Age is a State of Mind?

I also thought that Age could be a state of mind, but I was reading a book on longevity and the author said once we hit 30 years of age, our body is trying to get rid of us (since way back in the ancient times)! We're there to reproduce and then we're no longer needed when we can't. So we have to convince the body that we're needed in this world, which means keep moving and doing, haha. I feel much younger than my age, but then my body reminds me I'm not. :D
 
palides2021 said:
the author said once we hit 30 years of age, our body is trying to get rid of us (since way back in the ancient times)! We're there to reproduce and then we're no longer needed when we can't.
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I read that normally an animal reproduces its entire lifespan, but that people (women people) experience menopause because old people were so valuable to the survival of the younger reproducing tribe members due to our ability to pass down wisdom (I assume this means that speech evolved before menopause).
 
Age is a state of mind. Youth and age exist only among the ordinary people. All the more talented and exceptional of us; are sometimes old, just as we are sometimes happy, and sometimes sad. - Hermann Hesse
 
Bella said:
Age is a state of mind. Youth and age exist only among the ordinary people. All the more talented and exceptional of us; are sometimes old, just as we are sometimes happy, and sometimes sad. - Hermann Hesse
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He makes an interesting point. "Ordinary people"? Are they common folk...the masses who just are animals? Are "exceptional people" the hand full who become successful? That is not true. We all get old and as we do sometimes we feel it, other times we feel happy, or sad, or engaged, or sleepy. We are not feeling old during those times. So sometimes we do have a choice, other times we don't.
 
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HoneyNut said:
I read that normally an animal reproduces its entire lifespan, but that people (women people) experience menopause because old people were so valuable to the survival of the younger reproducing tribe members due to our ability to pass down wisdom (I assume this means that speech evolved before menopause).
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i was going to mention that. A book i read back in the 1970s, The Descent of Woman by Elaine Morgan, made much of the fact that women routinely live after they can no longer reproduce but men (barring accidents or disease) can make new sperm throughout. Part of why the Crone is to be honored. Clearly we have some value beyond reproduction.

We have, however, learned since then that even newly produced sperm in older men is not of the same quality as when they were young and an older father is as likely to result in birth defects as an older Mom.
 
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@Bella and @Paco Dennis regarding the Herman Hesse quote.
He does have a point, however, i take exception to his phrase 'the more talented and exceptional' of us. i think there are probably a many more exceptional and talented people than most of us, including Hesse usually think there are.

A lot lies in how each of us defines those two words (talented, exceptional) not to mention how we define the word 'success' that Paco Dennis mentioned makes all the difference. People can be talented and creative in many ways beyond the 'arts' and beyond intellectual acumen. And we can be successful human beings without being wealthy or famous.
 
If age is a state of mind then i've been as much of a vagabond that way as i have been physically.
Yet, ever the realist (if a stubbornly optimistic one) i am keenly aware of the toll age is taking on my body, tho i'm still active in spite of the aches and pains. Mentally i am still extremely curious and always interested in learning more about a wide variety of subjects.

Since i first heard it i related strongly to the line in Bob Dylan's 'My Back Pages' :
"I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now."
 
Paco Dennis said:
He makes an interesting point. "Ordinary people"? Are they common folk...the masses who just are animals? Are "exceptional people" the hand full who become successful? That is not true. We all get old and as we do sometimes we feel it, other times we feel happy, or sad, or engaged, or sleepy. We are not feeling old during those times. So sometimes we do have a choice, other times we don't.
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It's interesting that you immediately take offense to his meaning of "ordinary people" and see it as a put down. And further interpret that to mean "the common folk"... "the masses who are just animals". Then interpret "exceptional people" to mean "the handful who become successful."

I interpret what he said differently than you do. I'm not taking "ordinary people" as a put down. Furthermore, I believe that he means people who can only see the numbers of their age, whether they are young or old. The phrase “more talented and exceptional of us” refers to those who can see beyond their chronological age and realize we “are sometimes old, just as we are sometimes happy, and sometimes sad.” I'm leaving "success" out of it, lol.

You, my friend, will, of course, interpret it as you will. :)

Bella ✌️
 
Yes, "Age is a state of mind."
So..........why aren't there any professional football, hockey, basketball, baseball, tennis players or figure skaters in their 60's?
Why do most retire in their 40's or sooner?
They would play professionally much longer if they would just........think differently. :ROFLMAO:
 
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