What is the one thing you really love about being older?

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dumb__fucker@reddit

Getting closer and closer to the sweet sweet embrace of the end.

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Ed98208@reddit

Not being asked “when was your last period?” every time I go anywhere remotely healthcare-related.

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browneyedgirl79@reddit

I cannot wait for this. I'm 47 and in perimenopause. Also in recovery from a stroke that I had last November that took 90% of my memory and the use of my left arm and hand.

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JakeBanana01@reddit

Getting laid, all the time. And it's always kinky.

Seriously, being in a miserable sexless marriage, then finding a sexually open, kinky partner?

Yeah, part one was miserable.

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InsaneClownBossy@reddit

Like… you got into swinging/poly, or did you get a divorce and find a kinkster as a new partner? Either way, awesome!

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JakeBanana01@reddit

Separated and found an amazingly sensual kinky partner right away. I went from zero to 10 almost immediately.

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I absolutely love being retired -- time to do whatever I want and not toiling for The Man. Take off and go to a music festival? -- sure. Go fishing? -- sure. Drop everything and help a friend? -- sure. Go shopping mid-week to avoid crowds? -- absolutely. Plus, being a certain age brings a small bit of respect and deference which is nice.

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MickLittle@reddit

Nobody expects anything from me anymore. I've never felt so free.

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acanis73@reddit

Knowing myself better and not giving a f about other peoples opinion. That comes with age.

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Low_Entertainer_6973@reddit

Knowing how to mind my own business. = less drama.

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LordGeraldOG@reddit

Not having to work on my hair. M60.

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jonny_mal@reddit

So Many things: Wife and I are close to an empty nest and planning for our next chapter. Nerd conventions are a big part of my life and having a “grown-up” job allows me to take the time off to e joy them Not giving AAAANNNY fucks anymore about what folks think of who I am and how I live I’m also very adept at tech, and can thoroughly enjoy new advances

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BperrHawaii@reddit

Everything. I was a Moron as a young man.

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Mistervimes65@reddit

Owning a home. My kids and grandkids.

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RayB1969@reddit

Owning a home

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BawdyBaker@reddit

I'm living life for me.

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Murky_Possibility_68@reddit

Zero fucks are given.

Saves a lot of time.

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driftless@reddit

4 words:

Not. My. Fucking. Problem.

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Scimmia_bianca@reddit

No fucks to give!

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Sea_Voice_404@reddit

Exactly! Younger people don’t get it, but they will!

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Scimmia_bianca@reddit

💯

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TheAmethystDragon@reddit

Dying my hair.

I do bold colors (blue, purple, red, green, or orange so far), and the grey hairs take the color really well without having to bleach first.

Even as my hair grows out, the mix of color and grey looks good.

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wanderingdev@reddit

I've had a lot of grey since my 30s and I dyed my mohawk hot pink once just because. It grew/faded out to this amazing pink/grey/lavender streaked look and when I buzzed the sides they were white. I had a hairdresser in Dublin leave his shop and chase me down the street to ask me who did it for me.

When I grew it out and went back to just long and straight, when the silver look got trendy I had lots of people asking who my colorist was. Lol. For some reason so many were shocked at a woman not coloring her natural grey.

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Impressive-Shame-525@reddit

My wife's hair is going silver and platinum and she's always kept it long.

It's so beautiful on her. Her OG color was beautiful, too.

Huh... I sense a trend here. She's just beautiful and her hair is just a part of that. Lol

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wanderingdev@reddit

Always nice to see someone who is happy with a partner who is aging naturally. :)

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RevolutionarySea5077@reddit

Finally not caring anymore about what others think and living for myself!

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edgarjwatson@reddit

This is the way.

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Significant-Water227@reddit

Just my life experience….I don’t worry about much anymore, and look forward to continuing to just enjoy life!

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fruskydekke@reddit

While the number of fucks I have to give has always been fairly low in number, I ran out of them entirely about five years ago.

It's great.

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largos7289@reddit

I guess in another few months i'll be able to order off the 55+ menu. there's that.

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ablaut-reduplication@reddit

That I just retired and have the rest of my life with the love of my life to not just look forward to, but to live.

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tanhauser_gates_@reddit

My salary.

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nvr2manydogs@reddit

Today I set my alarm for 7:30 (just in case) to go to yoga instead of setting it for 4:15 to go to work. That doesn't suck.

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pale13@reddit

We're 50, and we love that there's a ton of advice from people 10-20 years older than us. "I'm 70 and here's what I wish I knew when I was 50" - in real life, on youtube videos, etc.

Some advice we were given is that mid-40s to mid-50s is the peak of life. You have your career well in hand, the kids are old enough to have some independence (or be out entirely), you are still young enough to do everything you want, and all of this while having good perspective about life.

