To ask what amazing things happened to you after age 36?! I feel like I’m old and there’s nothing fun anymore

[Burnoutqq]

Just that really. I know it’s silly. I just wish I had more knowledgeable of good things happening in late 30s onwards. I feel like all the exciting stuff is for younger people and I don’t feel too optimistic about the future. I’m a single parent to a 2 year old (so as not to drip feed). Her dad sees her almost every weekend and pays fairly etc. In case relevant.

Not for me. I’m 52, and things are getting better! In my 40s I had a baby, moved country, changed career, published my first novel, ended up living in a tiny house by the sea for the first lockdown as we had to leave our temporary rental, renovated our current beautiful wreck, made a garden, travelled to new places, made new friends, had a lot of therapy.

i learned a new language as a result i got my dream job and I had a second kid.

@Doyouthinktheyknow I'm so sorry for your loss, but you're so right. I lost two friends young to cancer over the past few years and it really puts everything in perspective.

For me, I'm 34 and have recently started sertraline and I feel like life is just getting better and better. I finally have enough money to travel long haul and see the world, I have the confidence to pick up hobbies. I've started running and I'm the fittest I've been since my mid-20s (and hoping to eventually be fitter than then). While 26 might have been my most 'fun' age, 34 has been my most productive and enjoyable age yet.

Still shocked that anyone thinks 36 is old..

From seeing similar posts on here down the years, it often appears to be the type of person who has a very rigid timescale for their lives, and thinks marriage and children are the key achievements. School, training/university, enter world of work, settle down, marry, have children. For some of them, it’s unquestioned that all this takes place in your twenties or, at latest, very early 30s, after which they don’t see any more ‘significant events’ to come. Which is pretty tragic to my view, but, each to their own…

I'm 71, husband 74. Just returned from the US having ridden Route 66 on a Harley Davidson. Fantastic experience. It's not over 'til it's over.

From seeing similar posts on here down the years, it often appears to be the type of person who has a very rigid timescale for their lives, and thinks marriage and children are the key achievements. School, training/university, enter world of work, settle down, marry, have children. For some of them, it’s unquestioned that all this takes place in your twenties or, at latest, very early 30s, after which they don’t see any more ‘significant events’ to come. Which is pretty tragic to my view, but, each to their own…

I've been a bit guilty of this but rather than being tragic or thinking my life is over now I've done most of them, I feel like I've had my eyes opened and am really excited about what else is to come. I have enjoyed raising a family, love my husband, have a good career, I've been very happy in my 20s and 30s, but rather than thinking "what now?" I'm thinking "what next?!"

Mostly expensive holidays I think

I got remarried at 40 to the love of my life, as 1 example, I’m now 42 and we were at dreamland in Margate this weekend for a gig so I can tell you there is still a lot of fun stuff to do, you just have to be patient, take initiative and say yes to anything that comes up! I can’t imagine not going dancing etc at my age

Well, that’s great! Maybe you could be the voice of reason and future excitement on these kinds of threads? It never occurred to me to settle down and have children in my 20s, so I’m the wrong person to intervene, but there’s something terribly depressing about someone who thinks their life is over in their mid-30s (though in fairness, @Burnoutqq may just have the blues because of having a demanding toddler, which can be torture at any age)…

@DoraSpenlow — sounds wonderful! Was there anything you didn’t expect to be mindblowing but was?

Had youngest baby, moved into a new field of work which I find fascinating and fulfilling, made lots of new friends, got my current job which I enjoy. Loved the fact that menopause meant no more killer headaches once a month. All sorts of plans for the future now.

At 36 I had an 8 and 10 year old and had been married 6 years. I still live in the same house. Nothings changed.

Graduated from uni as a single parent. Became a specialist nurse. Further study leading to a master degree. Became a lecturer. Met my lovely partner. Watched my kids start to grow their own wings which is an utter joy. Your life is just getting started at 36!

Exactly, I'm in my 40s and feel like there's so much to come.

@ASphinx Very true!

The media really does a number on us - we so rarely hear real life or fictional accounts about older women doing anything interesting! But changing what you listen to can be inspiring as there truly are women doing amazing things well beyond their 30s - podcasts like this are great https://livefeisty.com/podcasts/179-jumping-into-an-adventurous-midlife-with-shawn-brokemond-episode-179/

Alex Rotas' photography is amazing too.

It's quite common in early parenthood to feel the world has closed in on you and many people find their happiness and space for self-actualisation takes a nosedive in their 30s and 40s. But after that people report getting happier as long as they stay reasonably healthy, with happiness statistically peaking in 60s and 70s.

went back to uni at 38 with 2 small children to do an undergrad, now a clinical psychologist. Best thing I ever did!

OK. F65, no kids, but I...

• went to Glastonbury three times in my early forties. Unbeatable.
• Walked (a short variant of) the Camino de Santiago in Spain
• Got the best job I've ever had.
• Met my beloved life partner
• Did an Art History BA and an MA with the Open University, just for fun.
• Did loads of travelling (Highlights Venice, Iceland, Norway and the (IMO) underrated Northern European countries.
• Grew into my sexuality and started having multiple orgasms.

Enjoy your choices.

Me too!

I got divorced at 36 and met my incredible life partner dh at 38. I'm a much happier person.

You’re not the ‘28 orgasms per session’ AMA poster, are you?😎

Ooh, no. My record (with someone else in the room) was three. But hey, I'll hunt down that thread. 😋

I developed a passion for fitness, travelled to many new places, met the love of my life, got a degree, had a baby, beat a life threatening illness, opened a business and made a success of it. 47 now. It's been great.

Since 40 I've changed career direction, learned to ride and competed all over the country, had roads trips in Africa and Asia. At 65 I've just had my first go at scuba diving. I plan to do some long distance hikes and I'm starting some conservation volunteering.

Three is good, and I take your point about someone else in the room. 😁

That AMA is worth a read for the replies. I think the OP flounced because no one was admiring the prodigious sexual talents of her partner…

I’ve been to my favourite country (Japan) three times! I discovered I have ASD and have been doing a lot of figuring of myself out (maybe not fun but has been really helpful). I took up art and am doing positive things for my mental health. Honestly 40+ has been great for me.