I forgot to mention this in an earlier entry when it might have been
more relevant (my birthday in March) . . . but it's still relevant to these entries
about Jim's and my recent physical activities.
Here is a
link to an online article by the
British Daily Mail Reporter that is dated March 26, 2011. I don't
know how long that link will be good so I've copied and pasted the
article below.
The article is titled, "Young at heart or old before their time?
How men feel over the hill at 58, but for women it's 29."
Oh, my! I'm guessing a similar study in the U.S. would result in
similar responses.
Cody patiently waits while I
photograph a blooming laurel along the Chestnut Ridge Trail.
(4-15-11)
Whether you think the results of the study quoted in this article are
valid or not, they certainly are an eye-opener. I'm not so surprised
about the men's average age, but the women's???
I guess I shouldn't be so shocked. When I was in my 20s I made a list
of all the things I wanted to do before I turned 30, as if I'd never be
able to accomplish them after I reached that milestone. Boy, has my
perspective changed over time!
Think about this for a minute. How old do you feel?
I don't mean when you're sick or injured or depressed or exhausted
from work or play. I mean on the average day when things are going well
(hopefully, that's most of the time!).
Is your answer younger than your chronological age, the same, or
older?
Explore Park (5-7-11)
Although we joke about "not being 35 any more," Jim and I usually
don't feel anywhere near our previous perceptions of what 62 would be
like.
Oh, sure, while Jim was unable to run and when my knees were sore
earlier this spring we felt like a couple of Olde Pharts but we usually
just kind of shake of heads in disbelief that we are as old as our
chronological ages imply. Sixty-two still conjures up images we had when
we were much younger that we don't
want to acknowledge.
It's a lot different when you reach an age you used to consider
"old!"
I asked Jim when he thinks he'll consider himself to be "old." He
said 70.
At 62, I don't think of even 70 as being old!!! How about 80?? Ha!
When I'm 75 I betcha I'll be saying I'm not "old" until I'm 90!
Cody still thinks he's a puppy,
but in dog-years he's almost as old as Jim and me. (2-20-11)
Mind over matter? Perceptions of age are fascinating.
Here's the
article:
Young at heart, or old before their time?
How men feel old at 59, but for
women it's 29.
by the British Daily Mail Reporter
dated March 26, 2011
Women consider themselves old at 29 – half the age of men who don’t
feel over the hill until they are 58, according to a study.
A quarter of women say they felt old as soon as they spotted their
first grey hairs.
In contrast men tend to think they are still young until they can no
longer perform in the bedroom.
It is thought that this gulf between the sexes is because age
perception is so determined by society’s attitude towards youth and
beauty.
The modern woman may feel ‘past it’ if she doesn’t fit an ideal. Men,
who are less defined by their looks, refuse to act their age until
nearly 60.
Commenting on the findings, psychologist Professor Cary Cooper from
Lancaster University said: ‘In our society the attractiveness of women
is quite important. Men don’t have to be good looking but, for some
reason, it’s important for women to look presentable.
‘Magazines are all about youth and are filled with young, attractive
women. Women then start to perceive themselves as old when they no
longer feel like this, when they don’t feel trendy or fashionable.
‘Men, on the other hand, don’t have to be good looking, it doesn’t
concern them.’
He added: 'At 30, women have matured, they're expected to think about
getting married and starting a family.
'While the majority of men are much more career orientated - they
don't feel old until they've reached retirement age.'
The study, by Avalon Funeral Plans, also found 10 per cent of women
say they feel old when they they think their once-youthful skin has
started to sag.
A further 50 per cent said they were still youthful until their
‘assets’ started to droop – often caused by childbirth and breast
feeding.
And 3 per cent believed behaving like their mother was a definite
sign of old age.
For men it was far more simple – two-thirds said they felt past it
only when they could no longer perform in the bedroom. And 22 per cent
admitted it was when they thought music had become too loud in bars.
#
Next entry: Ready, Set, Go! Time to head out West
for our summer trip -- a hodgepodge of thoughts as we hit
the road again.
Happy trails,
Sue
"Runtrails & Company" - Sue Norwood, Jim O'Neil,
and Cody the Ultra Lab
Previous
Next
© 2011 Sue Norwood and Jim O'Neil
