The Age When You Stop Feeling Young
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118813)
Gainesville, Florida
January 6, 2024 9:55am CST
According to a study by Worldwide Independent Network of Market Research published in 2023, age 43 is when the average American stopped feeling young. I will admit, it's a slightly older than what I expected, but maybe that's because growing up as a child, age 40 was when one was considered "over the hill" (old). But times have changed, and it seems to me that 50 is the new 40, and many of us feel youthful much longer than we should.
I am definitely in that boat. I refuse to grow old, and still consider myself young. But I will admit, it's been within the last few years that I've started feeling old in a physical sense, although I still feel young mentally.
How about you? Can you pinpoint when you started feeling old? Or, for our younger myLotters, at what age do you think people become "old" in your opinion?
Photo is my daughter and I getting photobombed by Goofy at Disney World
27 people like this
26 responses
@mildredtabitha (16087)
• Nairobi, Kenya
6 Jan
I'm currently only 28 but I started feeling old too early. As a firstborn with many responsibilities, I stopped feeling young.
6 people like this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
I am a first-born as well, so I can relate a little bit to what you are feeling. Being the oldest child brings on a whole set of responsibilities that other siblings don't experience.
5 people like this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
@mildredtabitha It's up to you! A positive mental attitude can go a long way to make you feel young. Experts often say, "how your brain thinks, your body responds." I think there is a lot of truth to that.
3 people like this
@mildredtabitha (16087)
• Nairobi, Kenya
6 Jan
@moffittjc I hope it is a normal feeling to be that way. By the time I get to 50, I wonder what I will be feeling.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
Me too. Physically at least. My joints and bones creak now when I move. LOL. But mentally, I still feel like I'm 20 years old, and my 20 year old brain wants my middle aged body to still go out there and do stupid 20 year old stuff.
7 people like this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
@popciclecold My 20 year old brain overrides my old body and I end up doing all that stupid stuff that I shouldn't be doing! There's no way I should still be playing professional paintball at my age, yet here I am about to start another season of abusing my body alongside all the 20-somethings I play with.
4 people like this
@popciclecold (35636)
• United States
6 Jan
Really nice photo.. I guess I would have to say about 50. I worked around a lot of young people who would say I want to live to get old, if I could get around like you. I'm 75 now. Still get around at a slower pace.
3 people like this
@popciclecold (35636)
• United States
6 Jan
@moffittjc Yeah, it makes a big difference to young people how you act. Don't think for one minute they are not checking out older people. In fact I had one guy tell me he doesn't like old people.. I told him you'll be old one day he said he hoped not. Say he can't stand them driving, and oh, when they be in motorized carts at Walmart, they nearly give him a heart attack.. His view was hilarious to me..
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
@popciclecold I feel the same way about old people's driving skills. Or lack thereof. LOL
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
I work with a lot of young people too (high school and college kids), and I've often wondered if they think I'm old (they don't, I asked). But I think that's because I act young. Most of my peers at work are the same age (or slightly younger) than me, and I can tell you they all look and act old. The youngin's at work don't put me in the dame category with all those other old fogies. lol
And at 75, I bet you are still very young at heart!
3 people like this
@LadyDuck (460403)
• Switzerland
6 Jan
@moffittjc - I confess that I do not feel "old". I remember that we were at a restaurant, three years ago, our niece was with us, she looked at me and said "auntie, you still have the face of a young girl, you do not look old". Well, I wished her to age the same.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan
@LadyDuck I’m sure you are as beautiful now as you ever were Anna!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
I have always felt that you had a very youthful demeanor. To me, you ARE young, no matter what your physical age!
I am starting to get to that age where I am feeling tired more often than in the past.
4 people like this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
I do a lot of backpacking and camping trips with my son. My goal is to still be able to keep up with him when I’m 75!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan
@sallypup I don't like sleeping in a tent now, as it hurts my back too much laying on the hard ground, even with an inflatable mattress. I much prefer sleeping in a hammock whenever I camp or backpack, it's like heaven to me when I sleep at night.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (58337)
• Centralia, Washington
7 Jan
@moffittjc I wish you well. No way am I able to crawl into a tent now. I miss the switchback woods trails.
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (15934)
• United States
6 Jan
I grew up being told not to trust anyone over 30 
40s seem about right for me for when I stopped feeling young. I remember when I was 40 I got my eyes checked and the doc gave me my first pair of bi focals. He said I wasn't young anymore. I can relate to not having the physical strength I once did.
40s seem about right for me for when I stopped feeling young. I remember when I was 40 I got my eyes checked and the doc gave me my first pair of bi focals. He said I wasn't young anymore. I can relate to not having the physical strength I once did.3 people like this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
I remember everyone telling me that when I turned 40, my body would start falling apart. And more specifically, that my eyesight would start diminishing. I was so excited that I still had perfect vision into my late 40s! lol
I'm in my 50s now, and although I move a little slower and things creak and grown on my body when I move, I still feel like I haven't started falling apart yet. I think a big part of that is that I am very active and workout and exercise routinely.
