The Monday Read: The Paradox of Aging

The better you get, the less time you have left

I’m almost 50 (which seems completely unbelievable to me), and I recently started training jiu-jitsu again somewhat regularly.

I’m a mediocre blue belt in jiu-jitsu. I foolishly started at the age of forty, and got pretty into it before I knew what I was doing, which resulted in a number of injuries.

Six and a half years later I have a much better idea of what to do, but now my body is letting me down. I’m not as fast as I used to be and I don’t really heal any more. My knowledge and skill are going up just as my physical abilities are fading.

And it strikes me that life is similarly bittersweet.

So far I’ve enjoyed each decade more than the one before as I learn more about the world and myself. But after forty there was a definite decline in health and fitness. And barring weird experiments, it seems we are all heading for the same knowledge/capacity seesaw.

Not sure what to do about that, other than trying to enjoy the moment and get the most out of every day. One thing I am increasingly sure of is that we can choose how we interpret our reality, even if we can’t control it.

I hope you have a wonderful week.

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This week’s books

Started Burn, by Herman Pontzer, about metabolism and calories. My wife strongly urged me to read it, and it seems promising so far.

Food of the week

As part of my diet/health binge (98 -> 86kg so far this year, and much stronger) I have started eating steel cut oats for breakfast. I had heard the name before but never tried them.

Based on what I had read, I was expecting some kind of bland mush, but I was very pleasantly surprised. I have mine soaked in water overnight with a pinch of salt, and they are chewy, nutty, and delicious. Minimal prep time and pretty cheap per portion (I have 45 grams).

Meant to help control cholesterol too (mine is extremely high) and contain a lot of fibre. Recommend!

This week’s links

  1. This is a really stupid article. Extrapolating net worth growth in a linear fashion into the future is like me saying I am 800g lighter today so next year my weight will be negative: Elon Musk on pace to become world’s first trillionaire by 2027, report says
  2. I think this makes sense, but it might be the opposite for older people with savings and investments: Why Are Japan’s Young People Fleeing The Country?
  3. I don’t really drink anymore, but alcohol killed my brother. Worth a read if you feel things are out of control: Alcoholism In Japan and Where To Find Help
  4. I’m approaching 50. This rings true (YouTube): I’m 59. If you’re in your 50s, watch this
  5. Japan is doing better than I thought according to Ray Dalio’s report: The Great Powers Index: 2024 How the Leading 24 Countries Are Doing and Their Prospects for the Next 10 Years
  6. I don’t hate this plan. There are several things in Sendai that give discounts to local residents: City plans to double fee for visitors to enter Himeji Castle
  7. This matches what I see around me in Japan: Company Ability to Use Technology Deteriorating, Part I
  8. Very impressed to see KONO Taro advocating for allowing dual citizenship, especially considering what a poisonous issue it is politically in Japan. Almost no voters really care about the issue other than the right wing, who hate the idea with a vengeance.
  9. I’ve come across this story a few times. Really like it: “Maybe…”—Alan Watts
  10. That is pretty horrendous but I’m glad Japan has this law now at least: Nagasaki man in up 30 extramarital affairs had sex with one partner’s underage daughter
  11. You lost me at ‘the US is number 3’: Japan jumps to No. 2, from sixth place, in Best Countries index
  12. I really REALLY don’t want to end up in prison in Japan: Inside Japan’s biggest prison: home to yakuza… and hundreds of old men
  13. Very impressive: I’m 70 years old – and climb a mountain every day
  14. I’m not surprised, with retirement ages that low! China to raise retirement age for first time in decades as demographic crisis looms
  15. Now that is a weird result, but it might be cultural as my wife wants to do formal study after retiring: Lack of study most common regret among seniors in Japan: survey

What do you think? Anything interesting in there?

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15 Responses

  1. I’m nearing 50 too, but I feel way healthier than ten years ago. As I got forty, I hit my max weight and had induced heart disease through weight, drink, and poor exercise.

    I stopped drinking completely five years ago, I started jogging about 15 to 20 km a week, and lost 25 kg, enough that I can now buy Uniqlo off the rack.

    I’ve never been into really strenuous exercise to test how ‘young’ I really am now, but I feel great, and my doctor of eight years gave me all “circles” on my last blood work test.

    I’m feeling great going into my fifties, knock on wood

    1. Congratulations. Maybe I need to get into running again 😉

      I felt pretty good until 40, but feel like I’m going downhill since then.

  2. WOW what can I say about number 10.Must be every parents nightmare. Bu I have to wonder why the mother actually thought She’s getting a divorce because she “couldn’t protect her daughter”. I think the real reason the husband is dirvorcing her is because, A) She was having an affair with another man, and B) his daughter was abused, C) He’s working for the family, and she’s cheating on him.

  4. You inspired me to go and do some sport today. So thank you! My body survived, but tomorrow may be painful.

  5. 12. Agreed. I am a bit paranoid about prison here, too. I don’t break the law, so don’t plan on going.
    Accidentally hitting someone while driving and getting put away is a nightmare that I have thought about a few times.

    1. I don’t think you’re likely to end up in prison for a traffic accident (whether that is good for society is another matter) unless you’ve been drinking or flee the scene or something.

        1. That was for negligent driving (he kept falling asleep and kept driving anyway). A normal accident would not involve jail time (I have been in several unfortunately).

  6. Lies, Damn Lies, and Statistics. –an interesting contrast between #2 (why are japan’s young people fleeing the country), and #11 (japan jumps to #2 … in best countries index).

  7. Thank you for giving insights on what to come. I’m nearing 40. You’ve given me a glimpse of what people can be in terms of finance and health. I’d like to be prepared.

    Health wise I feel healthier than myself in my early 30 since I ditch processed foods and carbs two years ago. I also fast intermittently that has reversed many of my metabolic conditions. But who am I to say when I have not even crossed the 40th bday.

    I wish you well Ben. Since you love reading, please look up dr. Jason Fung’s book “The obesity code” and dr. Bikman’s “Why we get sick”. I’m a bit worried about what you’re reading simply because it has the world calories in it. It matter more where you get your calories from than how much calories you consume.

    1. Oh, I enjoy Jason Fung on YouTube!

      After a lot of experience, I think both the source and the amount of calories seem to be important. At the start of the year I had an extra 30kg of fat on my body (over 230,000 calories!) so of course it is going to take a while to get rid of that. Going well though.