ages 46 to 50
Sherry, 46.00
What is the best age? Right now 46, more authentic and real and connected to the world, less self conscious
When do people become old? When they give up and stop trying and they are not caring anymore
What makes you sad? When I hurt someone and injustice
What makes you happy? A lot of things- I look for happiness everywhere
What is the best place in the world? I don't know- because I like so many places
What do you worry about? Being selfish, being there for friends and family in a way that doesn't suck me dry but benefits all of us
What do you love? My husband, experiencing life and pursuing what I'm curious about
What is next for you? Grabbing onto my passions and letting them come to life
What is life about? Connections to people, places ideas
James, 46.33
What is the best age? 30s
When do people become old? We get old on the outside but we learn to stay young on the inside
What makes you sad? Being away from my children
What makes you happy? Being with my children, nothing is better
What is the best place in the world? Being with Jesus
What do you worry about? Unconditional love being damaged
What do you love? Unconditional love
What is next for you? Open yourself to listen to anyone
What is life about? It's a beginning of what's to come
![Mary, 46.58What is the best age? They're all good from adult hood onWhen do people become old? [not asked]What makes you sad? When people are in painWhat makes you happy? Being with people I know and loveWhat is the best place in the world? Any plac…](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffcd3763a7fa1750fcf72fc/1613006913911-NBO0EM7O882V8AMB99D8/Aging-244.jpg)
Mary, 46.58
What is the best age? They're all good from adult hood on
When do people become old? [not asked]
What makes you sad? When people are in pain
What makes you happy? Being with people I know and love
What is the best place in the world? Any place that I am at a given point when I'm happy and everything is going well
What do you worry about? My children
What do you love? My children
What is next for you? One day at a time
What is life about? Living
Michael, 46.75
What is the best age? Any age that you are can be best or worst. It's kind of what you make it. It's all relative
When do people become old? People becoming so tribal and focusing on differences not similarities and pulling into their own shells
What makes you sad? People are becoming too tribal focusing on differences not similarities and pulling into our own shells
What makes you happy? Being around people I enjoy and care about and doing things I enjoy doing
What is the best place in the world? Not a location, it's a state of mind. Wherever you are where you're happy
What do you worry about? Growing older and staying healthy. Being financially secure
What do you love? My wife
What is next for you? Making my life slower, focusing on what matters
What is life about? It's very simple, it's about being happy and bringing happiness to others
Martin, 46.75
What is the best age? 58
When do people become old? 78
What makes you sad? Being alone
What makes you happy? Hiking with friends and family in the mountains
What is the best place in the world? Colorado
What do you worry about? Having enough money for retirement
What do you love? Being around my family on a quiet day
What is next for you? Getting my kids through college
What is life about? Life is about answering questions
Kristin, 46.83
What is the best age? When you're not afraid to make mistakes
When do people become old? When they stop using their imagination and their creativity. And they take themselves too seriously and lose their sense of humor
What makes you sad? How cruel humans can be to one another
What makes you happy?Sparkles, the fact that spring comes every year, little kids being allowed to be kids and human inventions that solve really important problems. And excessive applications of unicorns.
What is the best place in the world? In the west along a river when you have sage brush, choke cherry and hawthorn enveloping your senses. Also loving and being loved.
What do you worry about? Whether I can communicate what I intend to and can I financially sustain making art
What do you love? Listening to my mom's wisdom and her generosity in spirit and believing that people do and say what they mean. Making sparkles happy. Sharing a beautiful meal with anyone who appreciates food. Very beautiful light, how intricate moss is.
What is next for you? Dance and trying to expand people's notions of what movement and dance can express. Finding new context.
