Is it inevitable that as we age we become stuck in the past?

I turned 66 Monday. No red Porsche, instead a 2016 Cayman. I enjoy programming the navigation system and Sirius radio. Not an old man car, stick shift, low to the ground you have to sty it enough to get in and out. Still working, run four days a week, still compete. All these things keep me young in the head. I enjoy new music but not much interested in most newer movies.Igy

the old fart wrote:

Star wrote:

I'm in my mid 40s and what you described is not natural.

Try listening to 21 Pilots.

Watch Game of Thrones

The new cars are nice with satellite radio that gives you much more to listen to including 90s stations.

The latest Star Wars movie is better than the prequels of the 90s.

And the whole fact that you can access this site and share your thoughts with people from all over is a big life advantage now.

I'm totally with OP.

Being in mid 40s and watching Games of Thrones along with the last Star Wars is an obvious sign of mental decline. Listening to 21 Pilots at this age is nothing more than just a desperate attempt to catch up with the youngsters. Sooo midllife crisis... Did you get your new red Porsche too?

Aging is not easy, it's an art.

Great thread. Can really relate well to a lot of what is said here. As far as cars, when I was young I had no choice but to drive old cars and I don't like it. The newer cars are safer and more reliable. Mine tells me when my tire pressures are low -- I remember too well flatting with no warning. Just one example. I have no desire to buy that classic Corvette etc and try to keep the thing running, the ceaseless search for old parts, etc. Not to mention satellite radio--remember all too well driving long distances and relying on radio only. I like looking back to the past more than most of my same age peers and also find that most of them have forgotten a lot of the things I bring up--they sometimes express amazement that I can recall a particular detail, which isn't really amazing to me as it is just how my mind works. As far as smartphones--what I don't get is total dependence on the thing to survive---I know so many people who rely completely on apps to pay for things, find their way, work a to-do list,. etc etc---right there with the poster who never enjoyed talking on the phone in the first place too. Clothes and running clothes--you don't want to look too dated but at the same time be age appropriate. No way I'd go running in those short shorts from the 80s, although I love looking back at old running stuff

Yeah, I don't understand these people using paper money and indoor plumbing and electricity...

If I just want to get someplace I can and do use the Google maps app on my smartphone. When I'm traveling alone in a strange place it's far better than a map. On the other hand a map gives the big picture context which I think is something that we've lost in much of modern discourse. There is an overwhelming amount of information available with modern technology and we tend to tune much of it out because of the lack of authoritative concise summary presentation of information.

When I listen to the music of my youth, some of it stands the test of time and a lot of it not so much. I doubt this is much different from what is being produced today, but I'm less inclined to pay attention.

This discussion is sort of sad. Most people are defining whether you're stuck in the past or are living in the present by what gadgets you have and what pop culture you consume.

Think about it more broadly. Are you engaged in personally meaningful projects? Are you working toward things more than reflecting on past achievements? Do you explore and appreciate different aspects of life rather than compare things to how you felt/thought/acted however many years ago? Those things are infinitely more important than in what year the music you happen to like was recorded.

Disco IS the future.

I just upgraded to iPhone OS 10 and it feels like the whole world has gone insane. Well, not really. But I am with the OP.

Mid 40s. 98% of what is on the radio leaves me cold. I like St. Vincent, Aurora and Of Monsters and Men. Most everything else on the radio is totally derivative and recycled. I like zombie shows and Narcos on netflix. Otherwise, TV is unwatchable. Last movie I was able to watch after work without falling asleep in the middle was Spotlight. But nothing puts my lights out faster than a Marvel Comics movie filled with endless CGI scenes.

I do not miss the 70s and 80s that much. In the 70s, my mom and sister were always doing smelly at home perms to get their straight hair to be frizzy. In the 80s, at night in bed, I was sure the jets from the nearby air force base were incoming Soviet ICBMs and would brace for the impact of a nuclear detonation. Everything was slow and food was generally terrible. Cars were junk and broke down all the time. Cities were dirty, dangerous and all had "red light" districts crammed with strip clubs and XXX theaters.

I have no problem with technology, but I no longer seek it out or am thrilled by it. I remember freaking out when I got my first CD player and thinking that my Apple IIe was the most amazing thing in the world when I was young. Now, I find my iphone to be boring and cannot find anything good to watch on all the streaming services I have.

But as much as I miss the excitement of the discoveries of youth, I do like the fact that I no longer care about fashion, having the latest gadgets or seeing the new movie right when it comes out. I can dedicate myself to my family and work. I am rediscovering things like fishing, gardening and other things that I like but would never get to do when I was younger because it was not the sort of thing my friends were into.

