Sunday, March 15, 2009

Something to think about and a question.........

So today is my 45th birthday, and a thought crossed my mind. I wonder if I am half way through my life? So I decided to see what the average age was when women died in Canada and it is 80 years of age. So that means I am on the downward slippery slope to dying. Gosh isn't this a cheerful post....LOL

The life expectancy of women in the USA is 79 years of age.

The life expectancy of women in Britain is 81 years of age

This link is really interesting, and makes me very thankful to live where we live, as in a number of countries, there is a good chance I would be dead by now.

Another thought crossed my mind is that, am I MIDDLE-AGED now? So I decided to look up the definition of "middle-aged" to see what was what, and here is what it says: "being roughly between 45 and 65 years old" as per this source. So I guess I am now middle-aged as well as being over half way through my life!!!!

Now before you think, oh she must be ever so depressed about turning 45, I'm not. I had a harder time turning 25. That birthday totally depressed me, as I felt so old....... Turning 30 and 40 didn't phase me.

Did you have a birthday that made you depressed, happy or over emotional?

Tomorrow, I will post all about my birthday and what gifts I got, which should be more cheerful!!

21 comments:

Linda said...

I turned 45 last November, and had the same thoughts. I felt the same way about 30 and 40. 45 seems like a whole different ballgame to 40. Seems unfair, maybe we are in an adjustment phase, just getting our head around things.

Stephanie D said...

My 35th birthday was a bummer. I didn't mind 30, but I figured, at 35, my life was half over and I'd accomplished nothing and few would know if I'd lived or died. It was a real pity party.

Hubby gave me a pin for my birthday--I never wear pins. Brother-in-law who was living with us at the time gave me a card that said something about "beating them off with your cane". The cake they bought me was some flavor I don't really like (can't remember now what it was). Everyone was batting a thousand.

Hubby and I were supposed to go out to dinner, but while sitting in a long hot bath, I changed my mind and went to bed instead, leaving them all up to eat my cake.

A couple of days later, I took care of a man who truly had no one to care about him. He was a Vietnam vet turned long haul truck driver, who had been divorced from his wife for many years and never saw his children. His sister was his only kin, and she instructed us not to call her again unless he died.

God had whomped me upside the head and I got the message. Now I truly do celebrate every year.

Cathi said...

Happy Birthday!! My worst birthday was 25. For some reason that one really threw me. I hit 50 and didn't even blink but 25? I think I cried on and off the whole day long!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Lindsay said...

I am now 64 but still lament the day I turned 50!!! My 60th was a good day - instead of the aqua class programmed at pool where I attend regularly we had a pool party. Egg and spoon race with ping pong balls etc etc. Afterwards I had organised a proper tea party with sandwiches, cake and champagne jelly! Everyone enjoyed it.

Angry In Oman said...

Happy Birthday Gill, I hope you have a special day.

As trivial as it sounds now, I was very depressed on my 22nd birthay, because I really did want to be forever 21. 21 was one of the greatest years of my life and I didn't think anything would ever measure up.

Oh...the ignorance of youth!

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

Happy Birthday Gill - hope you have a lovely day. Interesting post too. I am fast approaching my 65th birthday so probably need to look and see how I will be considered in the "aged" scheme of things. A x

stitchersanon said...

Happy birthday!!!! Hope it is/was a goodun.

On a dif note, no good looking at life expectancy..when its your time its your time as Jade Goody shows. Personally as long as I get to see my children grow up, everything else is a bonus.
After watching Comic Relief and seeing in some countries 1 in 8 die during childbirth, well it puts it into perspective.

It isnt the length of the journey, it is the manner in which you travel!!

The Good Life in Virginia said...

a very happy birthday to you gill.
anxious to hear about the festivities.

yesterday was my husband's birthday. took him out to dinner and had a cake for him when we returned...it was a blaze of 36 candles (he is far from 36). he smiled.

enjoy your 45th.

landcuckoo said...

Happy Birthday! Have a wonderful day x.

I agree with Gaynors sentiments - it isn't the length of the journey, its the manner in which you travel - so very very true.

Birthdays were and still aren't a big thing with my family, but I think they should be celebrated in style. That said, the past few years I have really struggled with my own birthdays, I just want the world to go away and take no notice of me on that particular day, but at the same time it would be nice to be noticed and appreciated by others not just my husband, who does and is wonderful! I'm working on this issue!!!

So Hubby and I are really trying to buck the trend of our own families and are making a point of celebrating other peoples birthdays and our own just by making more effort for others and thinking ahead more.

I hope my journey continues to be a good one with plenty of photos to take!

Take care all
Sarah x

ChaChaneen said...

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Gill,
Happy Birthday toooooo youuuuuu!
Make a memory no matter your age my friend.

To answer your question, I just turned 40 a few months ago and I can definitely say this is the year that I'm see things change, body wise. My skin looks different, more age spots appearing, skin drier, weight WON'T come off as easily, etc the list goes on. In fact, its just what everyone says. ha ha

Winifred said...

I remeber I was desperate when I had to leave my teenage years and be twenty. Old age I thought.

I din't worry about forty or fifty because I thought I still looked OK. Getting to sixty was a bit harder because I could see my face really changing. Well I'm getting used to it now. I'll have to.

Anonymous said...

Every single birthday I've had since 22 has been a bummer, ha ha! I think we all need to do a better job of taking it one day at a time and making the most out that day.

MyBulletinBoard said...

Bless you! Bless you! Bless you! I like your definition of middle-aged best. It's better than the last one I heard. Many churches around here call 55 senior citizen.

We checked into a motel late one night with the kids still in car seats. They gave us a senior citizen discount because DH has silver hair. And that was nineteen years ago.

Happy Birthday! Liz

Canadian Saver said...

Happy Birthday :-) My hardest was when I turned 25 too, like Catherine... I realized then I was no longer a student, young adult, immature.

We are indeed very blessed with living where we do!

Scrappy quilter said...

Happy Birthday friend....

Now wait until you get to my age and then you can say you're over the hill and on the way down. You're still a young chicken. Turning 50 about did me in!!

Rudee said...

Happy Birthday to you!

Evelyn said...

Happy birthday! I am right behind you and will be 44 this year. Haven't had a hard birthday yet except for the one when it was a blizzard and I didn't get any presents til the next day.

Pat - Arkansas said...

Happy Birthday to you, Gill! I hope you are having a wonderful day!

My worst birthday was 27! Can you imagine having a horrible birthday when you're that young? The problem was, I didn't *feel* young; I had just divorced, had four children ages 6 and under, and was "economically challenged," shall we say. I didn't much care for 39, but I was happy as a lark at 40, 50, 60, and 70, and am looking forward (God willing) to my 75th birthday this fall.

Margaret's Ramblings said...

Oh thank you, thank you, thank you. I am still middle aged and according to you will be for another five years. Whew!! and I was frightened I was slipping into the (hush) elderly range.

Margaret

Happy Birthday

Gill - That British Woman said...

thank you for all your birthday wishes, and I am glad to see other people have had issues with certain birthdays.

Gill

DeniseinVA said...

For a start people in my family don't have very long life-spans. On Gregg's side, his father's, they live up to 100 years' old! His mother's side, not so much. This all being said we've both decided to have a good time while we are here, not crazy you understand because we are far too set in our ways, but we're going to have fun in our own way. When you were born I was already 14 years' old by the way and before I get even more carried away, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! No milestone of birthdays has ever bothered me much. Gregg's birthday is coming up on Wednesday.

{{{SIGH}}}

Tuesday was a mixed bag type of day. Had the appliance repair guy come again to install another circuit board in the fridge.  When hubby got...