I drank a LOT of coffee when I was in my 20s – sometimes five or six cups a day at work, and quite often even more later in the evening should I happen to find myself out with friends. And when I was in my 20s, I could actually handle it.
I remember many a late evening of long restaurant chats, solving all the world’s problems over countless refills of strong black coffee (as an aside, I took my coffee with milk and sugar at first, but learned early on to drink it – and love it – black to avoid the extra calories) – then heading home, immediately falling asleep, and waking up refreshed and ready for work the next morning (well, as refreshed as a non-morning person can ever be!).
Ah, youth.
These days I pretty much have to stick with my one delicious cup of coffee every morning and leave it at that. I might have another if I go out during the day, but unless it’s the weekend and I can afford to stay up late and sleep in the next morning, I don’t dare add caffeine to my system past suppertime.
But yesterday one thing led to another and I ended up going completely off the rails. I had my usual morning coffee, which was followed by a Venti iced coffee with milk when I was out with friends, a can of Coke at the restaurant where Peter and I ate dinner, and, to top it all off, an enormous bubble tea to round out my caffeinated debauch.
And I rudely (and speedily) got the memo that I am no longer in my 20s (or even my 30s, for that matter!) with a super late night, unsatisfying sleep, and queasy, caffeine-hangover stomach today.
On the plus side, I did manage to stay up and finish a piece of artwork! And as Monday is my day off and I didn’t have other plans that took me out of the house, I was able to sleep in and then have a late afternoon nap.
But I can’t say I’m fond of these reminders that I am fast aging and can no longer handle the things that were once of no real concern. Of course aging is better than the alternative… but days like this I miss the youth I didn’t value enough when it was mine.
What little things bother you about aging?
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Twitter: writercat
July 13, 2015
Yep, the ol bod sure doesn’t bounce back from stuff like that as we get older, does it? I used to be able to stay up late and get up early for work. Can’t do that anymore. I’m still an early riser but I usually go to bed by 930. I still guzzle the coffee but only til noon or I’d be like you and be tossing and turning all night. Funny I can drink tea in the evening and it doesn’t affect me that way. My main complaint these days is menopause. Holy moly does it mess up your system and just when you think it’s all over and done with, wham, you get more horrible hormonal upsets. I thought I was finished but am having the period from hell at the moment since getting off estrogen. Not pleasant. Aren’t you glad I shared that? Heheh!
Cat Graham recently posted… #MondayMusings #MicroblogMondays – Ten Question Tag – Some Quiz Fun
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 14, 2015
Aging is SUCH fun, isn’t it?!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 46 – Caffeine Hangover
Twitter: DebbieDoglady
July 13, 2015
There’s always something to remind us we’re not so young anymore. Sigh…..
Glad you were able to have an easy day to recover; Laurel. I remember a few times in my 20s, staying up all night and going straight to work in the morning, sneaking a nap in the car at lunch time. What bothers me most about ageing is the sluggish metabolism with weight gain and the collapsing face (gravity sucks in other places too!), not to mention the arthritis pain, stiff joints and finicky digestion. 😛 The hot flashes were no picnic either, but thankfully, those are done now. Yup; getting old’s a bitch, but as you said, it does beat the alternative.
Debbie D. recently posted… TEN QUESTION TAG – #MondayMusings #MicroblogMondays
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 14, 2015
Definitely! I’ll take getting old over the alternative any day. 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 46 – Caffeine Hangover
Twitter: mahathi_ramya
July 14, 2015
Only thing that bothers me about aging is my health and my ability to travel. I want to travel a lot and visit many places till I die, so that’s the only concern 🙂 I agree Laurel that we will miss some fun food habits that we enjoy as we cannot handle after certain age limit 🙁
Mahathi Ramya recently posted… #MicroblogMondays – Bahubali
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 14, 2015
I guess we just have to make the most of what we have right now!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 46 – Caffeine Hangover
Twitter: beloome
July 14, 2015
I am not a coffee drinker as such, just a cup maybe once a week. But I must have my two cups of tea a day 🙂 Though lately I too have realized that late evening tea (Indian style) does disturb my sleep pattern. So on those nights when I feel like having something warm after dinner, it is always some light green tea or some other herbal tea, with no extra additives! That actually helps with the sleep too, I have noticed.
Beloo Mehra recently posted… Flowers, Home, Saris and More
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 14, 2015
I love tea as well, though I don’t have it regularly (particularly in the summer). Definitely a comfort drink, though!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 46 – Caffeine Hangover
Twitter: parul2411
July 14, 2015
Yeah – a comment like that doesn’t feel good. But yes, with time, all of us need to be cautious about what we eat and how much. Good one for microblog Monday!
Parul recently posted… #MicroblogMondays – Yoga in Cubbon Park
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 14, 2015
Thank you! Yes, I guess youth can’t last forever.
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 46 – Caffeine Hangover
I cut out coffee a while back and had a BLINDING headache for about three days – it was not fun at all! I’ve since decided that I don’t have many vices so a coffee or two a day won’t kill me and I am holding onto my caffeine with all my might 🙂
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 14, 2015
LOL, I hear you! I can’t imagine giving up my cup of coffee each day.
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 46 – Caffeine Hangover
Twitter: iwrotethose
July 14, 2015
The pains of a coffee-drinker 🙂
I’m sitting here, nodding my head. Because I agree. These days, I can’t have a cuppa past 6pm – else I’m up all night trying to burn all that energy out.
Sid recently posted… Furiously Zen
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 14, 2015
Isn’t it funny how we change over the years?!
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 46 – Caffeine Hangover
just one cup of coffee gives me sleepless nights. Not a fan of coffee, but I like tea. I drink 3-4 cups of green tea every day.
Loved the picture.
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 14, 2015
Thank you! 🙂
Laurel Regan recently posted… #MicroblogMondays 46 – Caffeine Hangover
Twitter: eloquent_mind
July 14, 2015
Aah, coffee – the answer to all problems on most days. Lol ! Last year, I stepped into the 30s and while my baby bro made sure to mention – “You are officially old now” the whole day of my birthday, I chose to look away in the other direction and appear unaffected. The truth is – I give out a silent cry every time I realize how the years ahead are going to change me. The one thing that truly scares me about aging is how I may/may not be able to run around the same way I do now or how I did 10 years ago.
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Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 15, 2015
It can be scary to think about, that’s for sure!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 52
My creaking knees.
I also can’t drink caffeine late in the day, but I drink a lot of decaf coffee in the afternoon and evening. I just like the taste.
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 15, 2015
It’s weird, but I find even the trace amounts of caffeine in decaf coffee affect me if I drink it too late in the day. My body/brain is odd!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Tangled Tuesday No. 52
Aw. That’s too bad. I’m a big coffee-lover too. I love the scent of a freshly brewed coffee. I drink coffee every chance I’ve got (lol). I should probably ease up on it soon. I’m not getting any younger. I appreciate you sharing this post. Thank you!
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 16, 2015
Coffee is just so wonderful – I’d sad I can’t enjoy more of it!
Laurel Regan recently posted… Photo A Day Challenge – July 1-15, 2015
Twitter: ajaybpai123
July 19, 2015
I am touching mid thirties. I get annoyed, when the younger tots think am an UNCLE. This bothers me.
I still say ” am young at heart”/
Ajay Pai recently posted… And then !
Twitter: alphabetsalad
July 19, 2015
Age is only a number, right? 🙂
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