Does life get easier as one gets older?

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  1. Anishpat profile image76
    Anishpatposted 11 years ago

    Does life get easier as one gets older?

    They say life begins at 40. Is that really true? Or are we living in a world that belongs to the youth?

    https://usercontent2.hubstatic.com/7013817_f260.jpg

  2. aguasilver profile image71
    aguasilverposted 11 years ago

    Not easier perhaps, but more agreeable, i.e. you learn to stop worrying about things that you cannot change, or which don't affect you.

    The pressure to succeed diminishes and you are therefore more likely to actually succeed anyway!

    Inner peace becomes more important than social standing or other peoples opinions of you.

    Sex is more for pleasure with love, rather than a sport or necessity.

    You finally see through the bulls**t of politicians and others in authority, and recognise them for the jerks they are.

    You get to smile more when you see 'youngsters' making the same mistakes you made, and not listening to the advice you give which would make their lives easier also. (and which you also ignored)

    Once you are on the 'flip side' (i.e. nearer to death than birth) life seems to sort itself out, if you let it.

  3. Mmargie1966 profile image83
    Mmargie1966posted 11 years ago

    Yes is the short answer. 

    I guess it depends on many things.  Maybe someone has health problems making their life more difficult.  I find in easier as I age because with age comes wisdom.  I don't make as many costly mistakes.

    That's my 2 cents...

  4. Bard of Ely profile image79
    Bard of Elyposted 11 years ago

    I would say a definite, no! And for several reasons!
    I am 59 and have not had a partner for over 10 years. I was never much good at finding relationships I admit but at least I did have girlfriends when I was in my twenties and thirties and these days I don't even bother trying to find anyone.
    Another big problem I have now is a severe shortage of money and it is much harder finding work because employers don't want middle-aged and older people.
    My health is generally good but I need a lot of dental work I cannot afford, including a broken crown in the front. When I was younger my teeth were in much better shape and I qualified for NHS dental care which I can no longer get because I moved abroad.
    I am also going increasingly bald so my physical appearance is nowhere near as good as when I was younger.
    The only good thing I can say about getting older is that I no longer suffer badly with depression which I did when I was a lot younger. I seem to have grown out of that.

  5. Cre8tor profile image93
    Cre8torposted 11 years ago

    As with many things, I believe there are trade offs. Certain things in life you worried about are no longer a concern while others become moreso. Life is very much a personal experience though and each individual's experiences will certainly change the answer to this question. Life certainly isn't over at 40 though, that's for sure.

  6. Rajan Dhir profile image63
    Rajan Dhirposted 11 years ago

    Nothing gets easier or becomes harder. It would be a replica of things of how you have been living life in the past. It goes without saying that people have more experience and life-examples to take assistance from. We tend to develop a habit of looking at things deeply and find out that if it is the one which is really going to make a difference or not. We are better equipped to make smart choices (investments) in life.

  7. chef-de-jour profile image95
    chef-de-jourposted 11 years ago

    Does life become easier the older you get? Yes...and No! If I seem a little confused by answering in the affirmative and the negative it's because life is like that...a paradox. If you're over 55 say you'll definitely lose elasticity in limbs and brain but you'll know how to relax and not have so much angst in your life.  Alcohol, sex, cars and relationships take on a different meaning and you approach them from a different angle....older people tend not to lose sleep if they miss out on any of the above...you can go longer without them let's say! When something like sex happens it seems deeper,richer, more relaxed.
    Older people perhaps don't have as many money worries as younger folk, especially in these recessive times, so life is easier in that respect. However the responsibility increases - I feel so responsible for my family for example - emotionally.
    Life isn't a bowl of cherries when you're older, it's a bowl of pomegranates, you end up spitting out more stones and the flavour changes.....yet you can take your time digesting things. All in all I'd say yes it gets easier but that doesn't mean it's easy.

  8. LilaDaley profile image73
    LilaDaleyposted 11 years ago

    Life doesn't get easier as we age. There are new challanges in each stage of life. Marriage, kids, jobs, retirement, money management. At 40 you still have older kids to finish raising, college for them and them to be adults and responsible for themselves. You have new pains in your body and aging isn't always nice.

    The only good part of getting older is that you have a better idea of how to handle problems and conflicts.

  9. prettynutjob30 profile image85
    prettynutjob30posted 11 years ago

    I sure hope so, my mom said she does not worry about stuff as much as she did when she was younger.

  10. TIMETRAVELER2 profile image84
    TIMETRAVELER2posted 11 years ago

    It all depends.  Each stage of life has its easy and its difficult parts.  I have been through most of them and can tell you from experience that no age is perfect.

    A lot depends on luck, background, parentage, health and finances.

    I know young people who are terribly ill and old people who are pretty healthy.  But these are the exceptions.

    Aging is very complicated and for most people, health becomes the most important issue as they get older.  Poor health is extremely limiting. If you are poor on top of it, life is just miserable for you.

