togger's posterous

Lifestyle changes

The age of 40 clearly used to be the turning point on health many years ago, the old saying "life begins at 40" should of course have been "death begins at 40" but fortunately, in most developed nations, mortality rates in 40 have dropped hugely and the majority can now expect to enjoy most of that three-score-and-ten.

How many people have made significant lifestyle changes as they entered or went through their 40s? Were you already relatively healthy with a good diet and exercise regime, or did you reach a road to Damascus moment?

I am way overdue to make my changes. There should  be plenty of motivation, but it simply hasn't tipped the balance yet. I am in the "react to events" rather "move toward goals" category (most people fit into one or the other) and have not yet had a fright (which could of course be devastating). I made one change last year, which was got myself onto projects that let me stay in a flat and cook for myself rather than suffering hotel food all the time, and it has made a difference.

One of the reasons I took up photography some years ago was to give me a hobby that would get me out and about after work, however, I naturally progressed to portraiture work (I like people) rather than landscape. I have to make a greater effort this year.

Church

Church

Not bad for a snap on a compact camera, I should not have been so dismissive of them. I have been planning to do more landscape photography this year (as a break from the vast amount of portraiture I do) but have not got around to it.

This was a quick grab after I paused in a lay-by on my drive down to Swansea one evening (to save an early morning drive). There were only a few minutes left of the golden-hour. I didn't have my main camera gear with me, but always have my compact in my work bag just in case. I am very pleased with the result.

(For anyone interested, the camera is a Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3, which, unlike many compact cameras, has both a fully manual mode and is able to shoot in RAW and it features a rather good Leica lens. It may have a small sensor, but the results are pretty impressive.)

Time passes more quickly as you get older

I remember my parents telling me many times that "time passes more quickly as you get older" (obviously, I have long under stood that they may perception of time). I have to agree, a year seems such a short time time and not enough time to get so many things done - at least not unless I prioritise brutally, but I like many of the odds and ends I do now including spending some time on forums like this. 

I wonder, does the effect continue, or as you get older and slower and perhaps find some things more difficult and/or painful, do things slow down again?

Music from my time


Many of the social networks and forum sites ask you to populate some kind of profile and those often include a question on what music you like. I always have a lot of trouble with this. 

I like a vast vast range of music ranging from classical to some of the latest pop ditties (snigger), from some many countries using a wide range of different instruments (including different ways of using the human voice). Some music moves me greatly. 

However, I remember the names/writers/performers of only a few. That few varies. What I like varies considerably. Music that I once felt I loved now does very little for me. 

So many of my age group though seem to have a very strong attachment to music of a particular era, music that was prominent at times of major events in their lives. 

I have certainly had major events, but music has not featured greatly in association with them. 

Interestingly, my wife's response and appreciation of music is pretty much the same as mine. Perhaps that is one of the reasons we were attracted to each other. 

I sometime wonder though if I have missed out somehow.