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On Old Age

butwhatfor.substack.com

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Re: On Old Age

#51

Post by telesilla »

circlefavshape wrote: post #36
jfengel wrote: post #7

I'm 50 now, and this is going to be hard for me because I've got little practice in dealing with disability. Even now, I'm about to run a celebratory 50k rather than my usual yearly 42k marathon. I will never again break my best time, but it's my annual proof that I can still do this thing. And yet it's coming. Bifocals are in my near future. I have very preliminary symptoms of prostate trouble. I'm not used to needi…

I'm 48, and have been a bit mid-life-crisis-y lately. One thing that's been bothering me is that the best times of my life are probably behind me. I don't mean the most productive, or the highest status, or whatever - I mean the most fun . I don't want to delight in the "consciousness of a life well spent and the memory of many deeds worthily performed". I want excitement, and adventure. My friends around me not remi…

>I want excitement, and adventure

Oh you can! But it sounds like you would be giving up something in exchange?

Re: On Old Age

#53

Post by jfengel »

briangray wrote: post #48
lazypenguin wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There was a post not long ago on here by a young man (32 iirc?) that had a terminal illness and was sharing his final thoughts. One idea stood out to me, he said that getting old is a privilege that not everyone has the opportunity to experience. It was a new perspective for me on aging, perhaps the sentiment can be meaningful to you as well.

[1] I believe this is the one you're referencing from Elliot Dallen. It's a very insightful and beautiful post. And the reason I now read articles referencing old age, which once didn't register with me as much. "Nobody should lament getting one year older, another grey hair or a wrinkle. Instead, be pleased that you’ve made it." - Elliot Dallen 1 - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/sep/07/termin...

I wish he wouldn't underplay it. I don't care about gray hair and wrinkles. I care about joint pain, friends dying, and eventually an inability to even take care of myself. Better than dying young? Surely. But it's harder than just being pleased despite cosmetic defects.

Re: On Old Age

#54

Post by glerk »

snvzz wrote: post #43

A reminder that research efforts into repairing the damage of aging (effectively undoing aging) do exist. SENS[0] is a 501(c)(3) public charity directing and funding such research. [0]: https://www.sens.org/

Thanks. Any philosophy trying to make “old age” into something positive is a cop-out. There is nothing positive about seeing your mind and body slowly decay.

Re: On Old Age

#55

Post by vharuck »

glerk wrote: post #54
snvzz wrote: post #43

A reminder that research efforts into repairing the damage of aging (effectively undoing aging) do exist. SENS[0] is a 501(c)(3) public charity directing and funding such research. [0]: https://www.sens.org/

Thanks. Any philosophy trying to make “old age” into something positive is a cop-out. There is nothing positive about seeing your mind and body slowly decay.

Those who live in the desert learn to worship thirst.

I can't remember where I heard this or what the exact wording is. But it's one of those sayings that reminds me to be wary of philosophies with ideals that happen to match my current situation.

Re: On Old Age

#56

Post by WalterBright »

lazypenguin wrote: post #26
jfengel wrote: post #7

I'm 50 now, and this is going to be hard for me because I've got little practice in dealing with disability. Even now, I'm about to run a celebratory 50k rather than my usual yearly 42k marathon. I will never again break my best time, but it's my annual proof that I can still do this thing. And yet it's coming. Bifocals are in my near future. I have very preliminary symptoms of prostate trouble. I'm not used to needi…

There was a post not long ago on here by a young man (32 iirc?) that had a terminal illness and was sharing his final thoughts. One idea stood out to me, he said that getting old is a privilege that not everyone has the opportunity to experience. It was a new perspective for me on aging, perhaps the sentiment can be meaningful to you as well.

My father's WW2 group had an 80% casualty rate. He didn't like growing old, but he was well aware it was a privilege far too many of his buddies didn't get.

Re: On Old Age

#57

Post by WJW »

stanrivers wrote: post #46
tonyedgecombe wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Some things are up to us and some are not up to us. Our opinions are up to us, and our impulses, desires, aversions – in short, whatever is our own doing. Our bodies are not up to us, nor are our possessions, our reputations, or our public offices. . ." Epictetus, a Roman slave, probably crippled by his master.

As promised: https://www.usna.edu/Ethics/_files/documents/Stoicism2.pdf He has a couple other books and collections of writings. If you are looking for real world applications of Stoicism, there isn’t much of a better person.

That was an amazing read.

Re: On Old Age

#58

Post by Koshkin »

vibrolax wrote: post #17

I'm 62 now, enjoying the benefits of endurance sports and moderation in eating and drinking through most of my adult life. I know much of my relative well-being is due to genetics and luck. I know many family members, friends, and co-workers who have not been as fortunate, despite having been even more diligent in taking care of themselves. I see the frequent infirmities of my 10 year older friends who also took good…

Yes, downhill is an easier ride indeed!

Re: On Old Age

#59

Post by heresie-dabord »

jfengel wrote: post #7

I'm 50 now, and this is going to be hard for me because I've got little practice in dealing with disability. Even now, I'm about to run a celebratory 50k rather than my usual yearly 42k marathon. I will never again break my best time, but it's my annual proof that I can still do this thing. And yet it's coming. Bifocals are in my near future. I have very preliminary symptoms of prostate trouble. I'm not used to needi…

Physical health is fragile, but mental health can be robust for all or most of a long life. I think of Bertrand Russell.

I watched the US 2020 Election debate last night. At the risk of incensing lobbyists and dogmatic adherents of either side, let me say that it is humbling to see old people behave like fools.

Infirmity and death will come, but sometimes our Integrity shines at the right moments to inspire others.

Re: On Old Age

#60

Post by Koshkin »

glerk wrote: post #54
snvzz wrote: post #43

A reminder that research efforts into repairing the damage of aging (effectively undoing aging) do exist. SENS[0] is a 501(c)(3) public charity directing and funding such research. [0]: https://www.sens.org/

Thanks. Any philosophy trying to make “old age” into something positive is a cop-out. There is nothing positive about seeing your mind and body slowly decay.

Well, "old" is relative. There is a difference between being 60 and being 90 years old.

Does getting wiser, calmer, and more mentally balanced constitute a mind decay?

Doesn't the fact that you no longer have to exert yourself as much as you did before so in fact you have a better rest and sleep better mean that your body is doing just fine (not looking "young" notwithstanding)?

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