being taught, it would be less than a year) or even living abroad at some time in future. Cue aghast comments from some people "At your age??" "Are you not getting a bit old to do that?" "Are you not a bit old to do a Masters?"

?!?

I suspect these people are just jealous OP.

38 isn't old and that's coming from a 26 years old.

It says more about them than you.

You go, girl!

Good grief - if you are too old to move abroad or do a Masters at your age, what the heck do they expect you to be like at sixty? Spend your winters in bed perhaps, with a bit of telly on and a a nice bedjacket on.

I agree, they do sound a teensy bit jealous of all the exciting things you would like to do.

Take no notice of them. People now look up to me because I camp in game parks in Africa and this year, I'm off to the Falkland Islands for a bit of quietude. I don't like to say it but I'm twice your age. Oh, and I did A levels (A-C) when I was 50. Do what you want to without telling them and just show them the certificate or other proof that you've done it.

Where the Olympic Games are concerned, two of our equestrian team were over 50, weren't they? So how can you be too old?

As for your being too old for technology, I suspect that they wish they had your life and are jealous of what you do and achieve.

They don't want you upsetting the nice safe status quo they have. Carry on being yourself no matter what age.