WHAT IF.... | TheaterFire

[-]

trUth_b0mbs@reddit

I just saw an article that a 57yr old teacher quit her job to be an (EDM) DJ. That's freaking amazing.

goes to show that as long as you're alive, the reset button can be pressed at any time.

[-]

In some of our cases, we know for certain that our maximum lifespan left is only a small amount of years (or months or weeks), but with modern medicine, living into our nineties isn’t necessarily unrealistic.

[-]

ThisIsMeGuessWho@reddit (OP)

THIS! Saw in the Wall Street Journal today. How timely and inspiring!

[-]

Tight_Comparison_557@reddit

I am not done. As much as I love remembering how good our childhoods were, the future is unknown. I am not finished doing what I am meant to do.

[-]

ApartAd3290@reddit

I am 49 and starting a new career for this reason.

[-]

Ray_The_Engineer@reddit

I'm confused by the premise. Being statistically on the older end of the spectrum has been the reason that my wife and I have gone ahead bought the dreamhouse, the 911 that I've wanted for a half century, take the trip. Your logic is that some folks are saying "Wow, I'm getting older, I'd better wait a while to..."?

[-]

ThisIsMeGuessWho@reddit (OP)

You aren't confused at all. You wanted to have a reason to share that you've done the things. Great! Then maybe this post isn't for you.

[-]

Ray_The_Engineer@reddit

Nope. Your post made no sense to me at all. I feel like I explained it previously, so moving on.

[-]

ThisIsMeGuessWho@reddit (OP)

Wait. You're an engineer. That explains everything. 😂🙄

[-]

Ray_The_Engineer@reddit

Care to elaborate? What's your bias against engineers? Do folks that understand how the world works, have brains that can think logically, and can build things threaten you?

[-]

ThisIsMeGuessWho@reddit (OP)

You said that before, yet you keep coming back. The door is open. Waiting for your exit...

[-]

Catfiche1970@reddit

Same. I'm retired, but am I supposed to go back to school and do a career AGAIN? I never wanted kids, so I'm not going back and doing that. My after 50 years are being spent doing all the things I couldn't do while I was living my under 50 life. Now I'm building the after 50. There's time. Time to do all the after 50 things that I was looking forward to. Are other people just giving up?

[-]

Ray_The_Engineer@reddit

I'll be 60 this year, but I had a similar response to turning 50. It wasn't a "OMG I'm so old!" thing, it was more "F*** it, I'm 50, let's do it!" reaction. Enjoy!

[-]

Catfiche1970@reddit

I've done more things and traveled more places in the last couple of years than the last 30. Use it or lose it!

[-]

Aamrie69@reddit

I want to go to Portugal and Australia.. but health is definitely a huge factor for flying..

I'm the United States, I'm not sure what I would want to do .

[-]

VinceP312@reddit

My nightmare scenario is living into old old age. Even if i was healthy.

[-]

420EdibleQueen@reddit

I had thought when and injury took me out of my chose field that it was too late to retrain for something at my age. I thought I'd work a low paying, basic job for the last remaining years and coast into retirement using my husband's income as the main source until I started pulling distributions. Things changed fast when he died.

I'm now 5 classes away from completing my degree and I've been interviewing for accounting jobs for a few months now.

[-]

Jas62021@reddit

Several yrs ago I got our daughter her passport. She was entering college and I figured she should have it in an “eventually clubs will come back” and the French club always took a trip to Paris. The clubs did not, in fact, come back.

So I got my husband and I our passports. I’d never traveled out of country. I’d always wanted to go to Ireland as my grandfather was from there. I was 53 and not getting any younger.

So I booked us a trip to Ireland. Since then I’ve done a lot of things that I’d always wanted to do, but never had the opportunity, support or chance to.

Our daughter is already in a much better position to do and see things than we ever were. And I encourage her to take those opportunities and run with them

[-]

dcmill@reddit

Pushing 60. Wife and I got our passports last year and traveled to the UK for 2 weeks. We’re going back to Scotland for 2 weeks this fall. Wish we could have done it sooner but between kids, time and money we couldn’t. But like the post said it’s never too late.

