After a bought of non-life threatening health issues this year, I've been forced to ride it out and take stock of where I am in regards to my attitude and ability to handle aging.
This is not a call to morbidity, but I'd like to hear from anyone willing to share the concerns that at least some of you must be sharing in those wee, quiet times late at night. There are certainly physical, emotional and spiritual aspects involved here. You start where you're comfortable. I've never been here before...it's new territory. Thanks Guys......Zebulon

I'm 32, and frankly terrified of 33,34,35....

Finding purpose is troubling for me. Knowing the days of building a life are gone.
I'm determined not to become a grouchy old bastered.
I choose to be a cheerleader for the young ppl up and coming.
Life isn't about being entertained 24/7. I wake up and be me, taking life as it comes.

Not well. I've had a few things (not the least of which was getting hit by a car on my motorcycle) that have forced me into being way more sedentary than is healthy. I've been someone who has been overweight for decades yet managed to remain healthy based solely upon activity. Now my body is no longer used to the weight and lingering effects of injury leave me struggleing to regain my limber, energetic self.

Mentally I'm fine with of course the exception that I'm allowing myself to make excuses. I've put in a call to the physical therapist who got me hiking Mt. LeConte (albeit a struggle) a mere eight months after I was lying in the street wondering what the hell happened. I'm hoping that I can at least get back to that through PT and then perhaps get a directed regimen with occasional visits for maintenance.

Either way NOW is the time. I've always had every heath metric fall easily within healthy ranges until a month or so ago when I went for a physical and my blood pressure has creeped up to something like 140/110. THAT is a dramatic increase in a short time. If I don't do this I fear I'll deteriorate quickly just as my father did.

Rum, fishing, and friends.

Not necessarily in that order.

I'm 6'3 and 42 years old. At 35 things started going South. Every year gained 5 pounds a year, so went from 215 to 250......changed diet (cut out carbs and some unhealthy stuff, made some switches.....) dropped some of the weight.....but if you cheat it sure comes back quickly. I work a lot with various manual labor.....some things ache....neck.....back.....learn to work smarter not harder....friends get married, move away this/that.....try to keep busy with hobbies....

Been pondering the exact same themes lately. Lost a lot of friends and relatives over the last decade or so, most went earlier than anyone expected. It gets your attention during those quiet hours when your mind wanders. If someone has advice for any of us regarding getting older and handling it well please advise!

As Floyd said, the loss of guys I knew has made me very aware of my age. I find that staying active keeps me sane. Living in the Yoop helps, too!

Aging is not for wimps...

I go to my cardioligst and he asks me how I feel. I tell I don't know I've never been 65 before.

Wishing I could sleep a whole night through.

I'm 53, but I'm told I don't look a day over 52.

Seriously though, working out is the fountain of youth, at least for me. I lift four days a week with some cardio on the side. I feel better than most people my age claim to. No real complaints as of yet.

60+ years old. Did a 5.5 mile hike today on a trail classified as strenuous. Did it kick my ass? Yes. But I completed it. Will kick my feet up tonight and enjoy a nice bourbon... before the leg cramps kick in. LOL
Like someone else in this thread mentioned I am determined to not be “that grouchy old bastard.”

Mentally not well.
Physically okay.
I hurt my back this time last year at work, and I have been going to therapy for it and pelvic pain.

A slow process of starting over, and not being able to run so that is whats killing me mentally.

The slow process of starting over is hard for me. I tweaked it a few times over the past year (especially earlier in the week). So I had to hit the reset button.

On Monday I turned 47 and I cannot imagine 50 and up.

I am already the grouchy fool, but I am determined to keep up with the younger guys in the Army.

Plenty of water, exercise, and quality skincare products. I look and feel better than I did 10 years ago.

I am 71. Shot, beaten and stabbed but still vertical.

Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.

Stay active, keep your mind busy. I took a college math class a couple of years ago. Now, Algebra makes sense !

Do stuff you've never done.

Keep busy.

65 and still working every day. Cut and split my own firewood to heat the house.
Will continue to work as long as I am healthy.
God has been good to me as far as health issues!

I agree that fitness is huge. I'm only 44, but I routinely out-perform much younger people than me, and by "people" I mean young infantry NCOs.

I also don't spend a huge amount of time on fitness, nor am I am fitness nut, though I know a lot about it. 20 mins, 3x per week if it is the right things at the right intensity is plenty.

I'm definitely starting to feel the effects of age, but more on the recovery side of things than the up front performance end.

Good hydration and decent nutrition are very important as well.

I’m 51 and everything hurts. That is all.