There are some things I am simply too old for… How about you?

There comes a point where you simply have to admit to yourself, “I’m too old for this.” And I’m not talking about things like rock climbing, which, quite frankly, I was too old for my entire life, I am talking about things that I simply have no time for anymore.

As Dominique Browning wrote so beautifully in the New York Times, “There is something profoundly liberating about ageing: an attitude, one that comes hard won. Only when you hit 60 can you begin to say, with great aplomb: ‘I’m too old for this.'”

So here we are – over the hill, put out to pasture, embarking on life’s penultimate journey. Actually, scrap all that because the first thing I am too old for is clichés about age – I am me, not the date on my birth certificate or the lines on my face. Inside, I reckon I’m around 32, but who cares? Because I’m done with my age defining how I am treated or how I behave.

Here are some other things I am too old for:

Fretting about my body

Dear younger self: Stop agonising over every extra millimetre or floppy bit. Trust me, 20-odd years from now, you’re going to look back on yourself and think, “Wow, I look so young and vibrant!” not “Gee I should have done something about those bingo wings.” And I suspect that when I’m 80, I will look back on pictures of me now and think the same thing.

Carting my crap around

It’s not just that I can’t lift heavy boxes any more these days, it’s that I don’t want to. Be gone clutter! Goodbye seven baking dishes, I only ever used one anyway!

Worrying I am not doing yoga “right”

I have never been flexible and now I realise I never will. But the other thing I have realised is that the point of yoga is not to stand on one leg with the other foot on your head, or even to curl up into a perfect, blissful child’s pose. The point is to move within the limits of your own body and to keep your limbs active and stretched. So what if I’m the only person in the room who can’t touch her toes? I’m there, aren’t I?

Overachieving

See above.

Downplaying my achievements

I’ve met many men who have no trouble describing their career, sporting or general life achievements. Why do we women find it so hard to do the same? I can’t answer that but I can say that I’m done with being blasé about my years of experience and what I’ve achieved in life.

People who don’t make good tea

If someone makes you a bad cup of tea – or doesn’t offer you one at all – they don’t really care about your wellbeing. I am too old to spend time with people who don’t love and nourish me in some way, even if it’s as simple as providing a good cuppa.

Fad diets

Oh, I’ve done them all. And it turns out, the best diet is this one: the Common Sense and Listening To Your Body diet.

Breathing other people’s smoke

It took me years to quit smoking and I have no desire to breathe in other people’s second-hand smoke. I can happily say, I’m now too old to be polite if someone lights a cigarette nearby.

Do you share these sentiments? What else are you too old for?