  11. pagesvoice profile image73
    pagesvoiceposted 11 years ago

    I cannot answer this question unequivocally either yes or no regarding life getting easier with age. For instance, older people no longer compete in an aggressive way for a certain career path. We are not as concerned with brand name clothes or keeping up with the Jones. Our relationships take on a whole new meaning than when we were younger. Instead of looking for someone to go to bed with, we have hopefully found our life mate to wake up to. We stop and smell the roses more now than when we were living in a hectic world.

    The down side about aging is somewhat complicated. We most likely have witnessed the deaths of our grandparents, parents, maybe a spouse or lover and several friends and acquaintances. We are more aware of how fragile life is and how quickly it can come to an end. Ailments begin to creep in with age as doctor visits increase, occasional hospitalizations happen and prescription drug use seems to increase. The term "Grumpy old men" can be attributed to the fact that elder people are not necessarily mean spirited or grumpy, but perhaps it is due more to them being in pain. All of a sudden bending down and getting back up isn't as easy as it used to be. Even though we may feel young at heart, there is the harsh reality of truth when we look into the mirror in the morning and we've become a face we don't recognize anymore.

    1. Anishpat profile image76
      Anishpatposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Great answer thanks. If there was a option for two best answers, I would surely pick this one as well.

  12. Attikos profile image83
    Attikosposted 11 years ago

    No, but you learn to deal with it better as you gain experience.

  13. CBM1987 profile image60
    CBM1987posted 11 years ago

    I'm young... world doesn't belong to me at all. This economy, the employment rate. I'm 25 with nothing... but, I do hope its easier when im 40... because another 15 yrs of this and then more would be hell

  14. BizVT34 profile image65
    BizVT34posted 11 years ago

    Life gets better as you get older but not easier.

  15. profile image0
    JamesCageposted 11 years ago

    Things are more difficult when one gets older. There are more family responsibilites.  Most (not all) young people have good health.  Usually a trip to the dentist once or twice a year is sufficient.  I was told to stop all bad habits by 40 years old such as: smoking, drinking, over-eating, staying out all night.  From my  experience bad habits should never start, but at least control your habits by the time you are 30 years old. Jobs are also difficult to find after you are 40 years old.
    It is probably best to have a profession: doctor, dentist, lawyer, accountant, teacher, engineer, computer scientist.  Or be an entrepeneur and have your own business.  Health concerns and money are the two problems older people have. To avoid these major problems.  Take care of your health, exericise regularly, eat properly, drink moderately and don't smoke. Stay out of debt. Save money by having an IRA, Roth IRA or other retirement savings plan.  Do not leave things up to chance. Be prepared for old age by taking care of yourself when you are young.

  16. 34th Bomb Group profile image60
    34th Bomb Groupposted 11 years ago

    Ha! In THIS economy? I had to retire early (41) because I had two heart attacks brought on by stress. This means that I am on the proverbial "fixed income." Out of that income I pay at LEAST $500/month for health care on top of Medicare. If this Obamacare is allowed to stand, I'm literally finished.
    So you're looking at creaky joints (with pain), forgetfulness, etc. - all the crap that comes with aging - PLUS no money.
    I'm scared to death. I'll go from being a successful attorney to living off the public ***. I've run through all the money I already had in place for retirement just to pay the bills. No one will hire me because I'm "over qualified."
    My gentleman friend (of 15 years) now has diabetes and his eyesight is deteriorating.
    We don't have much more we can cut out of the budget and, together, we have four kids whom we try to help when needed.
    We do do any legal work we can as long as it's not going to be too heavy a load - that wouldn't be fair to the client.
    I'm rambling. We have free time now, but can't afford to do anything. I was able to care for both my parents since I didn't have to go to work and my pal is still looking after his Dad. Being able to do that is a good thing. I'd do it again tomorrow even knowing the toll it will take on me.
    Still rambling - every person is different and in different circumstances. You can't generalize.

  17. cebutouristspot profile image78
    cebutouristspotposted 11 years ago

    No life dont get easier.  But you should have clear view of what is and what is not smile

  18. Angie Jardine profile image68
    Angie Jardineposted 11 years ago

    Hmmm, yes and no. One thing is for sure ... old age is no place for sissies.

    On the plus side once you retire you have the time to be the person you have always wanted to be. This is when, finances allowing, you can do the things you want to do rather than the things you have to do to earn a living. Let's face it, very few of us actually earn a living doing what we really love doing.

    On the minus side, just about everything is geared to the young, social media, many TV programmes, films. Sometimes it can feel like you are invisible once you are old.

    Even more so if you are female and getting older. You are continually bombarded with advice on how to look younger, advice I have studiously ignored as it all seems intensely shallow, a subject I often write hubs about.

    All I can say is enjoy your life ... whatever age you are.

  19. Perspycacious profile image62
    Perspycaciousposted 11 years ago

    Aspects of life become easier for a time as habits are formed.  But the saying is true, the one someone first said when they said:  "Old age isn't for sissys!"

