Personally, I think it’s true like the old saying goes, you are as young as you feel! 

But when your age is brought into the mix, it makes you realise how much others focus on age and how it can be used consciously or unconsciously to make assumptions and associations to where you are at in your life or where you should be!   

Out of the blue I have received several comments about my age and with my own eyes and ears witnessed how age seems to be such an important factor when people meet for the first time and share this information as they gather  personal snippets from total strangers.  To me age simply isn’t important, and can I assure you this is not a case of sour grapes because I am no longer 21!

I couldnt help but observe when people met for the first time, they seemed intent on presenting their age soon after their name and what they had done previously whether career wise or a lowdown on their educational achievements.  Odd!  When did it become the norm?  I for one never tell people how old I am. You would have to beat it out of me and if I do succumb in a moment of weakness, I lie!  Why should it matter?  Why should age come into the equation? But, yah boo sucks it does!

The term 'more mature' was recently used to describe me.  An expression which only the likes of cheese and wine come to mind so generated a moment to ponder; was I more of a Cheddar or a Brie?, perhaps a good bottle of red or nothing more than a cheap bottle of plonk that could also pass as vinegar?

Triggers associated with age bring questions, perhaps insecurities and the realisation for me that as a passenger in the 'lift of life', I am currently pressing the midlife button not even realising it was labelled!

So as I sit with my latte and laptop I being to contemplate about age; What age does a person stop getting older and become old? When does old age begin? When exactly does youth end?  At what age is it considered stopping being young and finally growing up?  What age it is defined as getting old or should there be any age defining anything?  All this contemplation makes me contemplate swapping the latte for something much stronger!

However, like many other questions in life, the definition of old age I conclude depends on who you ask!

Is it a number, a feeling, a set of habits or an attitude? Perhaps age is in the eye of the beholder?  I remember when I was a child, I was always being asked: ‘What are you going to do when you grow up?’ and after finishing reeling off model, journalist, pilot, popstar and astronaut, I used to wonder at what age will I be grown up?

Therefore, to me it is no surprise that the older people get, the longer they think it takes for a person to reach old age!  Here’s the lowdown;

• Under 20 years - 28 is seen as officially old where you stop being 'young' and finally grow up!
• Under 30 years see the big 40 as being over the hill and everything downward after that
• People who are currently 30 starts to think differently and old age then takes a leap and is seen commencing at 60
• This keeps rising to 69 between 31 and 49 years.
• People who are currently between 50-64 believe old age starts at 72.
• And those 65 and older say old age begins at 74.

It also varies by sex as well as age and women seem to take the more generous view, whereas men opt for soon after they retire.

However, with the national longevity now  reaching new levels, 90 has without doubt become the new 60 and so the definition of old continues to shift, mirage-like, in the desert sand.

Of course, there is a real subjective aspect to people's beliefs about what defines "old," as most people who feel well generally feel younger than their biological age. And most people who feel healthy tend to feel that old age is a long way off.

Nobody likes to think of themselves as old, let alone very old and the word 'elderly' often carries the connotation of feeble and dependent; it is offensive if you're not and condescendingly euphemistic if you are.  In the end, "elderly" may well be more a state of being or feeling rather than a certain age. And the all-important question at this stage is not whether someone else thinks of you as elderly, but whether you think of yourself as elderly.

So, what are the signs the years are catching up on you and the realisation that youth was kissed goodbye a long time ago?  Read on......

• You always take an umbrella or coat out with you, just in case
• You don’t hesitate to complain about poor customer service
• People no longer view you as a hypochondriac
• You insist ‘things just aren’t like they used to be’
• You have given up trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who walks into the room.
• You are in a quandary over what toilet cleaner to purchase, but know exactly which toilet paper to buy
• You enjoy hearing about other people’s operations
• When you have to scroll down to find your year of birth
• When you can't find your reading glasses because they are on top of your head.
• You can live without sex, but not without glasses
• Your eyes won't get much worse
• Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question.

