When did you know you were past your prime

I was well past the half century mark when I drove into my mechanics parking lot in a true sports car that I dearly loved to drive.  His wife was leaning against the door frame to the office with a cup of coffee in her hand when she commented, “ You know John, it is no longer sexy when you have to crawl out of your car on your hands and knees.”

No, I did not literally crawl out of the car, but I loved the comment.  And, it was closer to being true than I would have liked.

I started noticing by around 45 that my brain was slowing down. I write software for a living and this is kind of scary. I still have a bunch of gained perspective and wisdom, so I'm still worth having, but I don't love taking longer to think up solutions.

When I didn't recover from a nasty work accident, instead sinking into disability. I was 43.

Physically: For most of my adult life I lived in a ranch style house so my roof was only 9 feet off the ground. When doing roof work I would often just jump down to the ground instead of taking the ladder. At about age 42 I jumped and just sprawled there a second. I was fine but I knew better than to do that anymore.

Lifewise: I am done now. I have lived my life at 200 miles an hour, traveled the world, had a really interesting adult life careers wise, and written 14 novels and 3 children’s books. I officially retired at 42, but got a new appreciation for work and now work, but really don’t have too. In short I was a Gert who cashed out this year. It kind of sucks because I have no drive, nothing left to conquer, I literally have been there and done that. I’m not depressed, not in a mid-life crisis, so just have nothing challenging to do and I have always thrived on intense challenges.

i knew the party was over when the hangovers were not just the next day, but the day after that!!

I also had some healthy reminders from professionals: a neurologist colleague told me he stopped riding his motorcycle at 50, saying he just couldn't be sure his reflexes were that good anymore. I didn't say much but noticed my husband sold his crazy bike around that age as well. We both want to spend some more time with our daughter as she grows up, and I hope we are both lucky enough to get some more time. We've both dodged bullets in the last year and.... eep. I for one am appreciating every day I'm here.

Some endurance has faded, but I’m better at some things than I used to be.  Try not to think about it too much.  When you do, make a joke about it.  Set new achievable goals.  Save enough money to buy work saving equipment like woodsplitters, tractors with loaders, etc.  Transition into teaching and mentoring vs doing the work yourself.  Don’t hold yourself to the standard of your younger self.