So I guess that I really love having folks older than us to give us advice, and being old enough to actually appreciate that advice.

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Bigchunky_Boy@reddit

Have more empathy respect and patience for others . Not sweating the small stuff.

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TheGriff71@reddit

The experience that life has given me. Sure, a fair chunk is mainly useless. It's still the experience.

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Consistent_Cook9957@reddit

Now retired, I really appreciate owning my time. Not having to account for my time to my employer is fantastic!

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Ok-Entertainment5045@reddit

Financial stability

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Fit-Reality-2872@reddit

Love that I can have full retirement in 2 years, 9 months….at 59 years old. Might work a year longer just to pad it…my job is enjoyable and not physical….and they lay me a lot. Also, I’m enjoying the fact that I found a really good woman after decades of being with the wrong ones! The one I have now is calm, not jealous, hard-working, and absolutely gorgeous. The other ones were gorgeous, but we’re lacking some of those other qualities! The life of being a Jim rat has kept me in fairly good shape compared to others, my age, but also lifting weights a little too heavy for too many decades has given me a lot of injuries and back issues and other problems that won’t go away, so I guess I don’t love that but I just have to change the way I work out and do more cardio less weights

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LayerNo3634@reddit

Empty nesters and grandkids. I love my kids, but am so glad they are on their own and supporting themselves. Now we spend our money our ourselves and the grandkids. Grandson asked why we don't have swings at our house...We're getting the big, old fashioned kind!

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lionbacker54@reddit

Time Money

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Available-Bison-9222@reddit

Being able to set boundaries and not giving a flying f**k if it upsets people.

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egarcia74@reddit

This

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secrerofficeninja@reddit

My kids are grown. The hard work is over. Two moved out and the 3rd about to leave for college. It’s nice to feel the success of raising kids and having time to myself for things I want to do again.

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lovegood123@reddit

My husband and I struggled financially for years after having kids but now we have enough to do what we want when we want. We travel/vacation once or twice a year and don’t have to worry about cost, we renovated our nearly 30 year old bathroom into the bathroom of my dreams, I can work part time at a job that I love but doesn’t pay well and it doesn’t stress us out like it would have years ago.

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Striking-Rutabaga-49@reddit

Getting in bed at 8pm and not getting FOMO about not being at a bar.

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MrRetrdO@reddit

Realizing there is no cell phone videos of the stupid and/or illegal shit we did as kids.

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Rich_Group_8997@reddit

Having grown up at a time that i could afford to go to college, buy a house on my own, paid it off and have enough money to retire. Seems little that's harder and harder with the younger generations, with everything having become so unaffordable.

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EggSpecial5748@reddit

I think we’re gonna be the last generation that has this advantage 😔

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Curiousferrets@reddit

And just to point out, a lot of younger gen X didn't get that!!

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bobj33@reddit

Having money to buy whatever I want and go wherever I want.

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threedogdad@reddit

I'm glad I'm old enough that I'll get to see what AI does to us all but I won't have to deal with it for that long before I'm gone. I'm in tech, and what is going on quite literally can't go well for humans.

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CraftLass@reddit

Having absolutely no reason to know about pop culture anymore. I can just say, "I'm too old for that shit," and switch to more interesting topics and everyone just giggles and nods instead of mocking me for months.

Part of that is societal, though, I can't think of a single TV show that everyone I know would watch now like we did as kids with less content availability. The collective experience of it is dead, there are pros and cons to that.

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prospectpico_OG@reddit

Not giving a fuck.

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RedHighlander@reddit

I love having the financial freedom to be retired and do whatever the fuck I want (legally of course).

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CaptMerrillStubing@reddit

Retirement. I love it so much.

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Interesting-Heart841@reddit

Glad I didn’t have kids. I’m exhausted as it is.

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CheapAssociation2976@reddit

Realizing that it's all a practice. Deliberate, positive self talk, having the wisdom to realize life is short so I better get after it now. You're never younger than you are right now. A few days from 55 and probably in the best shape I've ever been, both physically and mentally.

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Genuine907@reddit

I hear all of this.

Move the body you have. Jump in puddles. Sing along. Listen to your inner voice. Cultivate peace. Read books about things you don’t yet understand. Get outside. Spend time helping others. Eat something green that you grew yourself. Put flowers on the table. Draw. Hold a hand.

Count the holidays you might have left. Celebrate everyone you love. Devote yourself to being alive before you’re dead.

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CheapAssociation2976@reddit

Beautifully put. Keep on keeping on.

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Maga_eats_dick@reddit

I love enjoying the fruits of 30 years of labor. I enjoy slowing down a bit and the thought of retiring in a few years or at least majorly down shifting keeps me warm at night.

