How old are you?

I'm 73 and don't usually think about it. I've just spent five nights camping in a Viking village with my local group. Possibly a bit daft at my age.

I'm 65 next month - going to Claridges for afternoon tea with my family to celebrate!

I don't want to die but I don't suppose being dead will be worse for me than for any of the other millions of dead - and I wasn't unhappy before I was born, so I suppose I will be ok when I am dead.

I am nearly 81 and definitely not as lively as I once was. Last August I had a seizure after a straight forward operation. ( Low sodium plus a general anaesthetic and then drinking too much water in order to do a wee). Ended up in ITU but apparently had to be resuscitated and was unconscious and on ventilator etc for three days. I was convinced I was watching a film on the internet. The commentator was saying that “this is a true story about a woman who lives in …… I saw my dh and daughter upset and crying. The “video” went on and I kept saying I don’t want to watch this any more. It appeared to show signs of ending but then seemed to start again. I said some stupid things like “I haven’t had an operation” and that there was a picture of the hospital with a big cross next to it. Not to go there!!! There was no pain and thought if that is what dying is like then it’s not too bad.?.

I suffer from ill health and at 66 i am starting to think about how long i will live for. My greatest wish is to see my 4 year old grandson grow up. I probably wont see great grandchildren but he is the greatest joy in my life and i want to remain in his life for as long as possible. It really does make you think about how fast time flies.

I feel exactly the same as you,I'm 59 & have recently lost 2 people very suddenly without any warning & some nights I wake up feeling like I'm having a panic attack worrying about thefuture. I do a lot of mindfulness & meditation which helps & try to keep my head in the present,but can't help wishing time would slow down.

I’m 66, happily retired at the end of last year. I do have a health condition, which sometimes drags me down. But I think I’ve got 20 years left. DH has dementia, which is hard to cope with. But as a family unit, I have 2 AC still living with us and a GS. Having a house full, I feel very lucky. Although I would have liked my AC to have homes of there own, it hasn’t worked out that way.
I also have an estranged son, and although at the time and for a long time after I was heartbroken. I am thankful for my family and friends that make me realise I’m not that bad.

I saw this thread just as I was feeling very depressed at hitting 70 next week

I feel and think young ....i'm just an aging hippy.

My dh suddenly died 5 years ago at 69, my dad was 66, so I'm very aware of the passing of time.

My daughter wants to arrange a Sunday lunch outing next week with my son and gc, but I feel like burying myself away until it's all over. I really hate birthdays now and I'm usually quite a cheerful positive woman.

I`m 78, not far off 79. I have 5 children, the eldest, who is disabled, lives with me. I have mobility problems, and am ashamed to say that since my husband died, 5 and a half years ago, I`ve felt trapped here with my daughter. I often wish I could go to bed and not wake up in the morning. I`m not scared of dying, just don`t want it to be painful. I`ve just realised how selfish all that sounds.

Bijou - so glad that you're still here. And still able to do the things you do to stay independent.
What do you think are the benefits of a long life?

Bijou! You are amazing! You will be 100 all going well! Then you will receive your Birthday recognition from the Queen! You have seen such a large slice of life. It looks like you may be our most senior member! I am so happy for you. Congratulations for living such a long life. You could tell some stories!

GardenofEngland. So sorry to hear the sad situation with your husband. Reflect on your birthday of all the happy times.
Blessings.

I'm 64 but feel 35 until I catch sight of myself in the mirror. I know some people who were "old" at 30.
My lovely next door neighbour died about 10 years ago at the age of 89. She was my best friend despite our almost 40 year age difference. She was young at heart, great company and never feared death or age. I hope to have the same outlook on life as I get older.

71 and I am living not existing. I hated being 65 for some reason but I cherish every day now. Dying frightens me but I don’t dwell on it I don’t want to leave my daughter and friends tbh.
I try to take a day at a time and welcome any offer that comes my way if it is feasible. The past two years have taught me that we have no idea what is round the corner so we must embrace everything.

I will be 69 in June and thoughts of death aren't new to me. I have thought about the subject, off and on, since I was in my 20s. Strangely, it troubles me less at this stage, when it's creeping up on me, than it did when I was young.

I feel pretty old, because the arthritis in my knees is so bad that I can hardly walk. I was really made aware of my mortality five years ago when I had to have an operation for a strangulated parastomal hernia, and was told that there was a strong chance that I wouldn't survive as I had heart problems as well. One of the medical staff tried twice to persuade me that it would be better to "let nature take its course." Sod that, I thought, I'll chance it. It was a bad experience, though, and I felt like I was dying during my stay in ICU after the op.

It's not really my death that worries me, it's my fear of losing my husband. He's three years older than me and was always healthy until last year, when he developed a lung condition which might be asthma but might not. We'll probably end up having to go private to get a diagnosis, as everything takes so long now on the NHS. Whatever it is, it has made him feel constantly ill and I am scared about it getting worse. I feel like, as you get older, it's like you and your partner are running towards the edge of a cliff and it's a question of who is going to fall first.

Yes, I am a little ray of sunshine!

My mum died when she was 73 and I can't shake the feeling that I will go at the same age. My family say it is completely illogical and I know they're right, but even so...

