Bored Panda contacted Susan Petang, a certified life coach teaching adults and teens, to find out what she had to say about fear of growing old and how not to let your age define you. Susan runs “Quiet Zone Coaching” where she teaches essential life skills and coping tools people need when stress is overwhelming and life is hard.

“I think we ALL think about growing old, don't we?” she continued: “Whether it's because an elderly relative reminds us; we get sick, weak and then worry we'll never get better; or we swear we're never going to be like our parents when we get to be that age, thoughts of getting older and curiosity about what it will be like must cross everybody's mind at some point.”

According to Susan, not allowing society to define our personality is something that isn't related to age. “If we develop a healthy self-confidence and self-esteem, we won't feel the need to conform to society's definition of what's acceptable for someone of [X] age—no matter what that age is.”

Moreover, the life coach argues that “as long as what we're doing doesn't hurt us or someone else, doesn't conflict with our values, and we're willing to accept whatever consequences come from that action, go for it! If others don't like it... Well, too bad.”

Susan also reminds everyone that people are going to think what they want to think, regardless of what we say or do, “might as well enjoy the ride and enjoy life,” she added.

When asked how age does change our personalities, Susan said that “as we get older, our perspective changes, our value system can shift, and we become wiser from all the experience we've racked up. Our personality may seem to change.”

“From my own perspective, things that I used to think were important aren't so much. I've grown to understand that intensity of opinion isn't going to convince anyone of anything, and why would I want to try, anyway? So, others may see that as a change in personality, but I just see a more laid-back and accepting (maybe even wiser?) version of myself.”

On the other hand, some of us don't realize that we're getting older, argues the life coach. “There's an old joke that says, 'Life is like a roll of toilet paper; the closer you get to the end, the faster it goes.' Time flies. We don't realize that we're not 35, or 40, or 45 anymore. Those of us who don't realize how 'old' we've become still have the same attitude we did many years ago—we just haven't figured out that those years have passed.”

Susan also said that it often happens that we think we can still do the things we used to do. “Some of us (like the people in these photos) have refused to let their age hold them back from being who they want to be—so they've taken steps to physically stay in shape,” she concluded.