[-]

ThisIsMeGuessWho@reddit (OP)

❤️

[-]

CitizenChatt@reddit

Passing on the adventurer spirit torch to the next gen is a beautiful thing

[-]

introvertednurse75@reddit

I sm 50 and unfortunately have a bad knee. I can't run. I wish I had appreciated my younger self more and had stayed more in shape. Now I am in pain and overweight. I don't know if I can get myself back into shape. I worry that this is it for me, I am doomed to be in pain and overweight the rest of my life.

[-]

Spiritual-Chameleon@reddit

Can you get a referral for PT? That could help you strengthen your knee and reduce pain.

[-]

introvertednurse75@reddit

I did that. I have a torn ACL and meniscus and should have had surgery but long story short I didn't. Ortho sent me to PT but that won't fix the bad meniscus.

[-]

Spiritual-Chameleon@reddit

Sorry to hear that! My 85 year old mom is in the same boat with the meniscus. Somehow the pain has greatly diminished and she doesnt need surgery just yet.

Hope you'll be able to get some relief

[-]

Icky-Tree-Branch@reddit

If swimming is possible for you, it may be a gentler way for your joints to cooperate and get moving with you. Best of luck.

[-]

introvertednurse75@reddit

I did water aerobics years ago, I should try to find something like that again. Thank you

[-]

No_Consideration8764@reddit

I'll be obtaining my degree in 3 weeks. Maybe I should've done it 20 years ago, but I put my entire self into being a mom and raising my family. I've battled depression & crippling panic disorder in the past. I didn't love myself enough, had problems with recognizing my value.

I could see it as being too old to finish school but didn't want to go another year without pushing myself. I finally learned my self worth. I did it. I am so proud of me!

[-]

Rational-ish@reddit

I’m proud of you too! 🎉

[-]

No_Consideration8764@reddit

THANK YOU!!

[-]

Bahlore@reddit

There's a lot I did; my body has paid the price. I have very few regrets; and I'm real happy with how my life turned out.

[-]

Dragonnuttz@reddit

I've done everything I've ever wanted to do (that was legal) already.....traveled the world, saw all the milestones of my child, and experienced all the stuff I wanted to do. Now I just wait for the end to get here...my biggest fear is getting old to where I lose my independence. I am still very self-sufficient but I see my peers lose their mobility and health at an alarming rate. I also feel myself slowing down and my body slowly grinding to a halt. I'm hoping I go before my term life runs out at age 58. Most of the men in my family don't reach 55.....fingers crossed.

gif

[-]

threelittlebards@reddit

I bought an 88 key digital piano, a couple of books and can watch free video piano lessons covering each lesson in said books online. I’ve always wanted to play and am just getting started. It is something I should be able to do for a lifetime, however long that time is, unless I become physically or mentally incapacitated in some way. Turning a “could have” into a “did.”

[-]

Spiritual-Chameleon@reddit

I picked up ukulele last June. Been playing pretty much every day. I jam with new friends now and do some performing now.

[-]

ThisIsMeGuessWho@reddit (OP)

❤️

[-]

honey-squirrel@reddit

Exactly. How well you age is largely dependent on your views on aging.

[-]

Spiritual-Chameleon@reddit

Yes, this! If you're 60 or younger, what you think about aging and the decisions and actions you make now can impact how well you age.

[-]

ernurse748@reddit

I just try to find joy in my daily life and in the small things. Honestly, having seen the things I’ve seen as a nurse, the idea of living past 80 scares the hell out of me. There are some wonderful exceptions, but it really does not work out well for most people.

[-]

ThisIsMeGuessWho@reddit (OP)

It doesn't work out for MOST people who you come into contact with as a nurse. That's a somewhat skewed sample, right?

[-]

Cold_Mission101@reddit

u/ThisIsMeGuessWho , You're right because there are a lot of elderly people only see a nurse or doctor if they are in poor health.

[-]

ernurse748@reddit

Well that totally depends on the kind of nursing one does. You’re in oncology? Yup. Not great outcomes. You’re in an ENT office? Big difference. I worked ER. The majority of people who go into an ER are there for things like kidney stones, upper respiratory infections caused by common viruses, and vomiting. Only about 20% of ER patients wind up admitted. Most go home, walking out on their own.

So short answer? No. But I have seen what happens to the human body as it ages - no matter how much fiber one eats, etc. After 80, the fact is most humans just start to have more chronic pain and debilitating conditions.

