This is an old, old thread.

Guh youth. Ignorance. Pimples. DRAMAH. Misplaced confidence. Stupidity!

Stand up straight and stomp around with a knowing look. And believe it.

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JanetLand, it sounds like you have an inner voice that is lying to you. Mine does that sometimes. Sucks, doesn't it? Well, lemme tell you the truth. You are not veryveryveryveryvery old. I don't remember your exact age range, but here's the thing: everyone else who is your age is, well, YOUR age. So they don't look at you as veryveryveryveryvery old either. And what's wrong with being "old" anyway, hm?

So tell that part of your brain to SHUT UP already, because it's wrong!

My Mom told me that the problem with getting old is that all the policemen look like schoolkids. That happened to me years ago.
But the one thing that you have, as you grow older, is that you know that all the young people you see are scared inside. Scared of looking unglamorous or uncool. Scared of not being wanted or not being part of things. Once you reach a certain age, you don't care any more. Life is too important to waste it worrying about what people think of you. Now I really don't care if people think I am dumpy, old, or unhip. I know who I am. I have lived way, way more than them. I have done more than they may ever do. And I have a life, not just an image ... :-).

I was feeling old today too. We took a bike ride and ended up in a neighborhood filled with young people. It didn't feel bad being old, just peculiar. Susurration is right about this. Sometimes I have culture shock among the young.

There is an old Hollywood saying: You're only as old as your tits.

And I have a life, not just an image ... :-)

I like this sentence.

That's just DC. Only a few days ago I was talking with someone about what an insanely young city that city is. The whole place is run by callow postgrads. Shake it off!

Or, if not, at least take comfort in the Paul Simon lyric he wove into "The Boxer" during a live performance:

Now the years are rolling by me
They are rocking evenly
I am older than I once was
Younger than I'll be
That's not unusual
No, it isn't strange
After changes upon changes we are more or less the same
After changes, we are more or less the same.

I was in New Orleans by myself for the first time a couple weeks before I turned 41. I got dropped off at the hotel by a friend of a friend and was on my own. I hadn't eaten yet that day, so I ventured out. (Long story, too much to go into here.)

Head up, look like you know where you're going. Your age is a benefit. You won't get "hey baby"ed as often. Unless it's from older men. Roll your eyes and move on, regardless.

I like what gomi has to say.

Fortunately I am hauling my elderly self home today, so it won't be in my face any more.

Eideteker: who is admin?