To think as you age, you really are satisfied by the simple things

[Supergirlscousin]

Im 46 and honestly, I just feel like the last couple of years, all I want (and what makes me happy) is the simple things in life.

Enjoy being home with DH and the kids, cooking amazing food.
A cup of tea with cake and a book
Something good on the tv
A walk on the beach (even better with a coffee and a bacon sarnie)

I have zero desire for “stuff” (cars, handbags, clothes, shoes, jewels etc).

Kinda wish I’d felt like this in my 20’s and 30’s.

What changes when we get older, or maybe I’m just really boring!

Absolutely agree! Me and DH (39) have discovered the joy of doing jigsaws in the evening when the kids are in bed. We love it!

No, absolutely 100% ok and wish I’d been like that in my 30’s! (I didn’t have kids until 40 so perhaps that’s why it took mr a bit longer)

I'm like you but I want all that and the stuff too 😊

Thank you! I’ll check that out!

yes, it’s contentment - you’ve hit the nail on the head

Absolutely. I love snuggling my kids on the sofa or playing a board game with them.

Im def trying to cut back spending too. The only thing I won’t compromise on is food - not eating out, but for cooking at home. But that’s because enjoyment of food is one of the things DH and I do together

I love this post. That happiness in the moment realisation is so wonderful

Yes, I definitely think this is part of it. But I do also think when I was younger, I felt I “needed” nice handbags, coats, cars etc. Not sure I did

Also my kids are only 4&6 so still getting them set up in the world but I guess im thinking we have enough that it’s not necessary for me to chase the money anymore (but appreciate I had kids late so and chased it in my 30’s which will have helped us to get to a more comfortable position now)

Yes, but I also now go for quality ovet quantity. I am gradually disposing of man-made fabrics and substituting with cotton, linen, wool and silk.

Always been this way; my father would make sure I went to uni and did Masters in a posh subject lol....all the way I imagined just a house, just a job, husband and kids. So this is what I got and sorry, dad, but not nice wanting to take credit and pride from my life

Yes.🙌 I have been ill recently and have really discovered the art of 'sitting down to have a drink' - sounds weird but I'd normally make a coffee, rush about, drink it standing il between doing things.... now having the drink is the thing. That little 15 minutes of just time out.

So sorry you’ve been ill. Yes, sitting and savouring a tea or coffee is a real pleasure

Absolutely - I'm also 46 and in the last couple of years I've lost interest in going out drinking. dressing up etc which I still enjoyed through my 30s. I like long walks, gardening, seeing friends on a 1 to 1 basis in cosy pubs, reading. It's funny really - I had my kids in my mid 20s and we were dealing with babies and toddlers while most of our friends were out clubbing/bar hopping. We always said in our 40s we would be doing that ourselves but we prefer a quiet life now.

I'm in my 70s now and quite frail.

But I think I get more enjoyment sitting in my chair looking at the trees (out of my window, apart from the hedges, I see big tree little tree and middle tree, love them)than I ever got from clubbing in my 20/30s.

I'm my case, I think that as My ability to move about and do things has wained, my ability to think and contemplate has grown. It's a fair swap for the hedonistic life I used to lead.

If you've found that peace earlier than I did, I'd count yourselves very lucky. Enjoy

Me!! This is me!

Im 40 and it was like I woke up completely different one day. I haven’t worn makeup since or even coloured my hair. DH told me I looked absolutely beautiful yesterday.

I haven’t bought any clothes or shoes. Nothing.

Just woke up, and felt like I had tunnel vision. All that mattered was my little family and everything else can jog onwards. Life is short and I am content. “The chase” is over.

Although we are looking at relocating.

I feel like I've almost always been like this, but maybe it's become more pronounced with age (now mid-40s).

I think it's realising you never needed any of that. I've never had a lot, single parent, care assistant still living in the same HA flat for over 20 years and now bringing up my 6 year old grandson. I'm just living more in the moment and much more content with life.

I'm with you on this and I'm 38! I guess I still like some 'stuff' few new clothes, shoes, jewellery, bags every now and then - never anything designer or expensive tho! But simple pleasures are my perfect ❤️ I've been pretty much like this since I stopped drinking alcohol at 34..... it's like I was awakened to the beauty of the small stuff x

I feel exactly the same way, OP. Things have happened in my life to make me truly appreciate the simple, sometimes even mundane things in life. I’m 53.

You have described me

I think moments of complete joy and satisfaction are very rare things. I remember one - the kids and DH were running round the blanket I was sitting on playing a game and trying to get me to join in and everything in that moment was so simple and joyful.

I feel like this too, I also find I see beauty in places I wouldn't have when I was younger, a particular tree or flower or most of all my daughter's cat who brings joy to our whole family.

💯 I'm 58 and DH is 70 for his big birthday pressie I am 'gifting' him a whole year of no travel! No airports no hoards of tourists and no hot sweaty foreign places! We just want some peace and quiet! And simple things!

I look around sometimes and see all my stuff that used to give me pleasure . Now I think what a waste of money . But at that time I liked getting dressed up and going out ,liked things in the house. But now I have enough and no desire to gain more .
Situation with ex means I don't have the contentment I thought I would have as I got older. So draining to still be worried about money and housing. Should have saved that shoe and bag money !