What is life about? Creating a life, not just surviving
![Muniyammal, 47.00What is the best age? 25When do people become old? 60What makes you sad? Thinking about my childrenWhat makes you happy? I don't have happiness. With 3 kids its very hard. [Happiness] won't come.What is the best place in the world? …](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffcd3763a7fa1750fcf72fc/1613006959006-Z380U3R2BEEJGP26T0DA/Aging-248.jpg)
Muniyammal, 47.00
What is the best age? 25
When do people become old? 60
What makes you sad? Thinking about my children
What makes you happy? I don't have happiness. With 3 kids its very hard. [Happiness] won't come.
What is the best place in the world? I haven't gone anywhere. But the seashore or the temples in Madurai [India]
What do you worry about? My children, truly
What do you love? My children
What is next for you? Settling my children
What is life about? It's a struggle
Tharik, 47.25
What is the best age? 25
When do people become old? 60
What makes you sad?When my mom doesn't understand me
What makes you happy?When everyone is together
What is the best place in the world? Kashmir
What do you worry about? The relationship between my wife and my mother
What do you love? Building work
What is next for you? Improving something in my business
What is life about? To help others and to be happy
![Jamie, 47.33What is the best age? 37When do people become old? [not asked]What makes you sad? The direction the world is goingWhat makes you happy? Friends and familyWhat is the best place in the world? Paris, FranceWhat do you worry about? Retireme…](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffcd3763a7fa1750fcf72fc/1613006979757-MF5LNI2REO2ZVSIMDP92/Aging-250.jpg)
Jamie, 47.33
What is the best age? 37
When do people become old? [not asked]
What makes you sad? The direction the world is going
What makes you happy? Friends and family
What is the best place in the world? Paris, France
What do you worry about? Retirement and money
What do you love? My kid
What is next for you? Positive change
What is life about? Finding your inner happiness
Jennifer, 47.83
What is the best age? So far my best age has been my 40s (decade) lot of change but a lot of positive change
When do people become old? I think there's people who were born old, I think its a state of mind
What makes you sad? Seeing my kids and [my partner] sad
What makes you happy? Seeing my kids and [my partner] happy Seeing my kids laugh and play together
What is the best place in the world? Being with my family when everyone is happy. Could be anywhere but the four of us are together.
What do you worry about? Being able to provide for my kids, it keeps me up at night. And world peace.
What do you love? My family
What is next for you? Retirement eventually
What is life about? Finding what makes you happy and being able to do that (whether living or finding a person to make you happy)
Yolanda, 48.00
What is the best age? Obviously your early 20s when there's no responsibility, living life to the fullest
When do people become old? It's up to you. I'm 48 but I feel 21, it's your heart
What makes you sad? A lot of things, sometimes obviously life. Not being in the place I thought I'd be at this point in my life
What makes you happy? Everything, being alive. To wake up and be breathing. Family and friends
What is the best place in the world? Anywhere as long as you're surrounded by family and friends that love you
What do you worry about? My future. That I may not be able to live the same way after I retire before I retired. That my children won't be successful.
What do you love? Life, my family, God comes first then family
What is next for you? I'm still trying to figure it out. I still have hopes and dreams to be a successful entrepreneur
What is life about? Experiencing, trying new things. Being thankful for things you have. Following dreams and goals. Making a difference in life. To help people and love each other.
