Retired and Aging:
when do I feel old or young?

by Karyl
(Dundas Ontario Canada)

Thank you to those who already commented on this theme. It was helpful so I think I will add mine.

I feel old most of the time since i retired. I feel old because I was always a high energy person and now I have so little energy.

When people ask me (and I wish they would stop) what I do all day, I have no answer because I have a huge to do list and am lucky if I get a few items checked off on it.

I feel old when I don't feel like hiking which I always loved. Same with singing. I have a very lovely garden and it does give me pleasure but it doesn't make me feel young. I really like my house too but it doesn't make me feel young either.

It's this G#!!! depression that makes everything grey. I can't tolerate those antidepressant drugs either so that is not a choice.

The best I can get is when i feel solid. I feel solid at times when I have enough perseverance to meditate for an hour. I feel solid sometimes if i go for a walk in the woods and when I listen to the bird calls and can identify one, or watch the birds and can name some, and when I spend time browsing nursery catalogues for annuals and perennials and small trees and shrubs.

I feel old when I can't figure out my new camera, can't organize my pictures properly on my computer, lose something I just wrote on the computer, can't figure out a new program or how to fix the computer when it is not working right I also feel old when I can't figure out how to work my new Nintendo Brain Age game, or when I forget something or someone's name (which happens often).


I do feel comfort when my little poodle cuddles up to me and when I talk to my daughters. They are very busy and I don't get to talk to them a lot. My son is a comfort too but also a worry at times.

My two little grand daughters do give me joy but certainly do not make me feel any younger! I have yet to feel that age 76 has brought wisdom. I bought the Posit Science Brain Fitness and Insight programs. I did pretty well on Insight but terrible on Brain Fitness - depressing.

All of the Psychological information I have collected in my brain all these years is still there but seems to be of little use in my everyday life.

Wendy: Just a thought, why not have your hormones checked... maybe you are just a bit "off" somewhere and they might have something to help. OR Visit your health store.. see what they have for energy, just to see if you find a bit more and get more active, maybe the depressed thoughts end?

p.s. If I felt old every time I lost a computer file because I didn't put it in the correct folder, or when I goof online... I'd be long gone! I do lots of "goofs" working on this website, I'm not perfect, and I bet you weren't in your 30s either.. it's just part of life!