More thoughts on "aging"

[STR8UP]

:wave:

What is so wrong and bad about 36?

What is so bad about being 36 going on... 37?

There is nothing wrong or bad about being any age. Your age is your age, that will always be a fact, but your chronological age does not have to constrain you to anything, as some would have us believe.

Don't get me wrong here. When it comes to maturity and wisdom, I am beyond 36 or 46 or even 86 in certain ways. That isn't to say that I am better than anyone else, as other people I'm sure are more developed than I am in certain respects, but when it comes to business and such I feel that although I am just beginning to hit my prime, I have gone through a lot of sh!t that most people will never experience and it has taught me much.

The thing is though, none of that matters when we are talking about roles society has cast. I base my life LOOSELY on societal constraints (we are all influenced by it, like it or not) but I don't let society DICTATE who am I supposed to be.

The way I see it is this.

For most people, it's easy to assume a form to fit into society's mold, but for me it's uncomfortable. I'm just that type of person. When I see myself headed in that direction, something inside me says "Whoa, whoa, WHOOOOAAAAAA......" and I take a step back to get perpsective. If it's something that is in MY best interest, I proceed. But if it is simply society trying to file me away, I ain't havin' it.

 

[Latinoman]

I am 40. I act like 40. I feel like 40. I think like 40.

The irony is that about 90% of the male population age 40 do NOT feel, think, or act like me. In fact, 90% of the male population age 40 act, feel, and think exactly how society and the media feels they should.

 

[ketostix]

The irony is that about 90% of the male population age 40 do NOT feel, think, or act like me. In fact, 90% of the male population age 40 act, feel, and think exactly how society and the media feels they should.

Which would be 40. I don't see the distinction .

 

[Latinoman]

Which would be 40. I don't see the distinction .

Here is the distinction.

I see 40 year old men acting like life is over. Or dressing WAY too conservative.

When in reallity...40 year old men (and even older)...like Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Johny Depp, Chris Rock, Denzel Washington, etc. have re-defined the age group. And they don't act 20s or 30s...they act their age. But they bring something else to that age: STYLE and natural COOLNESS.

 

[ketostix]

Here is the distinction.

I see 40 year old men acting like life is over. Or dressing WAY too conservative.

When in reallity...40 year old men (and even older)...like Brad Pitt, Benicio del Toro, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Johny Depp, Chris Rock, Denzel Washington, etc. have re-defined the age group. And they don't act 20s or 30s...they act their age. But they bring something else to that age: STYLE and natural COOLNESS.

So then you're not acting 40 then . Actually I agree. You can have style and natural coolness whether you're 20, 30, 40 or even 50.

 

[Latinoman]

By the way, I don't disagree with Str8up approach. When I was 35...I was dressing not much different than many upper 20s men. I mean, I looked in my mid-upper 20s anyhow. I was attracting women in their early 20s at the time too. I personally don't see anything wrong, UNLESS the man is trying TOO hard to be something he is NOT.

Like those old-men wearing the oversize diamond earrings trying to look cool, when they are indeed the typical soccer dad.

 

[MrLuvr]

Age is only one aspect of how you dress, act or present yourself.

How can you say that ALL 40 yeard olds should dress a certain way or act a certain way?

Age, lifestyle, career, background etc. all play a role in how you dress and act.

For example a 28 year old investment banker, will in most cases, dress much more conservatively than a 45 year old gay painter.

As Str8up said, society likes to order everything and age is the easiest way to classify anything and everything. It is so mch easier just to slot people by age.

 

[STR8UP]

For example a 28 year old investment banker, will in most cases, dress much more conservatively than a 45 year old gay painter.

Great point.

Different social groups and occupations are also held to different standards.

A buddy of mine I went to H/S with is a CPA. I swear, this guy must watch tv, change his oil, and landscape his house in his Dockers and Polo shirt (tucked in for good measure).

Seriously though....we go to a club and this guy looks like he just got out of the annual CPA's of America meeting.

The guy doesn't HAVE to dress the way he does, but I'm sure his profession influences his choice of clothing.

 

[Scaramouche]

Well,having been on the scene longer than most I can honestly say that with a remarkably abundant love life in my late thirties (Maybe,relative absence of STD's the Pill and a generally licentious culture in Society at that time)life just gets better and better,but you have to work on it,in a nut shell,learn to dance,keep fit,and develop your mind....but all these things can be taken to excess the means can become the end...there are process people and product people in every field of endeavour....Be lucky...