Quote Originally Posted by PamNY View Post

When we say that what we see in the mirror doesn't match what we feel inside, we are (to some extent) making assumptions about what it feels like to be old. I suspect that some of our assumptions are wrong.
This is a very, very good point. I read 'Water for Elephants' a few months back (and if you haven't read it, you should - phenominal book) and it really, really opened my eyes to aging. The story is told through the eyes of a man in his late 80's or early 90's (I forget his actual age) and it is soooo revealing about how older people get treated and often dismissed. And how much of a struggle it can be to have your brain think you are still capable of so much more than your body can put out. It really illuminated Pam's point - many of our assumptions about what it's like to 'feel' old are likely wrong.

I'd totally forgotten about that until just now. Thanks for the reminder, PamNY!