
I’ve read that people are not afraid of death, but of dying and actually it’s about the fear of the pain and the strangeness. It’s similar with getting older. I don’t think people are afraid of old age. Getting older brings a lot of positive things with it.
You know yourself and don’t have to prove anything to yourself or others (not everyone, but probably the majority). Experience allows you to make decisions that would not have been possible when you were younger, and the social network you have built up over the years is so strong that you can’t fall. Those who enjoy learning throughout their lives learn new things and keep up with the latest technological developments well into old age. Old age then brings with it some physical ailments and dwindling energy. For some, also limited mental flexibility. The fear of old age is more a fear of the negative consequences it brings.
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