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (85984)
• United States
6 Jan
I’m about to turn 43, so I better prepare myself! The older I get, the younger I feel mentally, but I swear I started feeling physically old after my car accident at eighteen. I don’t want to imagine how I’ll physically feel at age 53. But hey, as long I’m mentally young, I imagine I can handle the physical nonsense.
You gotta love Goofy after this photo!
You gotta love Goofy after this photo!1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (85984)
• United States
7 Jan
@moffittjc Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just turn in a body part for a new one when needed?
I also feel like Disney should be paying you at this point too.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jan
@AmbiePam Don’t we already have a process for replacing worn out body parts? Knee replacement, hip replacement, plastic surgery, etc. We certainly have a lot more options these days than ever before.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
A car accident can definitely make you feel old! I was in three accidents in a row a few years back, and my body was toast. It took a lot of PT to get me feeling good again.
Goofy has always been one of my favorite Disney characters
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86976)
• United States
7 Jan
Despite crappy life here, I still am doing okay though I am aged. Do not feel my age at all.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (86976)
• United States
7 Jan
@moffittjc Not by a long shot..but I am doing the best I can. My main issue right now is a hard slog to get solved. But I'll do it..something I am not short of is spirit Jeff.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jan
@RebeccasFarm You sound like you have the fighting spirit in you! I’m cheering for you to overcome any obstacle you are facing.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan
I'm sorry in hearing that you've lived a crappy life. It's never too late to start enjoying a great life. Is it possible to make 2024 a great year for yourself?
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
6 Jan
Love the photo. I think all the very physically active things you do are keeping you young. I think this last year of going through cancer and all the treatments, doctor appointments, and surgeries have aged me a lot. But I'm so thankful for God's mercy.
I was just thinking I sure would love a pineapple upside down cake.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40635)
• United States
6 Jan
@moffittjc I plan to get the ingredients soon and eat the whole thing. Well, maybe not all of it. I'll find someone to share it with since Dale hates pineapple.
Some days I feel like I'm really old, but then I have days of feeling pretty good.
When our daughter was little, she was watching me put on some makeup before going to work. She asked, "Why do you wear makeup?" I said, "Oh, to look pretty." She thought for a minute, then said, "It don't do no good."
Oh, the brutality of children.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jan
@1creekgirl Ih goodness, I can’t believe she said that! But kids really don’t have filters, that’s for sure.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
I can only imagine the toll cancer takes on a person physically, mentally and emotionally. It can definitely age a person. But I would like to say that I am glad you are still here with us, no matter how young or old you feel!
I think you should have some pineapple upside down cake!
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29276)
• United Kingdom
6 Jan
Well I don't feel old yet. I still think I'm 25.
As for other people, it seems people get to middle age and then stay there for a really long time not changing much - and then suddenly something happens and they become old. When that happens varies from person to person.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jan
@Fleura I was proficient at running up and down stairs. My office where I worked for 20 years was in the third floor of our building. I would always take the stairs every day instead of using the elevator.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
That is true, each situation varies from person to person, so I don’t judge someone negatively if they say they feel old. There could be very legitimate reasons.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (29276)
• United Kingdom
8 Jan
@moffittjc I certainly feel much younger now than I did when Big One was a baby. Honestly I thought I would die of exhaustion. It was 18 months before I had the energy to run upstairs; now I do it without a second thought. Like having a whole new lease of life!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jan
@TheHorse When I started playing professional paintball, I hadn’t started wearing glasses yet. So when I first got glasses, I was worried it would affect my play if I needed them while on the playing field. We have to wear masks during games, and it gets super warm in those masks. I was worried about my glasses fogging up. But thankfully, I don’t need them when I’m playing.
@TheHorse (207500)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Jan
@moffittjc Heh. I guess I was wrong. I really started feeling old when I had to wear glasses to play softball.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129674)
• Israel
7 Jan
@moffittjc
I cannott pinpoint when I started to feel old but I am a Senior Citizen in age and mind. I cannot remember when I started to have to get up several times to go to the bathroom and I noticed I walk very slowly and feel inside not young anymore. Maybe it was when I was in my 60's that I started to feel old or do not remember but do not like the feeling inside. You all three look good in the picture.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan
Mentally, I keep telling myself that I'm never going to allow myself to get old, but I know it's inevitable. But that's not going to stop me from trying. There is going to come a point where I will be in the exact same situation as you, but I'm trying to put off that day as much as I can.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jan
@Hannihar I am not naive or stupid to think that I’m never going to get old, beat I know it’s inevitable, but I just try to keep a youthful spirit. And by doing so it makes me feel younger than I actually am.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129674)
• Israel
8 Jan
@moffittjc
You have a very postive outlook on things which I guess I do not. I am not young anymore and feel inside my age and also outside too.I hope you succeed in keeping young. I guess I gave into my not being young anymore and go along with my age.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29479)
•
7 Jan
I'm not sure when I even think a lot about age, to be honest. I know people who decide they are old when they are 45, 50...and then guess what? They ARE old. I think it can definitely be a mindset. I have grown children. I am a grandmother, and I don't color my hair, so it's stark white (one stubborn natural red streak!) and there are days when yes, my body feels old. But not my mind, nor my heart.