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Aggressive-Chair2915@reddit

I absolutely love throwing my back out in the middle of a deep sleep! But like others have said, the older I get the less I care about looking ridiculous in public because no one cares. If you see me dancing on the Jumbotron give me a thumbs up.

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Fatenoir@reddit

Not being asked when I'm having kids. CF forever!

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Careless_Ocelot_4485@reddit

For real! Now I get asked what I do and I get to say “Retired!”. CF means I got to retire early.

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RunRunDMC212@reddit

I like to say that I’m funemployed!

Also would like to add to the chorus of zero fucks given, regarding the opinions of others about me (my choices, my appearance, my boundaries). It’s the one way that perimenopause has been such a GIFT.

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Sufficient_Stop8381@reddit

I don’t love being older. It kinda sucks.

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CheapAssociation2976@reddit

Whenever I start going down that road I always say to myself "it's better than the alternative". Cause if you're not getting older, you're dead.

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hintofvelvet@reddit

Dead is a much better state based on certain spiritual beliefs (like mine, no fear of death) but wasting this earthly life would be a terrible thing so I endure

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MissDisplaced@reddit

Not caring so much about my looks or body. When I was younger I used to get hit on and sometimes sexually harassed a lot. Now I’m invisible.

Also just not giving a fuck what people think.

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GlobalTapeHead@reddit

I have no aches and pains (yet), but the one thing I find nice about being older is really not caring what other people think about me. Aging has given me a type of confidence that I never had in my youth and it definitely makes me a happier person.

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aloofinthisworld@reddit

Having known family that grew up during the Depression and/or served in ww2 - or even ww1

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Lost_Taste_8181@reddit

Having an excuse for being grumpy

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designocoligist@reddit

The ability to not give a fuck about dumb bullshit.

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auntieup@reddit

I love being in a position to help the younger people in my life, financially and professionally. I’ve become the generous mentor I needed when I was young, and I have so many new surrogate kids as a result.

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Sintered_Monkey@reddit

I get inquiries on a semi-regular basis from college kids on LinkedIn because I've had an interesting career. I am always happy to talk to them. These days, I set up a video call to answer any questions they may have.

In retrospect, when I was their age, I don't know why the some of the people my age were so aloof and condescending. We were all young at some point.

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Feeling-Pea5281@reddit

My weed dispensary gives me a senior discount!

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Prestigious-Coast962@reddit

👆👏👏👏

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Distinct_Magician713@reddit

No periods.

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Dextropic@reddit

Yeah I tend to let my thoughts just trail off too...

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Lurking_Geek@reddit

That’s triple periods

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Few-Pineapple-5632@reddit

The lack of emotional instability. I am much calmer now. I rarely road rage. I don’t worry as much about anything. Coworkers rarely make me angry. I can tolerate emotions of others (except spouse and children) without it affecting me.

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armblessed@reddit

Being able to spend time doing volunteer work. Senior discounts at the dispensary. Having a full head of hair around guys who obviously paid for theirs. Not needing to compete for my position in life against cubicle tumors high on mediocrity. Some of my favorites.

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Wide_Breadfruit_2217@reddit

Here's a strange one. 59f. My hair is wavier. I think its less weight from thinner diameter white hair.

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imzadi111@reddit

Me too. My hair got curly during menopause.

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Intrepid_Practice956@reddit

I had menopause and cancer treatment all together. So I don't really know what's due to which (except the curl on yhe ends which Im pretty sure is from the chemo.)

But my hair is wavier now.

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sudrewem@reddit

I lost my hair to chemo at 30 followed by premature ovarian failure. Lost all of my straight blonde hair. It gets darker and wavier every year. Not sure if it was chemo or menopause that is causing it but I’m grateful for the waves. It grew back half as thick but the waves make it a bit fluffier so it isn’t noticeable. I wash it, let it dry and just don’t care what it looks like at this point. I love it.

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Inevitable-Kale2759@reddit

Perspective

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BuckyD1000@reddit

It's nice being a bit of a respected "elder statesman" in my music scene. A lot of young musicians come to me for advice. I fucking love those kids.

My first-hand tales of the grunge era blow their minds.

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Calliesdad20@reddit

Retirement ,being financially secure

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DangerousBumblebee73@reddit

Having a little money.

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StJmagistra@reddit

As so many others have said, wisdom. Knowing myself, knowing what’s worth investing my energy into and when to not bother.

I also like my career and what it brings to my life. I will miss it when I am in a position to retire.

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Altruistic-Panda-697@reddit

Being retired!!!

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zapatocaviar@reddit

We can watch movies a second time.

I was saying this to a friend last night. Getting to watch movies you loved again and having them feel fresh because it’s been so long. The only way to do that is by just getting older!

