For a long time, I looked much older than I actually was. Throughout my teens, people confused me for a guy in my mid-late 20s. Which was great; nobody ever looked at me like a kid and it was easy to earn respect from people, as long as I showed confidence.

But then at some point, it flipped the other way. I kept getting older, but people thought I was younger than I was. Throughout my 30s, people still believed I was in my mid-late 20s.

I’m now in my early 40s and if asked, people usually guess I’m in my mid-30s (one guy recently guessed I was a “rugged 28”). Although I’m starting to get a little bit of salt and pepper in my hair now. If I grow out my beard, people will correctly guess I’m in my 40s, because my beard is more salt and pepper than my head hair, and my chin specifically is solid white now. I seem to be skipping the graying and going straight to white.

I contribute part of my looks to genetics. I was blessed with a mature, masculine appearance. I have a strong jaw and thick, dark facial hair that grows so fast, I used to shave twice a day to keep my 5-O’clock shadow in check. I also grew thick, dark hair across my entire body, literally head to toe. Definitely got some strong Norwegian blood in me.

I’m also pretty tall. At 15 years old, I grew a whole foot taller in a single summer! Which was hell on my legs. I was actually on crutches and in physical therapy for a while until I built up the muscles to support my suddenly large frame. But it really intimidated all my classmates when I went back to my jr. high school in the fall at a towering 6 feet tall.

But I also contribute part of my looks to a relatively healthy lifestyle. Not intentionally, but as a by-product of ADHD. I spent my childhood unable to sit still. I would practically burst into tears if someone made me sit for an hour, which was literally every school class I ever sat through.

In my free time, I ran everywhere, climbed everything I could (I grew up in a forested countryside and practically lived up in the trees), and in general, took part in every physical activity I could. Rock climbing, marathon biking, track team, soccer, etc. Anything to burn my seemingly endless energy. I ate upwards of 6 full-course meals a day throughout puberty and never gained a pound of weight. I had natural 8-pack abs without spending a day in the gym.

I was so active, I got super fit from just not being able to sit still, and I was burning calories so fast, I had an insatiable appetite with no consequences for stuffing my face all day long.

Then I joined the US military right out of high school and they kept up the physical fitness regime for the next 20 years I served. I was the only kid in my basic training group who didn’t gain or lose a pound. Most people lose weight, because the training is the most extreme fitness they’ve ever endured in their lives. Some people actually gain weight because they start packing on muscles from all the exercise. I was already in peak physical condition, so no change for me.

So having a masculine face and muscular, tall body gave me a much more mature look for many years, and I believe the lifetime of fitness helped to keep me looking young and healthy, even as I’m aging and finally over the hill.

Although I got into a motorcycle accident about a decade ago and it messed up my legs bad enough, I almost got medically discharged from the military. I managed to finish my military career and retire, but only barely. My legs never properly healed, so I have regular pain now and can’t be as active anymore. As such, I’ve actually been gaining weight since I retired 4 years ago, which may be why people think I look a bit closer to my actual age now. I’m not the super skinny fit guy I used to be anymore.

I was reading a recent study that says men go through two rapid physical aging phases late in life; one around 45 years old, and another at 60 years old. So it’ll be interesting to see how I change in the next few years as I approach 45.