Sunday Question – Is 50 The New 40?

Posted by Mitch Mitchell on Jul 18, 2010

I happen to be 50 years old; I figure if I say it enough times I’ll get used to it. However, I’m not used to it for a few different reasons.

One, mentally I don’t think I’m close to that age. I feel like I’m actually 21 years old most of the time, educated yet barely an adult. Never having any kids, often I feel like I haven’t had to grow up all the way. I haven’t gotten used to being called “mister” yet, and somewhere in my mind I think I’m still cool enough to talk to the kids and get respect. Yeah, right.

Two, I don’t look 50, other than my hair. And I figure that doesn’t really count because I started getting gray, rather white hairs, when I was 21 years old. Here and there I’ve colored my hair because I thought that was way too young to have my hair changing color, but these days I just deal with it most of the time. Most people think I’m around 40 years old; I like that, though I miss the days when they thought I was in my early 30′s. I have no wrinkles, which helps.

Physically, I feel like I’m 65 many times. I have back issues. My memory isn’t as sharp as it used to be. You’ve read about my health club escapades; my body used to respond much easier and quicker to the same things I’m doing now in working out. I can still lift some amazingly heavy weights, but my back yells at me for doing it. I can still play a good 90 seconds of heavy paced basketball before I need 3 hours to recover. That’s a shame, but it’s reality.

On balance, I feel more like I’m about 38-40, but 40 is a nice round number. Thing is, there are a lot of very nice looking women who are in their 40′s and early 50′s these days. Where was that when I was 30? True, I still see some people younger than me who look much older, but overall, that doesn’t seem to be the case. For all the talk that people around the world are getting heavier, I think people are looking better far longer in general. As long as they don’t overindulge, no matter whether it’s food or drugs or drink or sun, people are looking amazingly younger at older ages. Who hasn’t noticed how great Raquel Welch looks as she’s just turned 70?

Oprah said some years ago that she thinks 50 is the new 40. Now that I’m there, I’m thinking the same thing overall. Heck, if I can get myself in shape, I might even lower that one a bit. What do you think?

Tags: 50 new 40, age, Sunday question

22 Comments »

Val:

I’m nearly 59, but currently feel about 90! Memory’s got quite bad, but difficult to know how much of that is age and how much the BP meds I’m on. Probably a bit of both. Physically I’m about as out of shape as anyone can be (though am not overweight. I don’t have much appetite these days.)

Dunno about 50 being the new 40. When I want to think about someone older than me who looks good for their age, I think of Tina Turner! (But nobody’d get me into the shoes or clothes that she wears on stage, lol!)

Mitch Reply:
July 18th, 2010 at 5:43 PM

Oh yeah, Tina certainly has kept the look, although her voice gives her away.

July 18th, 2010 | 5:35 PM

Rummuser:

Mitch, you certainly do not look your age. So, have a ball.

I too started getting grey hair when I was around 18! Now, I hardly have any to worry about! I am 67 and I feel like 27 but can do nothing about it. I am the old man like the dog chasing cars. If it catches the car, it would not know what to do with it!

Mitch Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:40 AM

Good stuff, Rummuser. Same here, only if I caught the car I’d tell the guy to move over and let me drive for awhile lol

July 19th, 2010 | 3:21 AM

Peter:

I am 26, but since I became 14, I felt like 45. Staying too long on the PC really cause neck and back pain. I am tired, but there are too many people that relay on me. I have power to beat anything and anybody. The main goal is to feel comfortable and I know how to do it with the people that I love.

Mitch Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:42 AM

Good point, Peter. I also stay on the computer sometimes upwards of 16 to 18 hours with very few breaks, and I’ve started trying to figure out ways to get away for at least 15 to 30 minutes here and there. Don’t want to miss too much of “real” life sitting at a computer.

July 19th, 2010 | 6:46 AM

Carolee:

I usually feel around 30 and I’m MUCH older. You are only as old as you think you are

Don’t know why, but my current post isn’t showing up below- that post is a few days old- weird!

Mitch Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 8:43 AM

Carolee, I think I’m 21, but my body keeps lying to me. lol

If you’re talking about the CommentLuv thing, I’m not really sure. Well, if you only get one choice then you need to go to CommentLuv to register.

July 19th, 2010 | 7:23 AM

Rose:

You certainly do not look your age. Perhaps, you have it wrong though.. 40 is said to be the new 20, therefore 50 is the new 30. It is been said that how you think about your age may affect how you age, so it is good that you have a positive outlook on aging.

Somedays I can’t believe I have an adult daughter. I feel old, yet then I remind myself I’m only 41.

Sometimes I feel 55. Other times I feel 20.

Mitch Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:41 PM

Rose, it does seem to change multiple times a day, oddly enough. When I wake I feel 65, then I get to 50 until I go to the gym. Feeling 60, I shower and feel 50, then as the day goes on I get younger and younger, and by the time my wife gets home, I feel 30. Then I become 12, trying to get dessert out of her. lol

July 19th, 2010 | 10:03 PM

Iceman Baldy:

Still looking good Mitch. Keep doing you.

Mitch Reply:
July 19th, 2010 at 10:41 PM

Thanks Iceman; I can’t be anyone else!

July 19th, 2010 | 10:08 PM

Melinda:

You make 50 look fabulous!

I agree some days I feel older (chasing my 4 year old) and some days younger (breaking out into a crazy dance to make the kids laugh). It is all in the head. Most days I am in the 25-30 range.

I’m going with Rose’s analysis so I can be in my 20′s. I was not aware how young I was!! Yay!

Mitch Reply:
July 20th, 2010 at 2:02 AM

Melinda, I think I like how Rose thinks as well; I’m going for that 20 number myself.

July 20th, 2010 | 12:43 AM

Rose:

Why thank you kindly.

July 21st, 2010 | 1:50 AM

Charles Gulotta:

I’m with Rose, too. I just dropped 20 years. But I think it’s true, although I can’t explain it. I have a picture of my grandmother when she was 62 (she died in 1966), and by today’s standards she looks 85. I also have a family picture taken in 1959, so my father would have been 37 at the time. In the picture, he looks older than I do now, and I’m 55. Anyway, MItch, keep smiling — that alone makes you look ten years younger!

Mitch Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 9:51 AM

Thanks Charles, and you’re right, smiling does make many people look younger doesn’t it?

July 21st, 2010 | 9:24 AM

Charles Gulotta:

But aren’t you a New Yorker? What’s the deal with the Red Sox shirt? If you’re thinking about longevity, that isn’t going to help.

Mitch Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 9:53 AM

Charles, I’ve lived in NY for 35 years, but I’m not originally from here. Remember, I lived 4 1/2 years in Maine, and that’s when I got to like the Red Sox.

July 21st, 2010 | 9:28 AM

Ajith Edassery@Make Money Online:

Belated birthday wishes Mitch. Not sure if 50 is the new 40. I will be 40 sometime soon and I already feel like life’s almost over lol. To be frank, other than a little excess BP, I am perfectly fit. It’s a mental thing I guess.

Mitch Reply:
July 21st, 2010 at 4:18 PM

Hey Ajith, thanks, but my birthday is long past, and I’m closer to 51 than 50 at this point. And a big part of it is mental, though that physical part is a big consideration as well. If I could get that part working better, I’d feel 12!

July 21st, 2010 | 1:53 PM

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