To think being young was just amazing

[Icouldsmellspringabitthismorning]

I’m not old, but I’m 45 and currently watching Totp and thinking about being a kid and a teen, even up to 30’s really, it was so much easier? So much to look forward to and I never really worried/had any worries.
My childhood wasn’t perfect and my Dd has a much more magical one filled with more love…but..I wish youth could last forever 😔

I’m your age.

For me no.

Anxiety and depression, that I didn’t know I had - I thought everyone’s mind was as fucked up as mine, they were just stronger and handled things better, If only I’ve known.
All this. I'm 43 now, life just gets less stressful for me. I wouldn't be 15 or 25 or anywhere in-between again for any money. 30s were much more relaxed and happier, 40s going the same way. Being young was far from my best time.

I look at old photos and realise I was so pretty, when all I did at the time was stress about how ugly I was.

I'd like my face and body back in some ways - but I now love being invisible to men even more, and I wouldn't give that up just to look good again. Invisibility is very liberating.

Wasn't the nice buzz E?
But it's an interesting point. My DH is far happier be told what to do, where as I prefer to make my own decision and felt very stifled in my teens (but did very well at school and uni).
My teens are maybe that way too, the boys are very laid back and like being looked after, DD isn.t

The thing I miss most is the sense of hope. Somebody once described the midlife crisis as reaching the top of a hill. From birth to 40ish you are climbing up. You might not be happy, but at least you feel like you're moving towards something. In your early 40s, you reach the top of the hill. Then at 45ish you start stumbling down the other side, and you're grabbing at trees and rocks and things to slow your descent, but nothing works. You just move faster and faster towards the black, silent, nothingness at the bottom.

I suffered more when I was young. But though the lows were lower, the highs were also higher. Now I barely feel anything – just a kind of numb, blank nothingness. Maybe mild depression is normal beyond a certain age. It would be wonderful to feel really alive again – to feel that sense of excitement and endless possibility. I never will though. As Shirley Valentine says, "the time for adventures is over." Sure, you can backpack round India when you're 50 or 60, but it isn't the same, and there's no point kidding yourself that it is.

@JoonT Thats so depressing 😫but I know what you mean…I just really don’t want it to be like that. How old are you?

I do get it op, but honestly I’m the same age as you and I love my life. life is for living. Sometimes you have just got to stop and enjoy the little things and see the positives 😊

Yep. I get this. The sense of time running out. When you’re young you feel you have all the time in the world to fuck stuff up, to change direction, it doesn’t matter. And then you’re at the top of the hill. It sucks.

I think it’s easy to look back with rose-tinted spectacles. We all had lots of worries and problems then too. Or at least it certainly felt like it at the time.

Same here. I wish young me had realised how gorgeous she was. The thing I miss most is my young body, I’d love to be bursting with energy and able to run effortlessly up a flight of stairs again.

Well i'm 45 and I'm just starting my new career so not at the top of the hill for me. If I live long enough, I still have 25 years left at work and want to achieve a lot more. I do not miss the mh problems I had as a young woman. Just wish I was a different young woman without said problems.
I hate looking older though. I just feel a bit gross.

Gross? That's sad

I'm 38 and genuinely feel happiest with who I am, how I look, my life. I wouldn't go back to teens and 20s if you paid me.

Not sure. Nearly 60 and probably more content than I’ve ever been.

When you are young you can hope and dream and plan, it makes life exciting. When you are older you realise dreams are just that.

Nah, I'm good at 51 thanks!

In my 20s I had far more fears than hopes and dreams. Now I'm in my 40s I have confident plans and little fear.

I don't feel like I'm on, or heading towards a downward trajectory any time soon

To be fair, most of mine did…

It was things like finding love, having my independence once I left home, being able to travel. I don’t have the uncertainty of exams, university places etc as an adult either. It was fun being in my early 20s are partying a lot more, but my life is pretty good now too, with far less anxiety.

I was quite wild and loved partying and having lots of hedonistic traveling around the world. And whilst I miss lots of it (though still love a good dance), I love the self assurance and fuck it attitude I have aas the years pass. Much more confident, don't worry about what others think. All round happier.

God no. Not back to childhood. So much happier now. Although 18 upwards was awesome

I loved it. It physically HURTS to think I can't go back and be energetic and up all night AND DO IT ALL AGAIN

God, it's painful

Great question OP.
I agree with a couple of posters about not realising how bloody gorgeous I was in photos of when I was young.I've never felt pretty at all.
I'm nearly 72 now, so obviously wrinkles and sore kneees, but basically healthy. No medication luckily.
I wish I had realised this earlier. 😁

Yes this!

i am nearly 50 and I love not giving a fuck and also my children being older and much more independent, even though they are still at school

I was thinking recently if I was in my 20s I bet I’d be right into “be kind” and gender ideology even if I didn’t personally feel comfortable as I would be too worried what people thought, whereas now I couldn’t give a stuff.

I’m looking forward to my 50s tbh

There is a time in life where you realise what the age old saying of 'innocence of youth' actually means, you have just crossed that point and despite most of us would have known about it earlier in life, there is a sweet spot of it actually clicking.