• You choose clothes for comfort rather than style
• You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
• You understand the importance of good Tupperware
• You actually eat breakfast food at breakfast time.
• Dinner can be served at 4pm
• Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.
• 6am is when you get up, not when you go to bed
• People call at 9pm and ask, "Did I wake you?"
• You can fall asleep, but you just can't stay asleep.
• You have an afternoon nap
• When ‘Happy hour’ is taking a nap
• You wake up early on mornings that you could sleep in. Not by choice.
• Your houseplants are alive, and you can’t smoke any of them
• You build raised garden beds, so you don't have to kneel in the garden
• Gardening is a hobby

• You spend weekends or bank holidays in garden centres
• You remember when the @ sign was only used in math problems
• Kidnappers are not very interested in you and in a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
• No one expects you to run into a burning building
• A new washing machine makes you incredibly happy.
• Sometimes, you just need to sit down.
• You make odd noises when you sit down and get up
• You say ‘back in my day’

• When everything hurts and what doesn’t hurt, doesn’t work!
• You get a haircut to ‘suit your age’
• When no one wants to borrow your clothes
• You prefer listening to Radio 2 rather than Radio 1.
• You remember when newspapers were delivered.
• You become forgetful
• You haven't stepped foot in a gym in years.
• You must stretch before doing any sort of physical activity
• There is just as much trauma involved in trying on shoes as there is with swim suits.
• You fall asleep watching TV or reading the paper
• You hear your favourite song in a lift and sing along
• Candles make you happy
• You would rather just stay home than go out.
• You get into heated arguments about pension plans.
• It becomes acceptable to wear slippers to go out
• Wear slippers all the time
• You only use teeth-brightening toothpaste.
• New socks make you happy
• You have a Kindle, but only use it for plane rides.
• Crowded places easily frustrate you
• You watch Antiques Roadshow and Countryfile
• Cold cucumbers are not even an option when it comes to reducing puffy under-eyes.
• You no longer care what you look like when popping to the shops
• Before you go anywhere, you consider and check out the parking arrangements
• Things you buy now won't wear out.
• There is always more food kept in the fridge compared to alcohol
• You watch the weather forecast  
• It turns out your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the weather forecast
• You no longer know every song on the radio.

• You have no idea what is in the music charts
• Teenagers annoy you
• You’re the one calling the police because those people next door won’t turn down the music.
• You have a party and the neighbours don't even realise it.
• You feed your dog a healthy diet instead of McDonald's leftovers.
• Dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning of one.
• You choose places to eat because they play quiet music
• Your metabolism is not what it used to be
• A £4.00 bottle of wine no longer is described as “pretty good shit.”
• Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.
• You pull a muscle putting on your socks
• You still prefer to print out directions than trust your sat-nav
• You have never used your phone as a sat-nav
• Sometimes when you stand up fast, you feel yourself losing balance.
• You have said the wrong number when someone has asked your age.
• You had a moment when you literally forgot how old you are
• You consider going to the post office as a "busy weekend."
• When the word ‘Thingy’ enters your daily vocabulary
• Choose a cup of tea over an alcoholic drink

• You can’t read the directions on your anti wrinkling cream
• People offer you a seat on public transport
• An 'All Nighter' means not having to get up to pee
• You walk around puddles
• When the candles cost more than the cake on your birthday
• You recycle correctly
• You cannot believe people were born in the 2000s.
• You have enquired to if there any good dentists in your area.
• You start having dry dreams and wet farts
• You have had to look up internet slang
• When you refer to grey hairs as wisdom highlights
• You consider speedos are acceptable
• You stop going to nightclubs
• Where your train of thought leaves the station without you
• There is nothing left to learn the hard way.

• You repeat yourself
• You repeat yourself

• You repeat yourself
• You repeat yourself

Age is a matter of mind - If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter! – Mark Twain

You can’t help getting older, but you don’t have to get old – George Burns

You are never too old to set another goal, dream another dream – CS Lewis

Getting old is no problem.  You just have to live long enough!  Groucho Marx