Hints that you're getting older

[Neverhoodian]

Just thought I'd compare notes with my fellow Escapists in their 20's and 30's (though other age groups are free to leave their own impressions/comments).

Who among you has had your first inklings that you're starting to age? You're coasting through your early adulthood, still riding high on that youthful feeling of invulnerability. Suddenly and without warning, your mind and/or body suddenly pipes up and says, "look buddy, you aren't a kid anymore. You can't keep this lifestyle up for much longer, so get your shit together."

My first experience with this happened about a year ago when I didn't get any sleep for more than 24 hours. I was no stranger to pulling "all-nighters" in the past, whether for marathon gaming sessions with friends or because I had procrastinated too much on a term paper. I'd feel a bit groggy, but I'd always pull through without any assistance.

Now my body rebels against me when I try to stay up like that. I stop functioning properly if I don't get some caffeine in my system to combat it. I'm not talking about being a bit scatterbrained either. I mean I can hardly keep my eyes open or form a coherent sentence. I've also noticed that I absolutely NEED at least eight hours of sleep to feel fully alert nowadays, as opposed to five or six when I was a teenager.

I realize this is only the beginning as well. I look forward to the myriad of other tricks my anatomy will spring on me in the coming decades.

 

[Melon Hunter]

well this one is a bit UK specific but when you switch from Radio 1 ("everything it plays is crap...") to Radio 2 ("hang on. was that Steve Wright in the Afternoon...") it's defiantly a sign...

Eh, that's nothing. Only when you slide entirely to Radio 4 is the circle complete. As for myself, I don't really have too much to say, being a bit too young to comment on this, but I must admit, I already catch myself thinking of kids younger than myself being far more uncouth and uncivilised than when my peers and I were that age. Gosh, what's the world coming to?

 

[AvsJoe]

Re-watching the films I loved as a kid reminds me of this every time. Also, as a kid I loved Linkin Park and the like, seeing their songs as soulful yet powerful. Now... well... I don't. I realize now that they are just another pop/rock band that is aimed at the teen demographic and isn't at all different than the crap that plays today. Once I loved their entire discography, now I can stand less than 5 of their songs and hate the rest.

 

[Blow_Pop]

if i don't get enough sleep my body rebels. if i get too much sleep my body rebels. and my body is starting to reject me eating too much sugar. not to mention bad back, bad ankles, bad knees, and my eyesight is starting to get worse(damn it i'm only 26 it shouldn't be this bad yet!) and i can't do long gaming sessions anymore

 

[Timotei]

A few weeks ago I plucked a hair from my head because it had decided to keep getting in front of my eye. Nothing abnormal. Except this hair was a fading beige at the tip and became more of a light grey the more it neared the base. This wouldn't be strange at all (hair discolors are common), except my hair is a milk chocolate-shade of brunette and I'm not even 21 yet, and a thorough search will reveal several other grey hairs around my head too.

 

[lRookiel]

Eh, that's nothing. Only when you slide entirely to Radio 4 is the circle complete. As for myself, I don't really have too much to say, being a bit too young to comment on this, but I must admit, I already catch myself thinking of kids younger than myself being far more uncouth and uncivilised than when my peers and I were that age. Gosh, what's the world coming to?

Correct! it is radio 4 that makes you officially old, and on the youths of the current generation, well there's no hope for them to be honest.... The world is fucked and all they do is party non stop, curse constantly and continue to become inevitable failures.

As for me, I'm 18 and still quite spritely so I dont really have anything to say other than I know life will just continue to get worse for all of us -_-

 

[Shadow flame master]

I belive that you are old when you feel nostalgic for things when you are only 17 years old. Either that, or your bones popping. Or feeling like kids younger than you have a longer life than you.

 

[shadyh8er]

I was in Trinidad when I heard a little kid yelling "Uncle!" over and over again. I didn't realize he was talking to me until he started tugging on my shirttail. I'm only 19 too.

 

[esperandote]

I used to be inmune to hangovers, now... oh boy. Also, realizing that it was 10 since you graduated from high school, and 13 from junior high.

Why do you kids listen to music/tv that loud!?

 

[Skulltaker101]

Ah, now I know quite the example here.

When one sees a hot woman in a miniskirt, one knows they are getting old when the first thing they think is "Cor, she must be cold..."

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

When you say, "bloody kids, and their music. It was so muchbetter when was young"

 

[The .50 Caliber Cow]

The pure fury that characterized me three years ago have simmered down to just a loathing of my parents. I guess that's either getting more mature or the distance talking.

 

[vfaulkon]

Well, actually wanting a job and realizing how much easier it would be if I went back to school is the thing that makes me stop and realize, 'Geez, I sound like one of those 'adult'...things.'

 

[Sonicron]

Yeah, in terms of required sleep the "Crucial Eight' are unavoidable.

I guess an example of immediate cause and effect would be that my body's recuperative powers are on the wane. Sure, I can still party like there's no tomorrow, but whereas I would've shrugged off the fallout in half a day a few years ago, now I need two full days before peak performance is restored.

Thinking more 'long term', it's an unwritten law among my circle of friends that once you hit 21, time starts flying by like you wouldn't believe. Look at the current date - wasn't it just Christmas a short while ago? Heck, I actually almost missed my 22nd birthday a few years back; I was so deeply entrenched in my studies I only noticed what day it was when one of my friends casually reminded me.

 

[FilipJPhry]

I hate music and cartoons of today(Other than MLP:FiM); I have twelve, count em: twelve nieces and nephews; I'm beginning to truly know what a hangover feels like. I've never had one until Frosh Week; I've never had heartburn until this past summer; I stopped having crazy haircuts(The last one was two spider-webs on opposite sides of my head); and I'm behind on what's cool on the internet.

EDIT: Forgot to show my age! 23

 

[DannyJBeckett]

My joints are stiff for no reason when I get up in a morning.

Also, I've started referring to people younger than me as 'the young 'uns', or 'the little ones', or 'those bloody kids'.

The worst part of it all is that I only turned 21 less than three weeks ago!

 

[x-machina]

When you were in elementary school did you have a kid who was much younger than you always follow you and your group of friends around? Sort of like a mascot? Maybe it was just my oddball group of friends.

Anyways, on Halloween that "kid" brought his kid to my house trick or treating. I'm only 20 years old, but I felt ancient when that happened.

 

[midknight129]

My daughter (5 yo) was at the playground across the street. I had to go home for a moment to get something and came back a few minutes later. When I got back, I was glancing around to see where she was playing and one of the older kids (looked about 10-12) asked, "Hey, are you looking for your sister?" I'm 28 and now realize that my outward appearance apparently failed to keep up with my age.

 

[Neuromaster]

My friends are starting to get married, and it's increasingly awkward to swing by campus over the weekend because almost everyone I know has graduated.

Last time I dropped by for a Halloween party, I casually mentioned that President Clinton was more known for his informal charm than his ability to deliver prepared speeches. "Well, I was like 4 so I don't really remember..."