For those of us who are seniors, what was the one thing that surprised you the most about getting older?

At 66 the thing that surprised me was: "How did I get here so fast?" It seems everything that I'd wanted to do and kept putting off until "later" never materialized and here it is: "later". It's unlikely I'll get do those things, and honestly, I don't even want to do them anymore. I don't seem to be able to retain information the way I used to and my problem solving ability seems to be circling the drain. Just hoping that it's not a sign of imminent dementia. The other thing that sucks about getting old is realizing that though I'm doing my darndest to take care of my 94-year old mom, that there's going to be no one, zippo, zilch to help me out should I reach that age. It's disturbing and depressing.

I am 67. I used to be a goodie two shoes when I was young. I was groomed to be a people pleaser by my mother but had had an epiphany a few years ago that I was a sucker. I have decided life is too short and I should do what I want and not let my life be navigated by other peoples’ demands. For the record my 94 year old mother is not happy with me with the decisions I’ve made but I am trying to live my best life now. Being a senior with most of my good years behind me had made me realize there are no do overs. You go around once.

I’m dismayed by the fact that even when in respectable health and good fitness, how fast you lose ground if there’s any setbacks, and then how much more time & effort it takes to reclaim what was lost, if even possible.

Surprised how much physical strength and stamina I've lost, but equally surprised at how much stronger I am emotionally. My motto is "Roll with it, Baby!"

I wasn't prepared for losing so many important people in my life.

I hate hate hate that my body is failing one little piece at a time.
First it was my eyes - multi focal lenses here we come, but no matter what I do I still can't really see fine details any more.
Then my feet went wonky; I need toe separators and arch supports and metatarsal pads and no sooner do I fix one thing than something else crops up.
Weight gain and muscle loss post menopause - I used to be someone that people hated because I could pig out on anything and never even think about it, now I must be obsessive about getting my 20,000 steps every day or my weight begins to creep up.
I need a jar opener now.
And my back hurts.
I can't balance on one leg to put on my shoes or socks... plus I have trouble even bending that far because my hips just don't want to do that.

This is why getting old isn't for sissies, god help me I'm only 62 and the women in my family tend to live into their 90's!

That I could actually learn to play the tuba.

A nurse reminded me “These are not the ‘golden years’. They are the rusty years. Things keep rusting away.” And what surprises me every day is looking down at crepey skin on my my hands and realizing there is less time left than I’ve lived.

How hard it is for me to get UP when I'm sitting on the floor playing with my grandson. I have to find something to hold onto in order to pull myself up, or I can't seem to do it.

I am 80 and it surprises me how quickly it comes, and who, by the way is that old woman staring out of mirrors and window reflection? You still feel much more young inwardly if you are so lucky as to be fully able in your later years.
So, how quick it comes and how fast time flies when you are there (breakfast every 15 minutes, basically) and how you still feel young (and even uncertain) "inside".
I hope the admins will move this to discussions where it will be longer-lived. An interesting question.