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Jamminnav@reddit

Great time to be a cinephile! Not only can you revisit the movies you enjoyed before, you can find and appreciate all the classic ones that came before, and also explore the art of moviemaking that you took for granted in your youth

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sudrewem@reddit

I find watching old movies I loved with my adult son to be a favorite past time. We have the same stupid sense of humor and interests. Watching with him, seeing it through his eyes, is just amazing.

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boybrian@reddit

Wisdom. Lack of giving a shit what people think gives a new confidence I never had in youth.

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Sintered_Monkey@reddit

I am retiring in 38 days.

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sudrewem@reddit

Congratulations!

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runningdeer8106@reddit

Me too!

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Recent_Page8229@reddit

At 67 I realize I have been a witness to so many incredible events, changes, trends, etc. that will continue to shape history for decades to come. My grandfather was born in 1895 and fought in the great war so th span of things I have experienced through those types of connections is pretty mind blowing. I remember he moon landing, my first LP was Led Zeppelin I, it was a really great time to be alive. I've got a terminal illness too so I'm more reflective these days and appreciate the question.

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plnnyOfallOFit@reddit

thank you! I'm into ND stories, there's more to what we see? The other side might be amazing. I'm like you- reflecting on all we've experienced. IT's been a ride this Earthly plane!

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Throwaway7219017@reddit

Finally getting some perspective on life and on what is important.

I can look back on my past and realize that my work/life balance (that was very heavily skewed towards family) was done right and that I have had a good life.

Finally finding the wisdom that the only true currency in life is time.

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keirmeister@reddit

I now own a house and have some disposable income. The kid’s graduated from college and I’m at a place where I can actually now enjoy the results of years of hard work - and be there for my kid as he navigates his own new “adulting” life. Hopefully he’ll learn good life lessons faster than I did.

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imagine966@reddit

I’ll soon be out of the workforce and my exposure to dumbasses will be diminished

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OhHelvetica73@reddit

exposure to workplace dumbasses, yes. But there’s a whole new batch of retirement dumbasses out there waiting… 🫠

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plnnyOfallOFit@reddit

no to this. we get to CHOOSE our dumbarses 🤣

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Lower_Classroom835@reddit

Peace of mind and stability.

At this age, everything has been worked out and life is easy.

The long marriage where kinks are ironed out long ago.

The finances are in order and we are established.

The kids are adults and stable with their significant others.

The grandkids come for sleepovers at an established frequency.

I feel good in my skin and appreciate the fruits of my labor. The early days of hustle are long gone and now just a memory.

I know who I am, what I want, and not afraid too ask for it. I carved a space under the sun and shaped it the way it suits me.

I just hope it goes on like this for a while so I can truly continue to enjoy it, as it has been quite a trip to get here!

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CountHonorius@reddit

I'd love to see this as a motivational poster. Good on you!

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Lower_Classroom835@reddit

Thank you, it sounds great, but the road wasn't easy. Probably that's why I'm so grateful for it.

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Linnie46@reddit

Really well said, and I hope you get to enjoy this life for a long, long time!

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Lower_Classroom835@reddit

Thank you. I'm just grateful for what I built and hope for 15 more years of this. After that, who knows. I enjoy every day to the fullest.

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Jeremichi22@reddit

Not giving a flying fuck about what anyone thinks

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StandingBear44@reddit

Every day is Saturday!

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plnnyOfallOFit@reddit

officially dying. so true

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Old__Medic_Doc_68@reddit

I belong to the greatest generation ever in human history, GEN X BABY!!!!

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ApprehensiveArt2813@reddit

Being friends with my kids instead of just being their parent. We go to rock concerts together and dance in the GA pits. Go on vacations. It’s the best thing!

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plnnyOfallOFit@reddit

yah we love our adult twins. It was alot of work now we get to experience them as capable & even giving us advice. We hike yesterday w all our prospective dogs. What a magical day.

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Gandalftron@reddit

Money

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Mental-Artist-6157@reddit

Hormones. Now I can have hormones. Mine were fuct from jump due to percussive maintenance to the cranium. (I'm female, this generally isn't discussed. Just bring the metric fuck tons of SSRIs.)

I got married for the first time at 49. He's awesome. We are nauseating. We both had a few train wreck relationships before we met, so we knew what not to do.

So for me, I like the vantage of experience points.

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GardenRanger@reddit

Living with an awareness of the fragility and shortness of life while still having the health and time (I hope) to make the best of what life is left for me, without worrying about a lot of bullshit.

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generationextra@reddit

I am becoming more and more invisible, just the way I like it.

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ZealousidealGrab1827@reddit

Not caring about other people’s bullshit.

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Recent_Page8229@reddit

Not having to work, but working because I enjoy what I do.

