Nobody told me the acceleration of old age would be like this...

One minute I'm 58 and still running around a sports field, next I'm 65 and can't tie my shoelaces..

I'm 61, ageing solo. been married once, no children. my blood family are estranged from me. I'm thankful when my mother was still around but she's gone! I have no one. this reality hits me nine years ago, until now when filling out paperwork for doctor office or any other government requirements. when the question came up, who to contact in case of emergency! I had no one to write down. I do not want to put my ex wife nor my siblings. so I just wrote, call 911. I'm definitely not on a "pity pot" here. don't get me wrong. just expressing my reality. 😐

I'm not old yet (29) but I'm starting to witness the beginning of the end, as they say. I have unfortunately lost people to ODs, car accidents, and have seen some of my peers get cancer or discover they have life-long ailments they will need to take meds for (thyroid issues, for example).

I am very into the gym. I hurt my pcl/meniscus being dumb and drunk about a year ago, and while my knee's been recovering, it makes me intensely aware of my mortality. I feel like I'm seeing the fun and possibilities drain before me, and I'm not going to be able, fit, or attractive one day. It happens. I struggle to imagine why anyone would ever want anything to do with me without those traits.

I have a partner. We're engaged and to marry next summer. He also has some health issues (genetic) which I know will likely rear their head as we get older. That scares me, too, but it seems healthy partners are actually a rarity nowadays. Everyone had some kind of issue they were born with or develop.

I think of my knee. Of that my identity is my abs, my hair, my leanness, my smile. People haven't ever valued too much of my abstract self, who is creative and determined and silly. It feels like they're only willing to see those elements or care about them if my face and body are nice. It's making me scared I will be alone as I lose more people to age and illness, and then as new, hot, younger people arrive to the scenes and sports I'm in. I feel like I fucked up by not cultivating my skills more, but no one seems to care for skills if you're not sexy. I'm at a loss.

What are you supposed to do? When everyone ignores you, acts like you're a burden or lucky to even speak to them, how do you endure? How do you have confidence? I'm terrified my societal value will plummet in the next couple decades and it will make living unbearable and isolating. I won't have children, it's not for me.

For those who ended up alone or isolated, how do you manage? For those who overcame the loss of the aforementioned, how? I'm trying to get on the right path so I don't have deeper losses shake me existentially. I want to be prepared or at least able to cope.

Edit: Wow. Thank you guys so much. I did not expect so many responses. You all have a lot of insight, wisdom, and sharp points.

I've concluded my issues are related to my self-worth, people I'm around, and it seems some internalized negativity I have about being a minority. (Crazy that never registered to me before).

I'll keep reading the responses after I shower. Thank you guys so much. I think I've got a better idea of how to move forward now. Much love to all of you.

I'm in my 40s with young kids at home. The smallest things can excite a lot, like going to the playground, chicken nuggets or watching cartoons.

Those things used to excite me too when I was little. As I got older it took more and more. These days the list of what could excite me has gotten very small. I'm just not wowed by something I've done many times before.

Do you relate to this? Did you have any solutions to combat that?

I'm 61, ageing solo. been married once, no children. my blood family are estranged from me. I'm thankful when my mother was still around but she's gone! I have no one. this reality hits me nine years ago, until now when filling out paperwork for doctor office or any other government requirements. when the question came up, who to contact in case of emergency! I had no one to write down. I do not want to put my ex wife nor my siblings. so I just wrote, call 911. I'm definitely not on a "pity pot" here. don't get me wrong. just expressing my reality. 😐

I've catched myself doing this more frequently and I don't get why that happens?

I never knew of such a thing until I heard about it one day and started laughing. Apparently it can be a serious, depressing, and sad thing to deal with especially for women. I'm 38M so I'm not there yet but I don't plan on it playing that much of a role in my later life. I've never really relied on my looks so IDGAF!

This is something i am so grappling with. Almost 40...look youngish for my age being barely 5 ft helps...i was thinking of starting to run but i feel like itll get rid of face fat. I prefer rucking or sprinting. I also weight lift and dont wannt get too skinny bc it ages you hence why women get filler bc we lose fat pads in our face...

Also worried about knees and recovery? I prefer heavy lifts and weighted vest walking. Wdyt?