Passion!

Pleaseadvise

When you say 'older', what age do you have in mind? My husband and I are in our 40s and still just as enthusiastic as ever about all kinds of things. My dad was 80 recently and he's had some health problems in the last couple of years and slowed down a lot, but he was still keen on his hobbies until late in his 70s.

engineer_amy

Maybe a feeling of not letting yourself get too overexcited about something in case it doesn't happen, or you get let down, or disappointed.
Or maybe we are all too cautious and averse to risk... when you have a mortgage and bills and family responsibilities, thrill seeking has to take a back seat. You tend to do the same thing again and again.


I find the above happens with me and new experiences, but I still get excited about things - a friend going into labour, getting to test drive a flashy car, winning £2.60 on the Euromillions!
I would just say what I get passionate/excited about now has changed from when I was 18/20....probably for the 2 reasons above

millysg1

Im 27 and this is how I am. I don't get extreme emotions about anything.

Everyone has always commented on how calm I am about everything.
For example, when we bought our house everyone kept asking if its was stressful or the week before exchanging if I was excited? I was just hmmph im fine about it all.

Same with wedding, never got stressed once about organizing it and even the week running up to it I wasn't excited nor unhappy/worried.

Im currently pregnant with my first child and again, everyone keeps asking about being excited or worried, and I hear of other people getting excited when they buy the pram or decorate the nursery. But im just cool as a cucumber and couldn't care less about unpacking my pram!

Maybe my logical and very organized side of me just wont let me get worried or too excited and just keeps me at a state on nonchalance.

millysg1

engineer_amy wrote: »

Maybe a feeling of not letting yourself get too overexcited about something in case it doesn't happen, or you get let down, or disappointed.

I think that might be the case with me a little. No high expectations, take life as it comes, so don't worry about it or get too excited about it.

though I am a happy person and wouldn't change a thing. I also have a positive outlook on life.

Mr_Toad

It doesn't apply to everyone.

Only last night in the pub my girlfriend was saying that I'm like a big kid because I get excited and enthusiastic about stuff and I'm 57.

She was saying to the other girls that it must be nice to have never really grown up and to never take stuff too seriously. I did point out that I still managed to be debt free and retired with all the toys by 55.

When people are starting to wrap things up for the night because 'I have work tomorrow' I still get pleasure from pointing out that I don't, have work that is, because I took early retirement two years ago. Her comment was that you'd have thought the novelty would have worn off by now. It hasn't.

Life is good and there are loads of things still to do and see!

Reggie_Rebel

I'm apathetic about most things, at least I would be if I could be bothered

74jax

I've just turned 40 and would say I'm passionate about lots. I get so excited about weekends, seeing friends even tho I see them all the time.

We've got holidays booked and can't stop liking at the hotels.

I get butterflies thinking of nights out planned with hubby and family.

Just love Christmas, birthdays, any celebration.

I am just a big kid really.

calleyw

I am only 42 and don't get really excited in my life any more.

Suffered depression and had really tough time over the last 8 and a bit years due to various things.

Not sure there is much that will make me like that any more.

I have resigned myself to not bothering. So much easier can't get let down.

I know that makes me sound a misery. I do know how to have a laugh and a joke and silly things make me laugh. Like the M & M Advert when they say they are going to eat one of the hostages :rotfl:

But I have lost my mojo and can't seem to get it back.

Need a kick up the bum LOL!!!

Yours

Calley

fluffnutter

Yes, it's partly hormonal and partly because you've experienced more, but I'd say it's normal to feel less excited by things as you get older.

Personally... what a relief! Who wants to feel the constant angst and jangling nerves of your youth? Nothing makes me happier now than a hot bath, a decent book and a nice cup of tea.

belisha-beacon

Jagraf wrote: »

I'm really struggling to feel passionate about anything - I don't experience extreme sensations of happiness, sadness, excitement etc.

OP, it could be 'just an age thing' but it's also worth bearing in mind that what you're describing is also a really common symptom of depression. And it's possible to be depressed without even having an obvious reason. People often think that depression is extreme sadness but my experience of it has always been much more a complete absence of emotions, an inability to feel motivation, anger, happiness, sadness. Just a long feeling of 'meh', really. If it is depression then it is often easily treatable so do have a think about if it might be.

What I'd suggest thinking about is: are you feeling less emotion because your life has changed and you do less 'emotional' stuff - starting or ending relationships, trying new things, meeting new people and so on. Or has your life stayed pretty much the same but you have stopped feeling what you'd normally feel? If you're regularly getting thoughts like, "Oh, in the past I would have thought this experience was exhilarating but I'm just not feeling it now" or, "in the past I would have been furious and written a letter of complaint about that, but it just doesn't seem worth the effort", perhaps speak to a GP or have a think about whether there is something you can change that will stop you feeling that way?

What made me suggest this thought process was that you said you are 'struggling' to experience emotion. That made me wonder if you want to but just aren't feeling able to, and that it feels to you that something is wrong.