Great list, Lou. I realized this weekend that I am too old to host 7-year-old girl's birthday parties. We hosted one in our social room in my apartment building. Eight 7-year-old girls. My son joked that it was a "little girl apocalypse" and he wasn't far off. The volume alone may necessitate hearing aids. Fun, hilarious and LOTS of drama. But as I sat with my husband and their parents, slurping my post apocalypse beer, we all agreed. Next year, we're taking them out somewhere and letting pros handle it.
Little girl apocalypse! 😂 That is both terrifying and so accurate. I admire your bravery, but yes—next year, let the pros handle the chaos while you sip your ‘I survived’ beverage in peace. You’ve earned it. 🤗
Great list. I’m also too old to keep worrying about the five pounds I’d like to lose…no matter how much I weigh! (I admit I haven’t figured out how to turn that worry off for good.)
All of your choices are on my list, with more being added every day. People who ignore homeless people are one of mine: they are so often fascinating to talk to!
Unless the homeless person you have chosen to speak to as a fellow human being rejects your lofty patronage with a "you just want to hear my poverty porn story,the cash machine is over there but you're too lazy to go to it". Now,that's a coversation stopper eh? Not all homeless people are nice. Just like all blonde women are stupid. Or all rich people are nasty.
I love this list, cheap wine. Terrible food. friends who can't make the time. Feeling crippled with guilt, (I have spent most of my life feeling guilty for one imaginary thing or another). A makeup ritual that takes longer than 10 mins.
Ahhh thank you so much, for recommending my newsletter, Lou! My dad went into hospice care this week. I am too old to keep carrying my shame over shit that went down when I was young and still figuring out how life worked. AMEN. 🙏🏼
You're so welcome, Marika. And I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. That’s a lot to carry. Sending you strength and peace during this time. And YES—amen to that. No more dragging old shame around. ❤️
Yes, yes, and YES to all of these, Ellen! Especially the swimsuit one—life’s too short to let a piece of fabric have that much power over us. And if you end up on BlueSky, report back, please! I need intel. 😆
Great list, Lou. I realized this weekend that I am too old to host 7-year-old girl's birthday parties. We hosted one in our social room in my apartment building. Eight 7-year-old girls. My son joked that it was a "little girl apocalypse" and he wasn't far off. The volume alone may necessitate hearing aids. Fun, hilarious and LOTS of drama. But as I sat with my husband and their parents, slurping my post apocalypse beer, we all agreed. Next year, we're taking them out somewhere and letting pros handle it.
Little girl apocalypse! 😂 That is both terrifying and so accurate. I admire your bravery, but yes—next year, let the pros handle the chaos while you sip your ‘I survived’ beverage in peace. You’ve earned it. 🤗
Great list. I’m also too old to keep worrying about the five pounds I’d like to lose…no matter how much I weigh! (I admit I haven’t figured out how to turn that worry off for good.)
oh my lord, yes! That should have been on my list too 🤗
A bit too old to appease family simply because they are family.
I hear you Paula. It's def time we release ourselves from that pressure, isn't it? 🤗
Love Eddy Grant. 🎶
I agree with everything on your list. What would I add...? 🤔
✅️Sharing hotel rooms with friends (I love them but I need my sleep)
✅️ Not speaking up when I disagree with someone and/or they're being disrespectful to me or someone else
✅️ Not trying new things if it's something I'm drawn to do
Ooh - I have that thing now with sharing hotel rooms with friends too, for the same reason! 🤗
All of your choices are on my list, with more being added every day. People who ignore homeless people are one of mine: they are so often fascinating to talk to!
I'm 80: I'll develop more as time goes on . . .
Love this Nancy!
Unless the homeless person you have chosen to speak to as a fellow human being rejects your lofty patronage with a "you just want to hear my poverty porn story,the cash machine is over there but you're too lazy to go to it". Now,that's a coversation stopper eh? Not all homeless people are nice. Just like all blonde women are stupid. Or all rich people are nasty.
I love this list, cheap wine. Terrible food. friends who can't make the time. Feeling crippled with guilt, (I have spent most of my life feeling guilty for one imaginary thing or another). A makeup ritual that takes longer than 10 mins.
Love your list too, Caroline! And that feeling guilty - I can so relate!
I love this post!
"Too old for...." indeed I also have a list! But mine is usually prefaced with "I'm old enough that I don't have to...."
- drink mediocre wine
- drink alcohol if I don't feel like it
- work for people who annoy me
- spend my time trying to read other people's minds
- meet unspoken expectations
- meet anyone's expectations (except my own, and even then....)
- compete
Ahhh thank you so much, for recommending my newsletter, Lou! My dad went into hospice care this week. I am too old to keep carrying my shame over shit that went down when I was young and still figuring out how life worked. AMEN. 🙏🏼
You're so welcome, Marika. And I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. That’s a lot to carry. Sending you strength and peace during this time. And YES—amen to that. No more dragging old shame around. ❤️
Too old to be right all the time.
Too old to be wrong all the time.
Too old to color my hair.
I'm too old to worry about how I look in a swimsuit.
(Definitely connected to Renee's worry about the 5 lbs , no 15 I'd like to lose, see below.
To worry about how often in a week I eat eggs. (Fortunately no cholesterol problems. Yet?)
To drink non-fat milk.
For TikTok - or social media with bad owners. Substack is enough, although my son wants me to try BlueSky....
Not to say my age when asked.
Yes, yes, and YES to all of these, Ellen! Especially the swimsuit one—life’s too short to let a piece of fabric have that much power over us. And if you end up on BlueSky, report back, please! I need intel. 😆
I love this list! Thank you. I am too old to use the word "should" -- I should do this, You should do that....
Oh yeah, the "should show"! 🫣
Yes yes yes!!!
Too old,(well also unfit and sore knees) to climb high hills in the Lake District!
I am too old for:
1. Friends who don’t respect my commitment to things that matter to me
2. Surviving on less than 7.5 hrs of sleep
3. Maintaining relationships for the heck of it
4. Clothes that don’t feel good to me
5. IG (left last May and never looked back)
I checked off everything on your list! I’d also want to have a “I am still not too old for …” list, and the first few are:
I am not too old to day dream;
I am not too old to look and feel beautiful;
I am not too old to be attractive;
I am not too old to learn something new or start a project;
…
For sure! 😇