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yarnhooksbooks@reddit

Men leave me alone. Now that I look like an adult (I looked like a kid until well into my 30’s) and have put on a few pounds, I’ve basically become invisible to them and it’s GLORIOUS. So nice to be able to just live my life and go about my business without constantly being harassed.

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IndependentlyGreen@reddit

Me too. I'm glad I aged out of that nonsense.

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97Whaler@reddit

How you doin !

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johnbr@reddit

Somewhere in my late 40s, I stopped caring so much about what other people thought of me, and it has been a huge weight off of my shoulders.

I've hit my retirement savings goal, so I don't have to stress about prioritizing that anymore, which is great.

Most days I can sleep in pretty much as late as I want

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TorrEEG@reddit

No longer feeling that my worth is in my usefulness.

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filmguy71@reddit

Nothing.

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Bubbly_Following7930@reddit

I can't think of any

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LeighofMar@reddit

Living life on my terms.

Slow mornings. Being able to wake up when I want with no demands or expectations on me is pure bliss.

Not caring about the opinions of others. I'm just living and I'm still me, except in my goddess era, and I don't give a crap what anyone thinks about it. My 40s have been the most fabulous so far despite chronic illness and business ups and downs.

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Yada-Yada-Yadda@reddit

I har a don’t give a 💩 mindset. I use to think I had to fix everything or hide my feelings.

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FzzyCatz@reddit

Being more comfortable in my own skin.

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xjeanie@reddit

This is my answer too. I no longer feel the need to look a certain way. To keep up with beauty trends or feel like others are looking and thinking anything about me. I’m able to accept myself as I am. Which is a huge accomplishment considering when I was young I was very insecure about my appearance. Especially wanting a nose job from around 13. I begged and begged my mother for years. To the point she told me that when I turned 18 if I still wanted it I could do it. In her wisdom she must have known. Those years must have been trying for her with my constant begging for it. By 18 I was learning to accept myself and decided the nose job wasn’t for me though I still had a long way to go in accepting myself.

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kytulu@reddit

I can go places without "literally shaking" because someone said a cross word to me that triggered my "social anxiety"...

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dancetildawn94@reddit

Same. Social anxiety pretty much ruined my 20’s. Had no clue how to manage my emotions back then. Having more emotional intelligence is much better

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CountHonorius@reddit

Amen

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Isphet71@reddit

Having enough experience to have good perspectives on what's real and what isn't. Being able to feel when people are lying to me and/or to themselves.

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kittyshakedown@reddit

Not giving AF about things that use to take up a lot of space in my head.

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Ray_The_Engineer@reddit

The older I get, the easier it is for me to just be my dorky, quirky self, and the less I care what anyone thinks about it. Some folks have this early in life, it was a long, hard-fought process over time for me.

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CountHonorius@reddit

Bravo!

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Oaken_beard@reddit

No homework for the rest of my life

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yarnhooksbooks@reddit

I used to think that. Now I’m getting a masters degree and have homework all the time 😂

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CountHonorius@reddit

Reminds me of college. I turned to this classmate as we left a building and said: "Do you realize will never take another English class for the rest of our lives?"

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Left_Guess@reddit

Really not caring about what others think.

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CountHonorius@reddit

Absolutely.

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socgrandinq@reddit

Some disposable income. I am not talking about taking impromptu trips to Paris. I am talking about being able to stop for a coffee every day before work. When I was 22 I would not do that as I had to watch every penny. As Hank Scorpio said, it’s the little things.

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CountHonorius@reddit

Upvote for Hank Scorpio!

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Swimming_Juice_9752@reddit

I got life-changing, permanent disabling sick when I was 30. All my peers were having and raising kids. Now though…I’m starting to get high school graduation announcements. I am ready to welcome the empty nesters back.

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CountHonorius@reddit

Until they start hankering for grandkids and disappear again.

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CountHonorius@reddit

Fearlessness.

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RestingSnerkFace@reddit

Perspective.

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ColdHandGee@reddit

For me it is...

gif

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Sea_Improvement6250@reddit

Acceptance, clarity, more inner peace. Letting go of the fight and struggle, learning to just be and enjoy moments. Passing these positives down to my kids and younger people.

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WendySteeplechase@reddit

Self knowledge. Acceptance. Being at peace with myself for all my failings.

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No_Rain_1543@reddit

Saved my pennies and now I can do what I want, when I want

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Impressive-Shame-525@reddit

A buddy a little older than me made me start a mutual fund at 20 years old.

With some luck and hard work, I retired before I turned 50. (it helps the company paid me a lot of money to go away)

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No_Rain_1543@reddit

I started a bit later but achieved the same end goal

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FormerLaugh3780@reddit

Nothing yet, but I'll keep you posted if I discover anything.

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Ill-Hovercraft92@reddit

Not expected to work some stupid JOB any more. PRAISE THE LORD UP ABOVE.!