[-]

Far_Kiwi_692@reddit

Same, not a nurse but I was my mom's caretaker. She had dementia and lived to 91. I don't want to live that long especially in that state of mind.

[-]

Quirky_Commission_56@reddit

I’d go back to college and major in Library Science and become a librarian.

[-]

CanadianExiled@reddit

I'm told evil lives long, and according to my ex wife I'll probably live to see 100.

[-]

Five_String_Serenade@reddit

I’d get at least a Masters in either History or Creative Writing. I’d learn Spanish fluently. I’d be in the gym five days a week. I’d write a book. I’d have a kid.

[-]

deleted_by_reddit@reddit

[removed]

[-]

GenX-ModTeam@reddit

{community_rule_2}

[-]

FormerLaugh3780@reddit

I'd have have had more children and had them when I was younger.

[-]

SnuggleMoose44@reddit

My people don’t live long. I will be really surprised if I’m still here in 20 years. There’s no time to dream desire and wish when I’m fighting to keep a roof over my head.

[-]

Kilashandra1996@reddit

My husband's people don't live long either. My people live long, but have cancer, diabetes and dementia. We are living now because waiting for later ain't a good plan!

[-]

CtrlAltDeli@reddit

I’ll be 50 in a months time, but I have a sense that I’ll have at LEAST 30 great more good, active years. Picked up skiing again and lifting 3xweek again this year to make sure I milk them as best I can, have a Tanzania safari with my partner and 9 yr old kid booked for August. I say let’s gooo.

[-]

puzzling_cucumber@reddit

“The dreams of youth are the regrets of maturity”

[-]

ernurse748@reddit

Of course I read that in Tim Curry’s Darkness voice …

[-]

puzzling_cucumber@reddit

I knew someone here would know 😁

[-]

SaltyBlackBroad@reddit

When I think about quitting, I remember Colonel Sanders and how he spent years and years trying to be successful and finally did it when he was 65 years old. It's only too late if we let it be too late.

[-]

Waesrdtfyg0987@reddit

What's the matter Colonel Sanders? Chicken?

[-]

umeboshiplumpaste@reddit

All of my obstacles come from not having financial security or the ability to retire. All I want is to rest. I want to lay down and do nothing. To have the freedom to just do nothing. I don't need to travel or do anything luxurious. I just want to be done working and afford to keep my home and someday have medical care, but those require working forever. I would give anything to go back in time and have done things differently. Just need to keep going.

[-]

AKANotAValidUsername@reddit

You dont need a million dollars to do nuthin man. Take a look at my cousin- hes broke, dont do shit

[-]

Retracnic@reddit

My folks are still up and mobile, so I guess I still have decades left on the calendar. But I don't want to take it for granted, like my uncle did... a man who lived life like there was no tomorrow, until there was no tomorrow.

[-]

BerryLanky@reddit

My first wife died when I was in my early 40’s. After she passed I looked back with regret of all the things we out of thinking we had next year. After that I started living the life we talked about living. In a decade I’ve traveled the world with friends and family. Health is a priority. I love the life I have now but still carry regret of what was lost when she was alive.

[-]

Hib3rnian@reddit

I dont know if I have 30 more in me lol

[-]

Auslander808@reddit

Momento mori.
Seize the day.

[-]

omysweede@reddit

My captain, my captain

[-]

Meekanado@reddit

I’ve had a weird sense of urgency my entire life that it’s too short and I need to live as many dreams as possible. Met an adventurous man and married him, and while we’ve had some boring stretches we keep making plans and jumping in with both feet. It hasn’t been the most stable life but it’s been really fun. No regrets here.

[-]

omysweede@reddit

No what ifs, no regrets, no surrender.

[-]

Teaspoonbill@reddit

59 here. Have a dear friend 30 years my senior who, spooked at the relatively young deaths of his parents and siblings, took early retirement when he was about my current age. He is still around, in the 95+ percentile of health for men his age, lives an active, fulfilling life. You just never know.

[-]

Bdoggg999@reddit

I think about people who live to 100. They probably hit 50 and were like damn I’m old then had another half century left

[-]

m0loch@reddit

There isn't much time left https://climatereanalyzer.org/clim/sst_daily/?dm_id=world2