At what age did you realise you were "old"?

I have felt old since I was ill last year. It brought home to me that I am not invincible. And, I lost loads of weight and have unsightly, saggy flesh.

I’ll have to get back to you on that one!

Love that story Warbler. I don't mind describing myself as old or elderly, every morning I look in the mirror and say "still here, good". I have so many friends who haven't made it into their 70's that I genuinely feel privileged to be 75 this year. However, I'm lucky that I can still do pretty much what I want to do, I still ride several times a week but I think it will be a real blow if I have to give that up as it makes me so happy.

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I’m not there yet!

I'll let you know when I get there. I'm only 73.

When I was about 43 and a reception class child called me grandma. When I saw her grandma she looked like" Blondie", so I suppose I did look old.
70 during lockdown wasn't good either.

Ask me again when I do!

Not old but older ... can't zip around doing three things at once any more. Difficult to remember even one thing I'm doing 😁

I’ll consider myself old when I can no longer be independent and do what I want. Thankfully that time has not yet arrived.

The day after my 80th birthday when that figure '8' hit me so hard!!! I had just retired from 2 jobs and an accident suddenly robbed me of my full mobility. Now a couple of years on I am just beginning to accept that I am old and feeling at peace with myself. Pretending I am still young is not for me - I am enjoying retirement immensely and I love being 'old' (none of that euphemistic 'elderly' garbage!) Age is NOT just a number, it is an achievement - an indication that you have done a good job of surviving throughout a long life and deserve to slow down. I feel I've earned it......

maddyone

My 70th birthday, last March.

Yes, it was definitely 70 for me as well. I turned 70 in February.

I think I will feel oldish when my first state pension payment turns up in my bank in the coming months 😱

When some kid offered me a seat on the train. I would have been 60 or so.

My 70th birthday, last March.

Juliet27

It was when I realised that if I was desperate for a wee while out for a walk if I was to squat behind a bush, I’d have trouble standing up again!

😂 me too!

In March this year just after my 80th birthday when I started suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis. I went from no pills to lots of pills. Definitely a turning point.

When I realised I am the oldest family member still alive (84).

I felt old when my husband left me for a woman 5 years younger …..

Any day now! 😁 (68)

Warbler - loved it 🤣🤣🤣

Earlier this year, in my 80th year when I had a TIA. Up until then I had been blessed with good health, kept fit and was on no medication.

I am still as fit as ever and feel in as good health, but I taake 6 pills a day and have had real evidence that i am not indestructible.

I have been aware I was aging for over a decade, as grandtanteJE65 describes, I am slower than I was and have less stamina, but knowing I am old. That happened on 5th January 2023.

It was when I realised that if I was desperate for a wee while out for a walk if I was to squat behind a bush, I’d have trouble standing up again!

I think it was when I realised that all 3 DS were going grey! How can I be old enough to have middle aged sons.
Now 2 DGC are in the 6th form.

But it's my teeth, eyes and hips which are the real bugbear
I shall be 75 in a couple of months and my lovely DMiL has just died aged 98 so I am the old one now
That's so funny you climbing the gate Warbler

It's been coming on gradually since I was 50 and stopped menstruating. Certainly, don't miss that, but other hurdles have been harder to get over.

Miss riding a standard bike, but no longer feel safe on two wheels - stopped riding that bike and bought a cargo bike with three wheels in 2019, when I was 67.

Right now at 71, I have just finished weeding a garden path that has taken a fortnight to get through - okay it is a 15 metre long brick path, but I "used '" to do it in three days.

I also used to clean the whole flat I had in one day and it was the same size as this house that takes me three or four days to spring clean.

But the great thing is, I can still do all these things. My father always said we should be thankful for small mercies - the older I get, the more I agree with his point of view.