Signs of Getting Older are Signs of Getting Wiser

Men usually start to notice signs of getting older in their late 20s. Nights out are harder to recover from when waking up the next day, life becomes more about taking care of family than having fun, events that once caused intense grief now get recognized as small potatoes, and the rush to get the most out of every moment starts to fade a little. One day it hits you and the words leave your mouth: “I’m turning into an old man.”

The ensuing dread can be alleviated by reminding oneself of this truth: getting older is getting wiser. All the things previously mentioned as indicators of an apparently downward spiral are in fact the proof you need to feel validated as a full-grown man. Look at them this way to value the progress:

Less risk-taking

No longer going out on a weekly basis to drink, party, and cruise around town in an altered state is often interpreted as being “boring.” However this is actually a sign of the brain continuing to mature into our late-20s. For example, finding the best SR22 insurance is a particularly common rite of passage for male drivers in their late-teens to mid-20s, especially ones who have DUIs on their record. This is due to this particular demographic being the riskiest drivers on the road, generally speaking.

Reckless driving, DUIs, and other dangerous behavior behind the wheel statistically becomes less likely as men approach their 30s. By then most guys are maturing to a point where they acknowledge the potential for tragedy far outweighs the joys of high speed and inebriated operation. Assessing the real danger of risky driving, its consequences, and the factors which precipitate it may seem boring but it’s nothing other than becoming a wiser person.

More foresight

Choosing to spend wisely, save more spare money, and use the accruing wealth for investments instead of clothes and toys and vacations can leave a man feeling cheap and miserly. Financial maturity is by far the greatest benefit of becoming a wiser man as time goes on – and typically comes by the age of 25.

Material obsessions, technology updates every six months, eating out at fancy restaurants, and other ways to spend money aren’t inherent proof of being stuck in a teenage time warp of priorities. With that said, men ought to avoid these habits unless they still have money left over to save, invest, and of course pay the bills. More times than not folks start doing this without being told as their brains continue to develop.

Less attitude

Most of us can think back on a time when we were younger and were acting like complete and utter jerks. Insults, aggressive actions, and an assortment of other less-than-stellar behavior are hallmarks of adolescence and early adulthood. Fortunately they don’t last forever. Seen by some as a lowered level of passion or emotion, living life with less attitude is far from being an indicator of reduced vigor and “manliness.” It’s simply a sign of how experience impacts the way we treat others.

Eventually we start to value a calm demeanor in ourselves and in those we encounter more than being the dominant player in a situation. Anxious and angry actions and reactions not only rarely get us anywhere, they bring everybody down including the person with the attitude. By the time guys get to be around 30-years-old, they tend to acquire a less sparky perspective on approaching arguments and disagreements in life.

More patience

Similar to reduced attitude, getting older usually leads to more patience in people. However, this is commonly considered one of the classic signs of getting old: going about life at a slower pace than those around you. Rest assured, taking time to look at a map before performing an in-and-out mall mission is proof you’re a seasoned veteran of efficient gift buying, not a fuddy duddy.

Likewise, understanding the rotating nature of life’s ups and down is key to taking it easy when the chips are down. When grief strikes during youth it seems like the whole world is over – how can the heart ever heal from the pain being felt at this very moment? As time goes on we learn from experience how eventually things work themselves out in most circumstances. There’s no need stressing about the things out of our control and which inevitably cease to matter in the long run.

If you’re a man in your late 20s or early 30s then chances are that while you’re still youthful in appearance, your general attitude is starting to resemble your parents or grandparents. Relax – yes you’re technically getting older, but what it really means is you’re becoming a wiser person and therefore a better person.