Nabila, 48.17
What is the best age? Now
When do people become old? When they feel old
What makes you sad? Lost love
What makes you happy? Seeing others happy, my kids or even a stranger
What is the best place in the world? For me it's the ocean
What do you worry about? Not going to heaven
What do you love? A lot of things, it's hard to say one
What is next for you? The unknown
What is life about? Finding your passion and loving others. You find your passion by loving others
![Tupelo, 48.25What is the best age? NowWhen do people become old? [not asked]What makes you sad? Not seeing my sonWhat makes you happy? FriendsWhat is the best place in the world? Wherever I amWhat do you worry about? MoneyWhat do you love? FamilyWha…](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffcd3763a7fa1750fcf72fc/1613007035991-R33YSDN2AXBIQVLV88B6/Aging-254.jpg)
Tupelo, 48.25
What is the best age? Now
When do people become old? [not asked]
What makes you sad? Not seeing my son
What makes you happy? Friends
What is the best place in the world? Wherever I am
What do you worry about? Money
What do you love? Family
What is next for you? Reconstruction surgery from Mastectomy
What is life about? Learning from experiences and staying positive
Anisa, 48.75
What is the best age? The age I got married, 23
When do people become old? Old doesn't mean anything
What makes you sad? My younger brother, otherwise nothing
What makes you happy? I'm always happy, everything
What is the best place in the world? Sri Lanka, I haven't been there but I want to go
What do you worry about? I don't have any worries, my children should be well
What do you love? My husband
What is next for you? I have no idea
What is life about? I don't know what to say
Jennifer, 48.92
What is the best age? 27
When do people become old? When they decide to not have goals
What makes you sad? People suffering
What makes you happy? When people are smiling
What is the best place in the world? La Push, WA
What do you worry about? So many things, I worry that humanity is losing its ability to work together for a common goal
What do you love? My family
What is next for you? Figuring out what is next for my career
What is life about? Be good to people and be good caretakers of each other and the world. Without being here for each other, life wouldn't have much meaning
Dani, 49.00
What is the best age? I think everyone says this but mine. My mother taught me to always to be positive
When do people become old?There isn't a time for me
What makes you sad? Losing my animals
What makes you happy?My animals, they are my number 1. I like flowers, chocolate, pink and my husband. Simple things make me happy.
What is the best place in the world? My home, there's nowhere else I'd rather be.
What do you worry about? Losing my animals (personally). Right now my biggest worry is our President [Trump] The horrible horrible person in charge
What do you love? My husband, my animals, modeling, friends, chocolate, clothes
What is next for you? Don't want to go next. I like where I am now. Goals and aspirations are not my scene. I can't imagine life getting better than it is right now.
What is life about? Obviously I don't know the answer. I'll give the easy answer: peace, love.
![James, 49.25What is the best age? 27When do people become old? [not asked]What makes you sad? Knowing that there are innocent people in prisonWhat makes you happy? Sitting in my backyard at dusk with a glass of wineWhat is the best place in the worl…](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ffcd3763a7fa1750fcf72fc/1613007087139-VMMV0DLQ4EXFEJIWR56G/Aging-258.jpg)
James, 49.25
What is the best age? 27
When do people become old? [not asked]
What makes you sad? Knowing that there are innocent people in prison
What makes you happy? Sitting in my backyard at dusk with a glass of wine
What is the best place in the world? My backyard with a glass of wine surrounded by friends
What do you worry about? Being found out
What do you love? Letting go of society's expectations
What is next for you? Becoming comfortable in my own skin finally
What is life about? Learning to be comfortable in your own skin
Brigette, 49.92
What is the best age? 32
When do people become old? When they give up
What makes you sad? All the young kids coming into prison
What makes you happy? My family
What is the best place in the world? Home
What do you worry about? My future
What do you love? Myself
What is next for you? Enrolling in school, becoming successful
What is life about? Adventure, learning experiences
Dan, 50.25
What is the best age? 30, old enough to have experience but young enough to do something about it
When do people become old? I feel my age physically more at 50 than I did at 45. I don't agree with people who say age is just a number but some people do choose to feel/act older
What makes you sad? The world doesn't have to be the way it is in a human sense. People don't have to treat each other so badly. Unnecessary suffering
What makes you happy? My daughters, spending time with them.
What is the best place in the world? I don't know if I can say there is one. I think I'm in the best place physically now [Seattle] but it would depend on the time. It depends on where you are in your life.
What do you worry about? I have many things now: Reestablishing my life, job security, my daughters and the world they're being left. And them in general as a father. My immediate future.
What do you love? My daughters, traveling (which I haven't been able to do as much), experiencing new things.
What is next for you? Hopefully reestablishing myself. Getting a novel published. A year from now I'd like to be settled. Starting over to a great degree
What is life about? Experiencing things and appreciating them and learning to come to terms with regret. To do things now. Experience and interaction and making yourself in a way.