I'm 67 and used to think I would die young because my mum was only 48 when she died and as I was only 14 and it left a big impression on me. Since then I can't say I think about it much at all. I have an auto immune condition which I developed in my late 50's that has put me in a wheelchair and left me barely able to stand and it's getting worse. On top of that I've had 3 strokes and been told I will no doubt develop vascular dementia. I don't believe them tbh because my brain is fine and even after multiple strokes I recovered well and have no lasting effects. I don't feel like a burden to anyone even though I do rely heavily on my youngest son and Dil, I try to be as self sufficient as possible. It is what it is and when my times up that will be it, I'll certainly have no regrets but I don't think it will be anytime soon and the longer I last the longer I think I'll be around.

75 last weekend. Don’t feel any different inside, but a few creaks and stiffness on the outside. The alarming thing is when I look in the mirror my mother, who died in her 80s ten years ago, seems to be looking out at me. But no, I don’t think too much of death, it’s an inevitable fact and comes to all. I take every day at a time and enjoy every minute whilst I’m able to, don’t know what’s round the corner.

Nanascats I too think 80 is the main turning point.
If we get to that age you must be quite strong. And lucky.
After that we're like an old car with parts cracking up and dropping off. Not built to last forever.
This has happened to several of my contemporaries. (80s.)

Lots of differing ages on here, (lots of you seem very young to me!)
I'm 76, "feeling my age" at the moment. I have osteo-arthritis, so rather creaky, ( I did have 2 TKR's 11 & 12 years ago ).
I'm lucky to have my DH, a DS & DD, & 5 DGC, aged between 5 & 20 years.
As some others have said, I don't fear dying, but do worry about the lead up to it, I'd hate to be incapable & a burden.

I won't/can't name names, but am reading all your posts, &thinking of the ones with more than their share of problems.

I am 63 and very happy with each day that comes. My MIL, at 89 has complained every day for the last 9 that she has woken up every day and did not die in the night! I am NOT going to be like her. Every day we have is a blessing and we should make the most of them, even if it is only to relax at home. Death comes to all of us when our time is up - we don’t know when so enjoy what you’ve got.

Thank you for starting the thread LaCrepescule .

I'm 72 and am thankful for every day. Especially the sunny ones like today and despite me testing +ive with covid this morning.

My father died suddenly and too young. Well I consider 78 too young. My mother was diagnosed with dementia in her mid sixties and my father gave her full time care, which my brother and I tried to do after he died.

Having met my DH 7 years ago and then marrying him, I want many more years with him but I see every year to come as being probably the last year we have together. I grab each day.
He's the opposite and so optimistic, in believing there are many many more tomorrows for us both.

I don't have a fear of dying but I do fear being a burden to him through illness.

What a variety of feelings there are in this thread. From everyone whether in your 50s or 80s. However, my thoughts are with Daftbag1. I wish I could bring you some joy and comfort.

I'm 69, will be 70 the Jubilee weekend.
The realisation that one day I would die first struck me when I was 6-7 but was a fairly fleeting thought. My mother was diagnosed with cancer when I was 7 and died when I was 15. During those years I had fairly brief episodes of fear of dying but kept it to myself. When I was 17 I had an episode so bad that I could hardly function but had no professional help. It happened again when I was 20 and then not long after I'd had my first baby . On both occasions I had professional counselling and each episode was a couple of months long.
Since then I've moments where I've realised that I have less time to go than I've already lived but those have been brief.
Curiously, although clearly I am nearer to dying than I was 30-50 years ago, I am now more resigned than terrified, although I can't say that I'm completely comfortable with the thought!
I see death as the end of my existence: no different than before I was born and I find that a hard concept to come to terms with but prefer not to dwell on it.

I'm 72 and have mobility problems, I have mobility scooter. I think its mnd but scared of doctors so won't go & couldn't have an mri scan, (brother died of motor neutron age 70, mum had strokes, died 70). But I'm not depressed and see family. Look forward to mum, dad, brother meeting me when the time comes.

I’m 71 DH 69. I’m terrified like many on here of dementia, a painful illness even death itself. I do believe in an afterlife and hope I’m right to do so. Had to phone the doctor today as 2nd hip really painful now which really depresses me as it is such a long recovery time post op. First hip replacement was 2018. I know there is a backlog of these sorts of operations in the NHS so goodness knows when that will happen and life is so quickly slipping by it makes me so depressed. I try not to show it to DH or my lovely family but it eats away at me sometimes especially after 2 years of restrictions due to Covid here’s another year out as limited what I can do waiting for the op. No chance of a holiday for 3 months after either, not that I’ve plucked up the courage to do that quite yet! I do give myself a good talking to sometimes as there are so many people worse off than me but it nags away at me always. DH never mentions the subject ever! I’ve often wondered if anyone else thinks like me as it’s not a conversation I have with friends of a similar age so good to know I’m not alone.

We may have less tomorrows than we would like and even those are not guaranteed. So I find I am far more spontanious and more able to please myself with out feeling as though I shouldn't. Its still a work in progress though xxx

I'm nearly 56 and never really worry about age, i think more about getting really sick and who would care for me. There is only my sister and I, the last of the family, I'm divorced and she never married and neither of us had kids.
I'm recovering this week after an op and she had to come to stay to help me. I've friends, but they have their own families and I would never expect them to take me on too.
I've heard only this morning another friend has died, he was 58, it's scary because lately they have been my age or younger. I try my best to keep healthy and fit, but you just never know when something will happen, I just try not to think about it.