I used to think that age equated to percentage of life lived, thus I thought that most people live to close around 100.
But it also made me think that people only get old when they’re like 80.
I mean like actually “old”. The “old” adults were referring to. At that age I considered those 14/15 year old 9th graders old, just a bit different “old”.
I don’t disagree. But between experience, resources amassed, and relationships built by the time you turn 40, it’s often possible to have a greater actual capability despite your slightly reduced theoretical capability.
Basically when you’re in your 20s you might have a bit more cognitive horsepower, but you typically lack some emotional and financial tools to leverage that horsepower more efficiently.