Ruth, 50.42
What is the best age? I'm going to say 32
When do people become old? I want to say it's relative, it's a state of mind, and a physical process. I would say it's relative depending on your state of mind
What makes you sad? When bad things happen to my loved ones
What makes you happy? When things are going well in life
What is the best place in the world? Home
What do you worry about? Illness
What do you love? My family
What is next for you? Living my life to the fullest
What is life about? Connection
Helen, 50.58
What is the best age? Late 20s
When do people become old? When they don't feel joy
What makes you sad? The intolerance in the world today
What makes you happy? My family
What is the best place in the world? My home
What do you worry about? The state of the world for future generations
What do you love? My family, cooking, fresh air, hiking, reading novels
What is next for you? Increasing activism and staying fit
What is life about? Finding meaning and acting on it
Joe, 50.92
What is the best age? I'd say now, life is so much more not complicated
When do people become old? At 50 I noticed things change. Get tired quicker, don't heal as fast
What makes you sad? People
What makes you happy? People and puppies
What is the best place in the world? Home
What do you worry about? Kids, they're all in their 30s (not all, but I had kids young)
What do you love? Music
What is next for you? Retirement
What is life about? Being Happy and making as many happy along the way as you can, family
Shannon, 50.92
What is the best age? For some reason I have fond memories of being 11. I just remember having a female friend and playing games, performing arts, creative projects and playing the woods.
When do people become old? I think its a mindset. It depends on the person, depending on how they take care of themselves. You never have to become old if you're doing fun things. You become old when you give up on trying new things and don't think life is interesting. And if you're old you can feel young if you have a positive attitude.
What makes you sad? Lots of things, my own internal negative thoughts about myself, and the world around me. Abuse and cruelty, prejudice, conflict. Violence and when people do that to plants and animals.
What makes you happy? Kindness, art and music, nature, plants and animals, humor, creativity
What is the best place in the world? I haven't been everywhere...I don't know if there is a best place but internal attitude affects what is the best place in the world. To appreciate where you are makes it the best place in the world. Though I tend to like big trees and the ocean
What do you worry about? Lots of things personal and society in general. Nutrition and health and how medical professionals and the mainstream- how a lot of people could feel good if they had better nutrition. I worry that we won't evolve past that.
What do you love? My cat, nature and creativity, music, art. Animals seeing animals makes me feel love
What is next for you? I don't know, my whole life is improv. Continuing on the way of improv. More of that creation
What is life about? Experiencing everything, everything here is temporary and changing. My favorite and least favorite thing is that things are temporary. Experiencing temporary things that constantly change. It's like a giant big creative project.
Robin, 50.92
What is the best age? 50 I think because when you're growing up you have questions about everything. At 50 you realize how insignificant you are. So you get more pleasure from it.
When do people become old? When they decide. Personally I 'd never like to retire. I don't believe in sprinting and collapsing
What makes you sad? I think waste. The consumption in the US and how much is wasted
What makes you happy? Happiness of other people. I think it's infectious, you cannot but participate in that happiness. Basically I'm a happiness vampire.
What is the best place in the world? I think it's the places that remind you of your privilege and get you to take a moment. It could be a place like the top of Mt. Rainier, a place that makes you stop and reflect
What do you worry about? Overwhelmingly my kids, kids have needs and they find it overwhelming at times to mitigate that. As a parent how do you keep your kids safe and expose them to life
What do you love? My wife and kids, that's absolute love
What is next for you? Helping things that I've nurtured launch. That's kids and projects. That's doing its own thing in a way that's unpredictable but good and right for it.
What is life about? No freaking idea. As you progress through life. It's like being an expert. The more know the less you know. No idea. I'm proud of the fact that I have no idea. Hopefully future generations will figure it out. Some of the climate crisis can help figure it out more. It's been about consumption. Resources don't seem limitless and it could be an interesting moment to see life is about survival