In my mind, I am still that cool hippie girl with the long red hair, when not working or watching babies, I'm wearing a long skirt or my jeans and my hair is blowing...but then I look in the mirror and hey, that girl has moved on! I still haven't figured out where she went!!
I love the picture of you and your daughter, Jeff. You share the same smile!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan
Marie, you are 100% correct when you say it's all a mindset. I think most people get to a certain age and then accept that they are old. I'm like you, I won't accept it! I'm still that wild, crazy 20 year old kid running around living life to the fullest. But like you, when I look in the mirror and see that silver-haired reflection staring back at me, I'm like "who's this guy?" lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan
@MarieCoyle Your last sentence sums everything up perfectly. When we stop living, we start dying. Amen sister!
I find myself more active now than probably I have ever been in my life. I may not move as fast, or have the flexibility and agility I had in my younger days, but I am still out there living my life to the fullest.
What if we die while we're traveling? Is that seriously what's going through her mind? She's more likely to die sitting in the recliner doing nothing than she is to die while out exploring the world and having fun!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (29479)
•
7 Jan
@moffittjc
Cheers to the hippie girl and the crazy 20 year old kid! They are still inside of us!
Honestly, I think our way of thinking about age is way healthier than just seeing that image in the mirror and declaring we are old, the years have flown, we are going to sit in our recliners and do nothing. I want to actually live my life, not just observe others living theirs.
I am friends with a lady who just turned 72. She has always been healthy and active. Her kids think she is now old, so she thinks the same. She used to love to travel, now she won't hardly go anywhere. She said ''what if I die when I'm traveling?'' Umm...that could happen to anyone, any day.
When we stop living, we start dying. I am not ready to do that, nor do I ever want to.
1 person likes this
@LeaPea2417 (36588)
• Toccoa, Georgia
7 Jan
I'm 59 and I really started to think I'm feeling older in the past year.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jan
I was thinking that when I get to that point where I’m pushing 60 that it may be “that time” where I start feeling older. But we’ll see. I may still think and act like a 20 year old then too.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (96449)
• Marion, Ohio
6 Jan
I still sometimes feel young but other times I feel very old
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (96449)
• Marion, Ohio
6 Jan
@moffittjc This time of year I just don't want to leave my warm cocoon
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
I won’t lie, I get the same way sometimes. Like first thing in the morning when I have to get out of bed and go to work.Suddenly I feel old and my body doesn’t want to cooperate. Lol
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
6 Jan
@wolfgirl569 I agree! That’s the worst feeling ever when you have to shed that warmth .
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (74146)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Jan
Love that photo. Goofy certainly had not aged one bit. Personally, I have chosen to remain 16 for the rest of my life. On the very best days, I could rock and roll and feel super like I was back in high school. However, I have to be careful of walking in the bathroom there is a horrid old witch who looks out from the bathroom mirror at me
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan
I have that same problem when I walk into the bathroom. I tell that middle aged guy staring at me to get out of my house!
Wow, you feel quite young! I would love to think I feel and act 16, but I think my best years were when I was in my 20s, so that's the age I keep telling myself I'm still at.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jan
@RasmaSandra I was still a goofy kid when I was 16.
Wait…I’m still goofy now!
1 person likes this
@JESSY3236 (19057)
• United States
9 Jan
I'm 43. Gasp. I don't feel old, but at times I do feel it. But I don't think myself as old. A few years ago, I freaked out when my best friend told me that she was seeing a much older man. I was thinking he is too old for her. Until it suddenly hit me that she is in her 40's.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan
Judy, just based on what I've learned about you through myLot over the years, you are the youngest 77 year old person I've ever met. There's people half your age that can't do the things you do. Consider yourself blessed.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jan
@JudyEv Understandable. It happens to all of us. Even I have slowed down a bit. But as luck no as we don’t come to a standstill, we should be okay.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (326663)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jan
@moffittjc Thanks for the kind words and I do know I'm very lucky but even I have slowed down over the past year or two.
1 person likes this
@Shiva49 (26245)
• Singapore
7 Jan
When I was young, I thought thirty is old, and when I reached thirty, I thought fifty is considered old.
I can say I am old now and feeling it when I crossed sixty-five.
The physical body starts to age fast though mentally we can still hold the fort for an active life.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118813)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jan
I hope I can still feel young when I reach 65, but I understand that my body may not agree with me!
1 person likes this