Not sure if this is a troll job or not but man if not get your head outta your @ss.

I'm 48 and I try my hardest to not be "that guy". I don't want to be someone that think fashion, TV, and music all stopped at graduation.

Now I'm careful to not be the old guy trying to look 20 or use slang etc. That's not a good look either.

But if you stay stuck in '92 you are missing out on a ton.

So you're saying I'm running the risk of becoming an "Uncle Rico" style guy...

I've never understood why anyone wouldn't want to listen to new music. I didn't say pop music, but new music in whatever genre it is that you enjoy the most. (and if you say "all new music sucks" you are either not trying to find it, or you're so closed minded there's no point in the discussion.)

I seek out the new and the good. I'm not going to be stuck, I just never wanted to live a life that small and closed.

From the cultural perspective TV is a lot better now.

No sitcom is going to beat Seinfeld but there is a lot more out there to choose from.

Mad Men (which was on AMC I think) was a very good show of recent and it was about the past so it had that going for it.

HBO creates a lot of good shows. Netflix has good content like Narcos.

The production of TV shows is much better now.

People always get stuck in the music of their teens and twenties in every generation.

That is very true in your subject line but it's still a choice to open to new things.

I do think that today's movies rely too much on technology and formulas and sequels and are lacking in character.

The TV shows are actually better than the movies now.

But there is still an occasional good movie so keep trying.

Some of the stuff we liked in the past was crap.

But we tend to only remember the good stuff so in general we are fond of the past.

You usually smile in pictures so when you look back all you see is a good time.

Being 66, I crack up at 60 year olds with the earring and tats....

Igy

"People always get stuck in the music of their teens and twenties in every generation."

There is actually science that proves that at this age your brain in more in tune (pun intended) with music and that is why the music of our teens seems to be burned into our psyche.

For me I like some of that stuff, but time is just this big filter; some music really is good and stands up well, others... meh not so much. Part of the fun is listening to stuff and seeing what does stand up and what you are listening to out of nothing but pure nostalgia (possibly the lowliest level of appreciation one can have for virtually anything.)

I'm 47 and I think the last great year of American society was 1996, because we had the internet but because there were no smart phones, so people still talked when they out to dinner/met up for beers, and we aren't all up inside each others asses with Twitter OUTRAGE about every little inconsequential thing, and there were still common TV shows we could all talk about at the office, like Seinfeld or MNF.

That being said, I love new music, I still watch new movies, I keep adapting to the latest technologies and I keep making new friends. I don't watch much TV anymore because it seems like a waste of time (us old guys only have so much left!!!) but if a friend of mine suggests something, I'll try it out on my tablet while on the bike trainer.

OP, maybe you like sitting in traffic, but if I see a backup on the freeway is caused by an accident and I can get around the backup (due to mapping apps) I take a different route.

As to the other poster about speed--I too feel like I am crawling when I "run" now. But, it still beats being 300 lbs or being buried in a pine box.

One awesome new technology that has changed by life is all of these "online meeting apps". Don't have to drive to meeting, just sit in your own office, and only half pay attention--like right now, I have been kinda listening to two jackasses argue about different types of landscaping treatments for the last 15 minutes. That is all free LetsRun.com Time, baby!!

I'm 30 and gave up TV, music, movies, etc years ago. Presumably I'll be able to age gracefully, therefore.

I think this is very common. We also tend to romanticize the past.

I disagree about GPS and smartphones though

Why hasn't anyone said.....

try to keep up

Point taken, but that's how it kind of got rolling. This will probably irritate you Scott because, well just because, but my red sports car is simply continuing to run relatively well with each passing decade. And I've coached many dozens of runners of all ages over the years, so hopefully passing love of the sport along. And I contribute to society by working at a fairly important job that includes decision making with impacts lasting the next 30 years. I sometimes wish I was better at my job, more dedicated than I am at running, but my passion is running. Sorry in advance if that is beneath you.

smd wrote:

This discussion is sort of sad. Most people are defining whether you're stuck in the past or are living in the present by what gadgets you have and what pop culture you consume.

Think about it more broadly. Are you engaged in personally meaningful projects? Are you working toward things more than reflecting on past achievements? Do you explore and appreciate different aspects of life rather than compare things to how you felt/thought/acted however many years ago? Those things are infinitely more important than in what year the music you happen to like was recorded.

Does knowing you are 25,566 days old mean you are stuck in the past?