People Are Sharing 22 Subtle Signs That Made Them Realize They Were Aging, And These Are So Relateable
Let's face it: We're all getting older every single day. But now and then, something happens that really hammers home the fact that we are, in fact, aging. So redditor u/samaunseo asked, "What is your 'I'm getting older' sign?" Here's what people had to say, along with members of the BuzzFeed Community (plus a few of my own two cents).
1."I’ve been enjoying nature more. I know it sounds dumb, but I used to not really care about nature all that much. Now I just sit there happily and look at trees."
2."When you start realizing that the things your brain thought happened 'only a few years ago' actually means decades ago. For example, 9/11 seemed like it was about ten years ago, but nope — it has been a lot longer. Time is an illusion."
3."FOMO has completely become a thing of the past for me. I really couldn't care less if I miss something 'fun.' You know what's fun? Not dealing with people and sitting on my couch watching The Golden Girls for the umpteenth time."
4."The topics of conversations that come up when hanging out with friends. Once upon a time, it was fun gossip, boys, drama, and the like. Now it’s about our 401ks, medications, household repairs, etc..."
5."Going out on a Friday or Saturday night feels more like a hassle than fun."
6."When your first reaction to a friend’s pregnancy announcement is 'congratulations' rather than 'oh sh!t.'"
7."Remembering what things used to cost. I'm finding that I do this so much now. Ice cream was $3.99 for a big size. Now? I'm lucky if I can find it under $7. And even though I don't smoke anymore, when I was 18 and a no-good smoker, packs were $3 and change. They can be as much as $15 now."
8."No matter what you do, there’s always a last little bit of pee that ends up in your underwear."
9."How much my diet has changed, and not by choice. There are so many things I used to love to eat that I just can't handle anymore—for example, onions. I used to love them, but they no longer agree with my digestive system. When I went to Dodger games in my younger days, I would order a Dodger Dog (sometimes 2), slather it with onions and mustard, and wash it down with a beer. If I tried to do that today, I would spend most of the game in the bathroom!"
10."When you realize you can injure yourself by sneezing or sleeping in a funny position."
11."I used to have an entirely separate wardrobe for clubbing with my girlfriends. Now, I won't even consider wearing anything that feels too scratchy. Plus, all my shoes are super practical and comfy."
12."I actually get excited to be carded at restaurants and bars. I used to dread this interaction, but now that I clearly look well over 21 and it happens so infrequently, it's truly just flattering."
13."Mentioning something to your doctor and being told, 'yeah, that's just going to be how it is from now on.'"
14."When you rewatch Friends and suddenly find that Tom Selleck is the hottest person in the show."
15."When you've been doing what you do for a living longer than the new people in the profession have been alive."
16."When teenagers call you 'sir.'"
17."Everything that I hated as a kid I love now as an older adult. Naps, solitude, staying home, and not being around a lot of people are just a few examples."
18."When I look at current music, and I have no idea who anyone is on the top 10 billboards."
19."When I went out to dinner with a group of friends recently, we asked to switch places because the original table we were seated at was too loud 🫠 ."
20."When you fall over and people laugh, you’re young. If you fall over and people panic, then you're old."
21."Successfully pulling the 'we have food at home' line on myself."`
22."A few years ago, my little brother turned 50. That hit hard. My LITTLE brother turned 50!!! I freaked out. It took me a month to come to grips with it."
Can you relate? Tell me in the comments about a sign or an experience that suddenly made you feel old. You can also drop your thoughts into this anonymous form.
