I was on my favourite seat on the 243, front seat, left hand side, staring out of the window as the bus made its slow progress along Old Street. I was admiring the ‘street art’, which some may call graffiti,1 when I spied a poster advertising another summer festival. All Points East. The thing is, this time, perhaps for the first time, I recognised no one on the bill.
Nil. Zero. Nothing. Not even a hint of recognition. I normally recognise the first one or two headliners but none?2 What does that even mean for my existence? Does this make me officially old? Over the hill? Past it?
Who knows. But it did make me chuckle.
Too many razors
I was telling my friend Sarah the story over dinner. A dinner where we’d each carefully positioned ourselves so we could hear each other speak. Only an occasional ear ‘cupping’ needed.
She had experienced a similar thing. And retorted with her own sign of ageing – a realisation, due to a couple of packing omissions corrected with hasty purchases, she now owned more disposable razors than she was ever going to get through in her lifetime. To be fair I cannot even imagine the amount of razors she must be referring to but it certainly made her stop, think and feel a little sad! And us laugh.
Subtle signs
All of this got me thinking about those subtle signs of ageing I‘ve noticed which I thought I’d share with you:
Lifestyle shifts
A desire to garden.
The joy of a night in.
A heightened appreciation of a nice cup of tea.
Comfortable shoes.
Early nights and early mornings.
Enjoying Bob Harris’s Sounds of the 70s on a Sunday afternoon or Gary Davies Sounds of the 80s on a Saturday night.
Feeling chuffed that I know the words to ‘Pink Pony Club’ by Chappel Roan and CMAT’s ‘Take a sexy picture of me.’
Having time.
Physical changes
The sinking feeling I have when I walk into a pub or restaurant with no soft furnishings knowing I will only hear every fifth word spoken to me.
Starting to look more and more like my mum, who in turn looks more and more like my grandma.
Being offered a seat on the tube.
Being scornful of nips, tucks, Botox and fillers whilst wondering if I should try myself.
Realising I could be mother to all of the England Women’s football team and possibly grandma to a few (wasn’t the 19 year old Michelle Agyemang stunning?).
Weight training, eating protein and mainlining calcium to build muscle and strengthen bones.
Feeling invisible when in a crowd of people in their 20s and early 30s.
Mindset evolution
Not caring what I’m wearing when out in my neighbourhood.
A desire to don an orange beanie and join Just Stop Oil.
Freedom to do pretty much what I want and not give two hoots what anyone else thinks.
Saying ‘sod it’ increasingly often.
Wonder at where all the years have gone…with confidence there are many more to come.
Change
Just seeing this list makes me realise what a lucky, lovely life I have. For which I am truly grateful.
Life will change. Sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s hard. We never know when or how. As if to prove this sentence, a friend literally just texted to say she’s had a worrying diagnosis. So right now, I’m counting my lucky stars and sending hope and love to a few of my friends who I know are struggling, and to anyone else who’s going through difficult times.
You
As ever, I’m interested in you.
What are the subtle signs or ageing you’ve noticed good, bad or otherwise, that have made you smile or reflect?
Do drop me a line, I’d love to hear from you.
And you know you’re never going to be any younger than you are today, what are you not saying ‘sod it’ to that might just free you up?
Until the week after next my friends,
Ruth x
Some street art for you delectation
Since writing this I can happily confirm there is one artist I recognise, guess which one :-)
No idea about any of the street art, but would put a check against pretty much all above items. Lol. Life is fab right now isn’t it? And making the most of it whilst it is. Thanks as always for reminding me to appreciate it xx
This had me chuckling. I'm not far off 40 and have had the recent realisation I'm a bit older than I think in my head.
My mates are having botox. I'm a 'vet' in running and cycling race categories. And, get this, when a new employee was quizzed about his preference on dating 'older women', he clarified that he meant 28-30!
But I am enjoying the ever present 'sod it' approach. You never know, I might not be far off getting that tattoo 30 year old me would never have considered.