Does life begin at 40?
#1
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Does life begin at 40?
Well it's my birthday today and I'm 39.
If the rumours are to be believed then my life should really begin next year
Had a good day following the wife around Next and BHS all day accessorising the house
Funny how life seems to be going really quickly lately
If the rumours are to be believed then my life should really begin next year
Had a good day following the wife around Next and BHS all day accessorising the house
Funny how life seems to be going really quickly lately
#7
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Scientists have theories, of course, and one of them is that when you experience something for the very first time, more details, more information gets stored in your memory. Think about your first kiss.
Neuroscientist David Eagleman of Baylor College of Medicine says that since the touch of the lips, the excitement, the taste, the smell — everything about this moment is novel — you aren't embroidering a bank of previous experiences, you are starting fresh.
Have you noticed, he says, that when you recall your first kisses, early birthdays, your earliest summer vacations, they seem to be in slow motion? "I know when I look back on a childhood summer, it seems to have lasted forever," he says.
That's because when it's the "first", there are so many things to remember. The list of encoded memories is so dense, reading them back gives you a feeling that they must have taken forever. But that's an illusion. "It's a construction of the brain," says Eagleman. "The more memory you have of something, you think, 'Wow, that really took a long time!'
"Of course, you can see this in everyday life," says Eagleman, "when you drive to your new workplace for the first time and it seems to take a really long time to get there. But when you drive back and forth to your work every day after that, it takes no time at all, because you're not really writing it down anymore. There's nothing novel about it."
That may be because the brain records new experiences — especially novel and exciting experiences — differently. This is even measurable. Eagleman's lab has found that brains use more energy to represent a memory when the memory is novel.
So, first memories are dense. The routines of later life are sketchy. The past wasn't really slower than the present. It just feels that way.
Neuroscientist David Eagleman of Baylor College of Medicine says that since the touch of the lips, the excitement, the taste, the smell — everything about this moment is novel — you aren't embroidering a bank of previous experiences, you are starting fresh.
Have you noticed, he says, that when you recall your first kisses, early birthdays, your earliest summer vacations, they seem to be in slow motion? "I know when I look back on a childhood summer, it seems to have lasted forever," he says.
That's because when it's the "first", there are so many things to remember. The list of encoded memories is so dense, reading them back gives you a feeling that they must have taken forever. But that's an illusion. "It's a construction of the brain," says Eagleman. "The more memory you have of something, you think, 'Wow, that really took a long time!'
"Of course, you can see this in everyday life," says Eagleman, "when you drive to your new workplace for the first time and it seems to take a really long time to get there. But when you drive back and forth to your work every day after that, it takes no time at all, because you're not really writing it down anymore. There's nothing novel about it."
That may be because the brain records new experiences — especially novel and exciting experiences — differently. This is even measurable. Eagleman's lab has found that brains use more energy to represent a memory when the memory is novel.
So, first memories are dense. The routines of later life are sketchy. The past wasn't really slower than the present. It just feels that way.
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#8
Happy birthday, Hanley! I am glad you weren't born yesterday.
Well, this "Life begins at 40" is just something to make 40 yr. olds feel better, really. But let's presume that life can begin at 40 for some. I still wouldn't get too excited about it, though. Once you touch 40, time flies full speed downhill, and before you know it, your teeth drop out. However, look at the bright side, and think about the relaxing times on a coach trip to York for 20 quid with the people of your own age bracket. They all say just one thing to each other, "Nice day, isn't it ?". Talking from experience, of course.
Well, this "Life begins at 40" is just something to make 40 yr. olds feel better, really. But let's presume that life can begin at 40 for some. I still wouldn't get too excited about it, though. Once you touch 40, time flies full speed downhill, and before you know it, your teeth drop out. However, look at the bright side, and think about the relaxing times on a coach trip to York for 20 quid with the people of your own age bracket. They all say just one thing to each other, "Nice day, isn't it ?". Talking from experience, of course.
#12
Nope....
The quote should be "life begins (going downhill) at 40.......
Every ache,pain,lump and bump is a potential life threatening disease..
A lot of people you know start to die.
Most of your energy is depleted just by going to work.
You start to "look" older as grey starts to seep into your hair and beard..
Life insurance really starts to look interesting..
Oh...Car insurance is cheap though..
The quote should be "life begins (going downhill) at 40.......
Every ache,pain,lump and bump is a potential life threatening disease..
A lot of people you know start to die.
Most of your energy is depleted just by going to work.
You start to "look" older as grey starts to seep into your hair and beard..
Life insurance really starts to look interesting..
Oh...Car insurance is cheap though..
#14
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Three years and 7months to the magic 50 for me
Life gets better after 40 I think kids fly the nest no mortgage and more disposable income means more cash for things you really like
Only sad things are looking at friends getting older and ill health on others your age is worrying also grey and balding and bigger bellies are the worry so take a photograph every year and watch the changes
Life gets better after 40 I think kids fly the nest no mortgage and more disposable income means more cash for things you really like
Only sad things are looking at friends getting older and ill health on others your age is worrying also grey and balding and bigger bellies are the worry so take a photograph every year and watch the changes
#15
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Happy Birthday, i'm just a few months behind you and turning 40 next year will be a big shock as I still feel like i'm 29. Perhaps I need to grow up, perhaps I need to realise getting old doesn't change how you feel/behave but just your appearance! However I do like the idea of a mid life crisis as an excuse to buy lots of boys toys.
#17
You are to old to go to clubs at thirty, give up graciously and enjoy live without what is generally a tedious, expensive and usually fruitless exercise, never really enjoyed it, one of those things where the anticipation is better than the actual doing.
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Imho 40-50 is a good decade as you're old enough to have a lot of experience behind you yet young enough to still be reasonably fit etc so can still enjoy yourself + in theory you should have a fair bit of disposable income available (kids left home, well paid job etc)... if only the 25yr old wimmins would pay me some attention
TX.
TX.
Last edited by Terminator X; 02 April 2012 at 10:18 PM. Reason: typo
#19
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43. One thing I notice is the weddings get fewer, and the funerals increase
Other than that life is great mate, enjoy it!
Damn it, I've just **** me pants again
Other than that life is great mate, enjoy it!
Damn it, I've just **** me pants again
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Nope....
The quote should be "life begins (going downhill) at 40.......
Every ache,pain,lump and bump is a potential life threatening disease..
A lot of people you know start to die.
Most of your energy is depleted just by going to work.
You start to "look" older as grey starts to seep into your hair and beard..
Life insurance really starts to look interesting..
Oh...Car insurance is cheap though..
The quote should be "life begins (going downhill) at 40.......
Every ache,pain,lump and bump is a potential life threatening disease..
A lot of people you know start to die.
Most of your energy is depleted just by going to work.
You start to "look" older as grey starts to seep into your hair and beard..
Life insurance really starts to look interesting..
Oh...Car insurance is cheap though..
I agree...except for the last bit.
#26