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Dextropic@reddit

I have developed patience, when to speak, and when to listen.

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kuzism@reddit

I work because I want too, not because I have too.

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Allmyexesliveintx333@reddit

That’s the dream

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Same-Sun-2361@reddit

Things that don't move my life forward, that's probably the biggest thing I don't give a fuck about.

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WalnutTree80@reddit

I appreciate that I don't have any health issues or aches and pains so far at 56.

And hitting menopause finally at 55 has made me feel the best I've felt since my 20s. The vast majority of the problems I ever had were due to hormones, especially because my estrogen ran a bit high.

I feel tons better with low estrogen and am not on any HRT and don't plan to be, if I can help it. My lifestyle is so active and healthy, and my family health history is so good, that my doctor says I'm not at risk for the things HRT is supposed to help prevent.

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cosmoboy@reddit

The kids are in their 30's. Yes, I worry about them, but not the same way I used to. Feels liberating to just get up and do some yardwork, watch what I watch on TV....

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DropLazy5183@reddit

Nothing...bloody nothing !

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kegsbdry@reddit

Not on purpose, but to have learned a thing or two over time ... Unintentional Wisdom.

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Simple-Ingenuity740@reddit

not having to give a fuck

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l00ky_here@reddit

Never worrying about getting pregnant. Not in this day and age. Gen X is the ONLY Generation where women were born - and reached menopause without worry about reproductive choice.

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wanderingdev@reddit

Plenty of us are still of an age where we could get pregnant, and too many places where we would have few/no options about solutions.

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pupper71@reddit

Toddler at Roe, menopause at the overturning. Truly we were blessed.

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luluislulu2520@reddit

Never would’ve thought that choice would have been taken away. So wild.

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yearsofpractice@reddit

This sounds cynical, but I enjoy seeing younger generations realise “Oh. Holy shit. We’re not cool anymore. How did that happen?!”

Seeing Millennials clinging to their skinny jeans is just adorable. It’s still inconceivable to them that they’re now the lame mums and dads

On a positive note - my wife just gets softer, curvier and MILFier very single day, so there is that.

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Stunning_Ad8416@reddit

Men leaving me alone.

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wanderingdev@reddit

Seriously

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Angel-Rae@reddit

Not having men try to chat me up in bar. it’s so nice to be out with my girlfriends and not have to deal with it.

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wanderingdev@reddit

Not giving a single fuck and making no qualms about it.

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RedLily08@reddit

First off, I'm not on any medication unless you count vitamin D. I feel pretty good. I love the fact that I finally feel comfortable in my own skin and I don't care what others think of me anymore.

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pupper71@reddit

No giving a shit about what other people think about you is the best

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Cantech667@reddit

Retirement.

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jchasse@reddit

Perspective

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english_major@reddit

Having time and money.

I am recently retired and am the end of a three month trip. We’ve had no budget. We just do what we want. Last night we went out to a fancy restaurant in Lisbon and it was amazing. I couldn’t have afforded it years ago.

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MaiBoo18@reddit

I want to retire so badly.

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Naive_Lengthiness882@reddit

I envy your Hose Water Survivor badge. I definitely qualify, how do I get one?

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MaiBoo18@reddit

I think I had to pick a flair when I joined this sub.

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Sorry-Government920@reddit

not giving a shit, the older I get the less I care what other people think

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No_Secret8533@reddit

No more periods.

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punkarama@reddit

Being wiser

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TheGirlwThePinkHair@reddit

Nothing I hate being old, but it’s still better than being Gen Z/Gen Alpha.

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Senior_Ad1737@reddit

No longer being bothered by creepy old guys . I love being ignored without a second glance , I feel so much safer and less on guard always in defence mode

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101violations@reddit

The "getting ahead & proving yourself" career stage is finally freaking over.

No longer climbing, I now just enjoy my work. I can happily fly under the radar, mentor, contribute whenever I feel the motivation to do so.

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Stefgrep66@reddit

That I've been able to spend half my life with a very special lady.

The years have just grown out relationship, and there's noone I would rather spend time with.

Another 30 years would be nice!

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justpuddingonhairs@reddit

I do what I want when I want because I've earned it and I've been lucky and blessed. Also people generally leave me alone.

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Jensen1994@reddit

Caring less about other people's opinions of me
Less anxiety over work bullshit
Social peer pressure to attend events or conform has gone - I do what I want when I want

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GroupCurious5679@reddit

gif

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ComprehensiveShip720@reddit

This! Well said I agree.

