I'm 60. That's not old. Of course, "Old" is a moving target, something like 5 years older than I am.
I told a teenage friend a story, finishing with, "And I'm not old." She looked at me as if to say, "And what planet are YOU from?"
I work Private Duty, taking care of medically fragile children in their own homes. I had one mother tell her 6-year old (in front of me), "Be careful, don't trip the nurse. She might fall and break her hip!"
And then there was the mom who told me that she was glad that I was spry!
Spry: (definition) Markedly brisk and active, especially at an advanced age!
OK, I have gray hair. I earned it. And I'm not about to bother coloring it. But I don't act old. I play with the kids on the floor, and I pop right back up.
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
I'm 57 and have used and abused my body for so many years, it's abusing me right back. I have arthritis in most of my joints, take three different meds to control my blood pressure and I've developed DM II. I have a sister in law the same age who looks a full decade younger than I. But I still feel young on the inside, and I love to be playful and smart and funny, even if I do look (and feel) every day of my age and then some. :)
I've never thought of 'spry' being used to describe someone who's only 60. The director of my facility is only a few years younger than me, but he's given me ca-ca about my age a few times. I don't have that big of a chip on my shoulder about it, but still, I feel like 'AGAIN?!? when he's done it.
What about those rogue chin hairs that pop up 1/4 inch long overnight? Ugh!
No doubt! And it seems to get worse every year, if it wasn't for my trusty tweezers I think I'd be getting pretty close to being able to quit my job and join the travelling fair circuit as the Bearded Lady.
I'm glad to hear that 60 is the new 40. I turned 65 this year, and the way it looks now I'll still be working at 75. We actually have someone that works here that is 77 and she can work circles around a lot of the younger models. I am thankful every day that I was able to get the training and that I feel well enough to go to work every day. I earned a lot of respect over the years and to me that is most valuable. I've enjoyed my career. Every single bit of it. I hope to be able to physically and mentally enjoy it for a few more years. But some days I do feel very inferior to the younger, pretty nurses that come in.
I would want to retire by 65. I hate that the economy is so bad and there is such a surplus of labor that people can't retire. I mean it's different if you want to work but I guess I had a different picture in mind. The world has changed a lot. Retirement as we knew I guess is sadly gone. I'm hoping I can still retire by 65 somehow. Anyways please don't feel inferior. I wonder if older guys ever feel that way about younger guys. I doubt it. Sexism. Why is so much of our worth tied to age and looks. I mean I'm the same way. I have gained some weight and got some wrinkles and it makes me very depressed. One of the reasons I want to be paid well is so I get afford some botox and laser treatments.
When my horse dislocated my thumb about two years ago, my orthopedic surgeon looked at me and said "You must have bones of iron, AT YOUR AGE most people break, not dislocate." ?!!?? He is only a couple years younger than I am! (I am 61 this year, and plan on working till I am 70.)
Specializes in Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgical.
My 20-something, fresh-out-of-nursing-school coworkers invited me to the club a few nights ago. I laughed, haven't been to 'the club' in a decade. Instead I slept 18 hours and am playing in my garden today :).
This gives me hope. I'm 44 and have yet to even take my Accupser CPT for possible remedial classes! I can see that I'll be closer to 48 or so by the time I'm an RN. One can only hope that we can be well into our 70s and still be working! I know a woman who just turned 50 and just got her acceptance into nursing school.
I'm glad to hear that 60 is the new 40. I turned 65 this year, and the way it looks now I'll still be working at 75. We actually have someone that works here that is 77 and she can work circles around a lot of the younger models. I am thankful every day that I was able to get the training and that I feel well enough to go to work every day. I earned a lot of respect over the years and to me that is most valuable. I've enjoyed my career. Every single bit of it. I hope to be able to physically and mentally enjoy it for a few more years. But some days I do feel very inferior to the younger, pretty nurses that come in.
)))
VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN
22 Articles; 9,996 Posts
I'm 57 and have used and abused my body for so many years, it's abusing me right back. I have arthritis in most of my joints, take three different meds to control my blood pressure and I've developed DM II. I have a sister in law the same age who looks a full decade younger than I. But I still feel young on the inside, and I love to be playful and smart and funny, even if I do look (and feel) every day of my age and then some. :)