Im early into my 50s. Would rather hear about my 30s.

Shit year or two

It took cancer to get me to quit smoking at age 52.

Even quitting at age 50 is a good thing.

I'd rather take a mulligan with my 30s. Definitely would've loved to have done a better job with investments; less roll-the-dice risk-taking the second time through. Would've made my decision to leave my original profession that much easier.

Though admittedly I DID have a lot of fun the first time around. But had I known what some of these meds I "had to take" for my health would do 20+ years on, I think I would've sought alternative therapy.

I would have built my new house then, instead of now.
I got hurt bad at work in my 50s, but could not have helped that unless I had griped a lot more about the way things were being run.

Well at 62 I have a few thoughts.

I would have worked harder at keeping the strength that I had in my 40's. I'm physically fit and healthy today but my muscle mass has dropped. I started jujitsu at 52. Trained off and on due to living in rural America and the closing of several of the gyms I trained at. Would have put more time into learning to lift, Still on the mats and slowly working towards my purple belt.


I should have taken the LSAT at 48 instead of 58. Scored well enough, but I couldn't see taking on a significant amount of student loan debt that I only would have a decade or a bit more to pay off by working.

But all in all no regrets. House is paid off, kids all successfully launched and well into good careers. Still madly in love with my wife after 26 years of marriage. Working my ass off, just started a 9 credit hour class so that I can instruct EMS to the next generation of EMT's. Life is good in my sixth decade.

If I could redo the 1950s, I would set aside my aversion to it and go bird hunting with my father. It was an activity he really enjoyed and I know it bothered him that I would not go with him. I was reluctant because I knew he'd want me to actually shoot some birds, and I didn't want to do that. I'd have been happy to just be with him, but I was sure that wouldn't be enough. In his world, all males were hunters, and I didn't fit the mold. I have regretted this aspect of my life for many years. I was not the son he hoped for. (I didn't play baseball, either.) I never thought he didn't love me, but I could see his disappointment.

(Oh, you meant MY 50's. Sorry. I was quite happy with life at that age.)

flashguy

I'm 72 and all of the above covers it quite well. But one thing I would add. If you haven't already learn about what happens when your time is up here on earth. Jesus came to this earth for a reason. There is only ONE way to Gods heaven and that is thru accepting Jesus as Saviour.

I'm 67 now.

I should have bought Amazon stock in my 50s.

Save more money and invest more for retirement. I’m doing ok but it could have been better, had I put more aside at a younger age.

stopped eating

No matter what age you choose, trying to do things that you did 20 years younger will eventually catch up to you. And it takes longer to recover.

I exercised at best sporadically in my 50s because I was consumed with work. Seems like an excuse, but I averaged at least 9 hours a day and almost always worked 6 days a week. When I got home after work, there wasn't any gas left in the tank. Since I wasn't exercising, I did work hard at eating right. I weigh just about the same now as I did in high school. But to sum it up, I would have worked less and exercised more if I got a do over. The good news is change is possible at any age. I started an exercise program the very day after I retired. I exercise 6 days a week and have more energy and muscle mass than when I retired.

Just turned 50 on the 15th. I had an early glimpse into decrepitude three years ago when I developed Psoriatic Arthritis. I don't see why people make jokes about arthritis. That shit ain't funny. Four pills a day and a shot every week has me feeling...50...again. I'll tell you what I'm doing. I'm ignoring shitheads. I'm working. I'm teaching. I'm hiking. I'm taking classes. I'm living. Everybody knows life is short but not everybody *knows* life is short.

quote:

Originally posted by enidpd804:
I'm ignoring shitheads.

Sound advice regardless of age

I'm 66 in a couple of weeks and have always taken care of myself, I can thank Jack Lalanne for that. After going to the Midwest Regional water ski tournament last year, I noticed there were no skiers my age group, who skied for overall (combined scoring for competing in all three disciplines of water skiing: slalom, tricks, and jumping) I quit competition skiing in the early 1990s and am considering getting back into it.

I practiced each discipline this week with dreams of resuming competition next year. I feel good and energized about it, but I also understand why there are so few my age that compete in overall. I am in good condition for any age due to cycling since 1975 and constant skating since childhood, but have a fresh perspective of attempting something I last did in my late 30s. What I realize is if I can't train, I'm done. I must not get hurt skiing or doing anything else.

Relating this to advice for someone approaching their 50s, I'd suggest risk avoidance. Even as simple as thinking about how you lift and carry things to not damage back or joints. Think about things you do that risk injury and modify accordingly.

I wouldn’t change a thing