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PizzaWhole9323@reddit

I am divorced I am in my fifties and I do not feel the need to Chase anyone ever again. If somebody wants to come over and make my time worth it great! But I am off of the shaggin wagon train that we all seem to be welded too when we were younger.

gif

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GroupCurious5679@reddit

Love it!!! If I hadn't met my current partner, I'd say exactly that. I'd never date anyone again. Bliss

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uckluckluckl@reddit

No wish or need to “keeping up” anymore - with trends, fashions, younger generations and their dreams and habits… etc. I used to be a Creative Director and needed to stay up to date with everything new and “exciting”. Changed my career - as a designer you’re old once you hit 30; from there it’s just a matter of years until they put you out to pasture.

It’s a huge relief not to have to stay on top of “trends” you can’t even recognise anymore 😁

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Mephisto40K@reddit

Question. CD in marketing industries or CD in video games?

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uckluckluckl@reddit

CD in design agencies. There’s a little bit of marketing in there too but mostly design and text

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Mephisto40K@reddit

As a former CD in the video game industry I concur w your statement. Feels good to step back from the chaos.

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uckluckluckl@reddit

Oh, I can imagine! Had a friend who drew characters for video games - he was happy to step back from this industry with only 29 years!

Did you plan for it? Or were you stupid like me, thinking “this will never happen to me”…?

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mstermind@reddit

Being damn good at what I'm doing and understanding the human condition better.

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the_Snowmannn@reddit

Every 5-7 years or so, I find myself saying, "I miss being good at my job."

Unfortunately, I work for a company (like most companies) that likes to shake things up and hire "new talent" and some up and coming hot shot needs to put their stamp on the company by overhauling perfectly fine and efficiently working procedures and then I have to completely relearn my job.

It's happening again right now. I turn 50 next month and I'm nowhere near retirement. I suppose I'll adapt again this time. But the next time it happens, I don't know if I'll be able to.

It's never a change for making things better, even though they say it is. It's just change for the sake of change so upper management can pat themselves on their backs and try to justify their outrageous paychecks because they did a thing.

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mstermind@reddit

Unfortunately, I work for a company (like most companies) that likes to shake things up and hire "new talent" and some up and coming hot shot needs to put their stamp on the company by overhauling perfectly fine and efficiently working procedures and then I have to completely relearn my job.

Happened several times when I taught at a high school in London. Fresh-faced teachers, coming straight out of university, wanted to show how good they are and made sure to cause as much fuss as possible until they were promoted to middle management. Once there, they behaved like total morons until they got fired.

Can't tell you how many times I shook my head each term when a new teacher was hired.

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Back_Alley420@reddit

Being invisible to men and my kids are grown and moved out to go to college and uni and seeing who they became!

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Many-Plenty9358@reddit

indulging in granny hobbies

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peekedtoosoon@reddit

That i was a teenager in the 80s.

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r22-d22@reddit

Grown children. My kids are not fully grown, but they are in their midteens to early twenties and amazing and independent people. I know parenting never ends and no life is immune to tragedy, but I feel like I'm "over the hump".

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Gisselle441@reddit

Not giving a fuck about what other people's opinion of me.

13 year old me would never have believed it but it's true and it's wonderful.

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nrauhauser@reddit

I still very much give a fuck ... but the number of people who qualify for that? I can count 'em all without having to take off my shoes ...

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More_Law6245@reddit (OP)

To be honest that is the very thing that I have found very liberating. People just call me a grumpy old bastard. I think it's more about I know what I do and don't like and I don't have time to put with your crap. If I like things a certain way then that's what it will be!

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favoritefinch@reddit

I'm calmer. I think. I hope I'm calmer.

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nrauhauser@reddit

And when not, good at pretending to be so you can pull it off?

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sweetsourpus@reddit

52 f, one year post double mastectomy, disease free and in the best health and fittest in my life, knowing who I am and accepting that and actually liking myself! Financial stability.

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nrauhauser@reddit

My mom got that when she was thirty nine, and she showed every sign of planning on attending my funeral and driving herself until she was eighty. And now they can do so much more than they could back in the day - sounds like you've got an excellent outcome, glad to see it.

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jIdiosyncratic@reddit

Having the "ability" to be unemployed for the last two years because I live in a depressed economy that thinks people over 50 are wedded to Smith Coronas and don't know how to "work" a computer let alone use one of these newfangled phone thingeys. And can't get soc security (if I even can) for ten more years. And being forced to move in with my 90 year old MIL.

Oh wait I thought you said "hate". You see how confused us oldsters get??

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nrauhauser@reddit

I have recently been blessed with the diagnosis of an immune condition that kept me down from 2007 - 2025. Trying to stand back up in this economy is ... nuts. I've never had a traditional job, always been doing/starting/consulting on something, but ... what the heck?!?!

I hope you can sort something out.

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Intrepid_Practice956@reddit

It's much easier to buck expectations. I always have, but being less concerned about how people react is freeing.

Course, it also is hard to find a job, but I do remind myself that if they care if I shave my legs, I don't really want to be there.