  20. belleart profile image82
    belleartposted 11 years ago

    I doubt it, When you really think about it, as children we have no worries, we eat, poop, play and sleep.  When we start school, we start to worry about exams.  We hit puberty and hey! - loads more issues and crap to worry about.   
    We finish school and all of a sudden we need to start worrying about our futures-Colleges and Jobs.  We find a partner, fall in love and move in together and for the first time you have to worry about rent, bills, food, etc on top of our jobs and education.  Then theirs children.  Their education, bills, safety....
    If we are to look at how life builds, it seems to me that the anxieties and responsibilities just keep growing.  When we'v finally figured ourselves out,we need to start worrying about others that are depending on us!

  21. d.william profile image74
    d.williamposted 11 years ago

    Have you ever seen the BBC series: "Waiting for God"?  There is no 'easy' stage in life.  Youth is certainly wasted on the young.  And i can assure you that life does not get easier as you age - there may not be as many responsibilities to face, but when the only thing left is death staring you in the face, you quickly learn what you should, and should not, have done with you life.  This is when you finally realize that youth is definitely wasted on the young.

  22. Wayne Brown profile image80
    Wayne Brownposted 11 years ago

    It does in the sense that some of the problems you face that seem monumental at a younger age are put into proper perspective by years of experience.  Our life experience, if we pay attention, teaches us much that will aid us down the road.  If we are not paying attention, as some folks are prone to do, the same mistake is repeated on similiar issues time and again.  Some folks go through life struggling with money yet when one closely examines their track record one finds that they put themselves into one financial disaster after another mainly because they see themselves as victims and not perpetrators of the situation. ~ WB

  23. CriticalMessage profile image67
    CriticalMessageposted 11 years ago

    I believe it is easier because there are less surprises, and a better ability to manage any surprises when they present themselves.

  24. Kayte profile image40
    Kayteposted 11 years ago

    My life was always fun and exciting and it still is. At 41 years old I can still do the things that I always wanted to do and now I can do them well. My children are all older and I have a husband who thinks I am the bees knees. I don't worry about the small stuff anymore which I think is awesome. However I do think more about my death and how it will affect my children and I do spend more time with aches and pains than I did in my youth. There are times when I think the world has gone to the youth and I wonder what ever happened to the world as I knew it. Then I think this world is new for me everyday and I thank God that it is so. So when you think that the world is going to the youth of today, remember that it is a new day for them as well as for you and that you are older and wiser than they are and then you will find that the world is just right for you too.

  25. Angela Kane profile image60
    Angela Kaneposted 11 years ago

    I think certain things get easier and some things get harder. I believe it is the same when you are younger. You have to worry about things at every age that many do not have to worry about anymore or worry about yet.

  26. Express10 profile image85
    Express10posted 11 years ago

    I'd imagine that some things become easier as you become older. Having the ability to determine the difference between wants and needs or choosing what is most important seem to come to most only as they age. Physically, things can become harder depending upon the person's habits and luck of the draw.

  27. umbertoobrian profile image61
    umbertoobrianposted 11 years ago

    When you get older the energy and power of your youth do begin to fade though it is possible to retain much of it for a long time through regular exercise.  You may lose hearing and visiual acuity that comes with normal aging of the muscles and tissues in the body.  You will, after a time, develop some arthritis and general aches and pains that come from normal aging.  If you keep your body healthy and work your brain out regularly through challenging activites - watching tv is not one of these, your brain should work well - barring illnesses - for many more years.

    What will really change and make things so much better is an understanding of life.  You will become more patient about somethings and less patient about others.  You will see friends and loved ones die.  You will become aware of your mortality.  You will learn how to let go.  You will understand sprituality more deeply than you ever thought you would.  Do you get better with age?  No more or less than you did when you were younger. 

    When I was 5 I am certain I had more energy, drive, spirit than I did at 15.  At 15 I am certain I was quicker and more agile than I was at 35.  At 35 I am certain that I was physically stronger than I was at 15, but somethings were even more improved.  My mind, heart and soul were imbued with much greater power than they had been when I was young.  When I turned 50, my physical strength had only faded a fraction but my perception of the world became clearer and more focused than ever.  I hope this aspect of me continues - so far so good.

  28. unvrso profile image83
    unvrsoposted 11 years ago

    It could get easier, unfortunately, this is an irreversible stage in life, and if you don't stay active physically and intellectually, your body system follows its natural course.

    Over time your body metabolism's performance decreases until it stops and you die.

    The best one can do in this stage, that I consider personally the best stage in life, is to be active not just physically, but intellectually.

    I'm also of the thinking that an old person has to be independent and place his or her experience to develop some kind of activities. An old person has acquired enough experience, so as to utilize it in a number of areas in life.

    Biological life stops at around your twenties. In your forties you have reached the summit of your biological life, After this, your body system begins a decline, but it depends on your eating and physical activity habits whether your decline is more or less steep.

  29. Tushar Juneja profile image60
    Tushar Junejaposted 11 years ago

    Life is never a very easy journey. It is always coupled with challenges, pains and grief but also sprinkled with appreciable amounts of joy and happiness(one just needs to have the ability to see them). But not to forget, the old age is often accompanied with not the best of health conditions. So, though immensely experienced, the old might not be able to use their abilities and knowledge to the best. But,at the end of the day. life is as we take it, and an old person can live his life with so much conviction that it might even leave a young lad astonished.

 
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