12 Unexpected Signs That You're Actually Getting Old

AUTHOR: Boloere Seibidor

Getting old sneaks up on us like a rogue wave on the beach, and one day, you routinely look right at the mirror and realize you've got a few wrinkles here, a bunch of gray hairs there, and the taste of herbal tea suddenly goes quite well with your reading glasses.

Here, we dive into these humbling confessions from an online forum that might leave you reeling over the bittersweet agony of growing old.

Table of Contents

1. Groaning Noises
2. New Friend Groups
3. Teenagers Treated Them Different
4. Reading Glasses
5. Their Top Hit Became A Throwback
6. Shift In Conversation
7. Going Shopping Was No Longer Fun
8. Healing Became Hard
9. Everything Hurts
10. ID At The Liquor Store
11. Early To Bed
12. Saying No Became Routine
10 Foods From Your Childhood That Are Almost Gone Now
10 High Protein Recipes For Quick Weight Loss
10 Poverty Meals That Taste Like A Million Dollars

1. Groaning Noises

Do you ever want to get off a chair, feel a bit of creaking on your knee or back, and find yourself silently groaning? Yeah, there's a chance it's just a lousy sitting posture, but it could also be a sign that you're getting older. One contributor describes how they make dad noises after they try standing up from a little squat; it's how they knew they were growing old.

2. New Friend Groups

friends-group — Image Credit: Shutterstock

When you're young, you feel stuck with the best friends you'll ever meet. But then you go through high school, college, and your first few jobs, and suddenly you realize everyone is either moving away or no longer has time for everything they used to. Someone shares they realized they were growing old when they had to change friend groups every five years to have a social life.

3. Teenagers Treated Them Different

You are expected to get some respect the older you get, but it would feel quite jarring when you get your first few "Excuse me, Sirs" from someone who could have easily called you bro just a few years ago. A user recalls when a teenager greeted them in the street, and the shocking incident was quite the moment of realization.

4. Reading Glasses

While everyone might not need them, getting reading glasses might be one of the signs that you're getting older. A lot of carrots and apples might help, but the passage of time takes its toll on the body. According to one person, the sudden need for glasses makes them feel like a "reverse Spiderman."

5. Their Top Hit Became A Throwback

Another contributor explains how they felt strange hearing their favorite song being called a throwback on the radio. It would sting to think of a song you cherish so much being called something from a different time, but then you realize — you are from a different time, an older generation.

6. Shift In Conversation

When you're young, the conversations hang around crazy nights out, fast cars, and adventures that last a lifetime. But as one contributor states, the conversation suddenly shifted to 401k's, mortgages, and retirement plans. Ah, it struck them then.

7. Going Shopping Was No Longer Fun

Adulting is quite the experience. As a child, going shopping and buying new things always felt good; the sounds, the smells, the endless worlds of possibilities as we'd walk past the shelves of things just waiting for us to reach out and grab them.

To one person, they realize it is now a frustrating activity, especially when it's their money being spent. It's no longer fun, just a chore that needs to be done.

8. Healing Became Hard

Someone narrates how they watched their ten-year-old niece with a broken arm who was able to heal in a couple of weeks. They, on the other hand, were stuck with the pain of a fracture that was several years old. As the body ages, the natural regenerative process slows down and makes healing quite the hassle.

9. Everything Hurts

It's your back, toe, shin, or hip; older adults can't catch a break. Somehow, someplace you didn't even know existed happens to hurt. One person shares how their constant state of some background pain reminds them of the good old days when they were a lot younger, which happens to be just five years ago.

10. ID At The Liquor Store

Back in the day, they'd ask for your ID to see if you were underage, but now they'd ask because too many people are trying to take advantage of the senior discount. One explains how they never asked for a discount, and the guy at the counter made them feel old.

11. Early To Bed

When an early night starts feeling like a privilege, you realize how old you are. Someone shares how they used to have all-night drinking sessions with their friends, and now, they can only properly function if they are in bed by 9 pm. Time really does sneak up on you.

12. Saying No Became Routine

Not because you're not willing to do certain things but because the luxury of living carefree without consequences is something you can no longer afford, and you have to calculate every move instead of living as you wish. A correspondent describes how their meticulous planning makes them feel older as they realize how easy it is to say no now.

Source: Reddit.