Continuing to Peak in middle age?

Anyone else experiencing this? After having no jumper for the past 50+ yrs, worked on actually learning to shoot and last night hit 10 3s , have never done that before. Of course body is killing me today.

Also have gotten golf handicap/index down to 6.7, never below 10 until 2 yrs ago.

Damn wish I had this when I was 30.

 

I have an older brother, in his early 60s, who was never seen as mechanically inclined (as another older brother definitely always has been). Nor did he ever show any interest in learning anything in particular. He was kind of the ne'r-do-well one in our large family while growing up -- not dumb but never a good student, and the only thing of note he ever earned in school was the label of "class clown" in his graduating class. And if there was ever trouble, he was usually in the middle of it. Paradoxically, he always was well-liked by others, worked in many different jobs, and, he always worked, you could always say that, if never in a high-powered job. He has always been just an average guy, literally just going along through life.

Now, lately, he has been re-roofing his house, putting in a new transmission in his car, rebuilding/refinishing his deck, and all sorts of things he's never done before in his life. The rest of us have been amazed, and wondering, where has this guy been all his life?

I think it's been a little bit of necessity being the mother of invention, because he's not been able to afford to have everything done for him lately, but also, probably, there's some perspective involved, where people become more willing to try and do new things as they get older. There's an appreciation of time, and life, and more of a desire for certain things and ways for them to be, and, with any effort, they become better versions of themselves.

I feel like the same thing has happened to me, though in different ways than my brother. We're very different people who have lived very different lives, but still, the process of growing older with grace is definitely a thing, in my opinion.

 

Nice! Wish I could play every day.

 

I’m turning 50 in 6 weeks (party in the backyard for all who want to come) and I feel better then I ever have. More limber and in better cardio shape than ever. Been trying to dunk for the first time in 15+ years, but that is likely not going to happen.

 

I have a cousin who just turned 48, and I am about to do the same. He's never been overly eager to exert himself, and something that should take a few weeks takes him a few years. Lately he's said "I don't do anything anymore without considering how much effort it's going to take." and "Well, at this point in our lives, I don't guess we need to be starting any big projects."

I just laughed and said I hope to have another 35-40 years in me, so forget that noise.

 

Sixty was more of an eye-opener, mainly because of the weirdness of the previous five years (axed from Turner, melanoma, my criminal issues, Gwen having sepsis) and the realization that you've reached a point in your life that you're past halfway now. You can't even fathom at 25 that you'll some day be "a senior citizen" -- but have no guarantees that you've got another 25 left. Mom and Dad will be 85 next year, so that's my target.

I have little interest in breaking out the shawl, buying a rocking chair and playing Mahjong all morning. qtlaw's comments about basketball made me go to the local college gym last night and shoot baskets for 15 minutes (I actually made one 3-pointer and several short jumpers, although most everything else was an air ball). That was after carding a 47-37 on the golf course in the morning (and I missed four birdie putts on the back nine).

Bucket list? Not really. I've seen all 50 states. I have no book to write, no unresolved yearnings.

I'm extremely lucky, in many ways. I could have been shot five years ago. I have my health. I have no financial concerns. If I feel like sticking a pin in the map and driving my motorhome there, I can. As long as my health holds out -- and I feel like I'm probably in better shape than I was at 40 -- there's no reason to waste whatever time is left. At the same time, I can sit here and stream any baseball game I want without having to concern myself with deadlines or ledes.

I wouldn't call it "peaking" as much as trying to maintain whatever level I'm at for as long as possible. Death will come to all of us. I'd like to get there on my terms.

 

Read maumann’s story in “Anything Goes”, Moddy. Pretty fascinating reading.

 

My dad is only about two years older than you are. He turns 65 in August.