I don't really see people in their 50s as particularly old, more late middle age.
Thank you! I thought I was crazy for thinking that as everyone my age (say 25-30) seems to think 50+ is old folks town. It feels like a depressing attitude to me. For all ages.
I've always considered age is just a number. I'm 25. Some of the people I like best or have felt closest to are in their 40s and 50s, a few older. Meanwhile, my peers who frown on that and chastise me for fraternizing with "the elderly", act much like would-be retirees, ricocheting between doctor appointments, complaining, even trash talking damn kids (teens). It's sad. Absurd. Silly. Also their choice.
I love love love this post. Thank you for writing it.
It surprises me how many people in their thirties seem to see themselves as old. Like once your past your 20s your body starts falling apart. 🤷♀️ I was talking to a guy at climbing recently who had seen my Instagram (I have my age on it). He was saying how he only started climbing seriously quite recently and would be 30 soon, so was concerned he wouldn't be able to carry on climbing for much longer or advance much. Then he saw my climbing reels which put his worries to rest. While I'm glad I changed his outlook, I was still pretty surprised that he was ready to grow old so soon.
Seriously? To think like that at less than 30 seems depressing as hell.