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Intrepid_Practice956@reddit

Also I know more stuff!

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designsbyintegra@reddit

Not giving a single fuck about what people think of me.

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rivenshire@reddit

Growing old with my husband and us both mellowing out more as we are humbled and trust each other from 25 years of sticking it out, apologizing, forgiving, all in the midst of building a family and recovering from the broken homes and abuse we grew up with, by the grace of God, one day at a time.

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Phantomtastic@reddit

Better service at almost every business. I’m at the early stages of distinguished old man service and I’m leaving the ughhhh, this guy stage behind.

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ShadowyTreeline@reddit

Not working anymore. The memories are like a horrifying nightmare.

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apc961@reddit

Enjoyed the social aspect of work in my 20s and 30s. I think for a lot of people there is a massive shift in the 40s. I absolutely don't like working now. Thankfully it will be ending soon and I can do whatever.

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lisnter@reddit

I only shave once/week unless I have an in-person meeting later in the week. This is for three reasons: I had a very heavy and dark beard when I was young but as I near 60 it is much lighter in color and coverage; all my meetings with my boss are on Teams so you can’t see detail terribly well; and I just don’t give a sh*t any more, I didn’t really care 15 years ago but I needed to so I did my best (which wasn’t great).

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AgPatriotAg@reddit

Sweat pants and suspenders. It's my turn!

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GusSwann@reddit

Being given the benefit of the doubt. I've learned to walk into places with authority which leads to being questioned less.

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the_Snowmannn@reddit

Caring less and less about things that might be considered drama. Everything has always been, "whatever" in general for the most time. But there was a time that I sometimes really let some things and some people get under my skin or was drawn into people's shit. I've even caused a bit of drama myself from time to time.

I am now fully evolved IDGAF GenX level at this point in life.

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chubs66@reddit

I like being able to situate sounds on the radio. Like if I'm listening to anything except the newest stuff, I generally know the song, the band, the era, and often I can hear influences.

My kids have no idea about any of this stuff. I feel like I understand it so much better.

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shawshank1969@reddit

Not trying to prove myself anymore.

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Adorable_Bag_2611@reddit

Getting to the point where instead of somebody saying what the hell are you doing when I do something they just blow it off to age. And I’m only 53. I don’t know if that’s normal or if everybody is just given up on me behaving! Hell, I was talking to one of my students today and she asked what I was doing for something and I said oh you have to see and she looked at another student and said “oh you know this is gonna be crazy!”

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kellogg10@reddit

Being 100 percent comfortable with myself

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apc961@reddit

Not being broke.

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Dead-Lazlo@reddit

Exactly this.

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mltrout715@reddit

Grandkids

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AhrinEss@reddit

Feeling like a honey badger.

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Blue_Henri@reddit

A longer lens for perspective. I was really shy as a kid. My college friends kind of beat that out of me. But as I’ve gotten older I think the big picture comes into focus better for me. It’s easier for me to tune out BS.

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Finding_Way_@reddit

Reaching a stage where I TRULY do not care about what people think

Having life knowledge that allows me to have some insight, at times, to help others when advice is solicited.

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kost1035@reddit

early retirement at age 55 and not giving a shit

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elevatedmint@reddit

Not giving a fk about anything

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OwlPrestigious543@reddit

Money for sure helps greatly, but I also like the street smarts aka Wisdom. No, I don't know Everything, but I know enough to not freak out about the stupid crap I freaked out about 20 years ago.

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More_Law6245@reddit (OP)

Absolutely nailed it, there are some days I think how did my 15 year old self even manage to have pants on in public.

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TheNolaCatLady@reddit

I love the fact that now that I am older and more mature, I can understand and appreciate my parents more. When I was younger, I couldn't put myself in my parents adult shoes and understand why they did things at certain ages. Now that I have already been those ages, I have a clearer understanding of them and love them even more.

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draven33l@reddit

If I'm being honest, not much. I guess experience. Not giving a shit about anything. That's also a negative though, because you don't give a shit.

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Grafakos@reddit

Being retired.

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5yb11-372@reddit

Grew up without social media,( can't tell you how grateful I am about that) and still have no interest joining Facebook, Instagram etc.

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moonplanetbaby@reddit

That I truly don't give a rats harry ass what other people think about me anymore, and the liberating feeling of being as crazy as I want to be in public. Finally got my head together and copped the attitude of if you don't like me then leave me the hell alone. Ironic how in ones youth the drama of what others will think consumes such a large space in your head, then as we become older and oh-so-wiser we go a 180 on that completely!

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Displaced_in_Space@reddit

Money. Definitely the money.

Being able to throw money at a problem is a life long dream.

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DreamTheaterGuy@reddit

Giving less of a fuck in general.