Since 3 weeks, I’m facing an ailing health. In Dutch we say: kwakkelen. First a back pain due to sudden vacation stress (my blog). Then pain in my right groin following some field hockey exercises. Since a few days, I’m having huge blisters following too much walking.
I am still laughing about my achings despite the occasional fierce pain. My body is telling me that I am getting old. My mind disagrees and wants to take at least a decade off my age. I do wonder about the compromise body & mind are working out.
Next year, I’ll be 60. That age was really old when I was a child and teenager. Nowadays, magazines and newspapers are inventing new words for active seniors: jagger, vitalo, young elderly person. In 2007, the “preferred word choice in a new survey” was just ‘older’ (CSM). Only 12 years later, ‘older’ is no longer an appropriate label.
Probably, the main difference between 2007 and 2019 is the growing use of technology amongst seniors (Pew-2017). The use of social media by elderly people “steadily increases”. And also: “Four-in-ten seniors now own smartphones, more than double the share that did so in 2013”.
Technology has also had a huge impact on dating: “While online dating was once considered taboo, the number of couples meeting online has more than doubled in the last decade to about 1-in-5. Nowadays, you’re much more likely to meet your next partner online rather than through your family or co-workers. But don’t worry, your friends are still a good help too.” (source)
Hence, the following makes perfect sense: “From 2013 to 2015, the share of 55- to 64-year olds has doubled from 6% to 12%. According to Nielsen data, one in 10 American adults spends more than an hour a day on a dating app.” (source) Note LO: bold marking in quote by me.
I’ve had a few surprises during my 50+ dating:
- My age of 59 was not helpful: too old for 50+ and too young for 60+.
- The number of 70+ cougars looking for active 50+ seniors.
I’ve mixed feelings about 50+ dating. It’s best to keep your expectations (very) low. Else, the number of disappointments will cause too much negativity in your life. On the other hand, my dating efforts have been input for several well-read blogs. Actually, my dating efforts are more and more becoming research for my writing.
Age Ain’t Nothing But A Number (1994) by Aaliyah (1979-2001)
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2, Wiki-3
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless stated otherwise
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