12 Granfluencers That Prove Aging Is Fun

1. New Music Will No Longer Bring Joy

Whether you grew up in the age of records, CDs, or iPods, discovering new music is always a thrill when you're young. At the same time, the "old" tunes your parents blast in the car seem stale, and they probably scoff at whatever music you choose to listen to.

Yet, as time goes by, something strange happens. The latest chart-toppers will begin to sound like noise, and you'll find yourself defending the music you grew up listening to, claiming it's way better than what younger generations are enjoying now.

Science has an explanation for this shift. As we get older, our brains process dopamine, or the chemical that makes music exciting, less efficiently. That means the songs you once obsessed over still hit you hard, but new ones just don't spark the same joy.

2. Rebellion Won't Be Appealing Anymore

When you're a teenager, it's practically a rite of passage to be rebellious. Rules seem like they're made to be broken, and anything from sneaking out to defying authority figures at school feels like fair game.

However, you won't always be so bold. That's because, as your brain matures, the rebellious streak that once fueled the late nights and questionable decisions of your teenage years and twenties will fade. The same neurological shifts that make teens impulsive begin to mellow out with age, resulting in an increased sense of empathy and responsibility.

So, when you see some newly licensed teens racing down the road in their first car or egging houses on Halloween, you'll eventually start to shake your head at the recklessness, just like your parents.

3. Previously Boring Things Will Bring You Satisfaction

The idea of cleaning out the garage or tending to the garden on a Saturday probably sounds like a boring nightmare to most teenagers. At that point in our lives, our activities were driven by excitement and chasing instant gratification or an "adrenaline" rush.

Yet, as we mature, those previously "boring" hobbies start to feel, well, satisfying. While teenagers crave high-reward and low-effort activities, older adult brains begin to prioritize long-term fulfillment over fleeting joy or excitement.

That's why, out of nowhere, you may suddenly appreciate slower weekend mornings, organizing the bathroom on your day off, and spending hours picking out home decor.

4. You Won't Be Able To Sleep In

Sleeping until noon feels like a basic human right (and quite easy) during your teens or twenties. And back then, when you rolled out of bed in your pajamas halfway through the day, your parents might've called you lazy.

Contrary to popular belief, the shift toward earlier wake-up times in adulthood isn't about discipline; it's biology. Teenagers' bodies naturally produce melatonin later, making it harder for them to wake up early.

Then, as you age, your internal clock gradually changes, making it much tougher to sleep in, regardless of how tired you feel. Someday soon, you might find yourself brewing coffee at the crack of dawn and wondering how you ever wasted so much time lying in bed.

5. Bad News, Men: Your Motivation To Change Will Fade

After you graduated from high school or college, you might've sworn that you'd never "let yourself go." So, you may have hit the gym like it was your second job and chased after promotions like they were candy to further your career.

If you fast forward a couple of decades, though, that drive starts to fade, and testosterone is actually the culprit.

This hormone, which is responsible for muscle mass, motivation, and energy, peaks around age 40 before gradually declining. As it drops, the urgency to push yourself goes with it. You'll no longer be jumping at the chance to stay late at work or stick to your old, grueling six-day workout regimen.

6. Bland Food Won't Seem So Terrible

If you're a self-proclaimed "foodie," you love visiting fancy restaurants, trying new cuisines, and think your palate is only getting more refined as you age.

But if you've ever wondered why older adults seem perfectly fine with eating the same old bland meals every week, science has the answer. You may not know that, as you age, your mouth produces less saliva, which is crucial for breaking down food and bringing flavors to your taste buds.

On top of that, appetite naturally shrinks, meaning dinners are more of a necessity than an experience. Suddenly, some plain crackers and apple juice won't seem so bad after all.

7. You'll Reminisce, Just Like Your Parents

Nowadays, you might roll your eyes when you hear your parents tell the same childhood story (or rant about how things were "so much better" back in the day) for the hundredth time. You may even have a pact with yourself, promising to stay more current and open-minded.

Well, when you get older, your brain actually relies on nostalgia as a sort of built-in natural antidepressant. In other words, reminiscing helps older people counteract the stress and responsibilities of adult life.

This is why long-winded stories about the "good old days" become even more frequent with age, and someday, you'll likely find yourself falling into the same pattern.

What were the most popular dog breed for 2024?

This may come as a shock, but after reigning supreme for a whopping 31 years, the Labrador Retriever was ousted by the Frenchie in 2022. Since then, this breed has remained the most popular dog in the U.S. for three years running. Their smaller stature, playful temperament, and adaptable nature are likely to thank for their rising numbers across the nation.

Labrador Retrievers are still hot on Frenchies' tails, though, ranking as the second most popular dog breed. Golden Retrievers, German Shepherds, and Poodles followed in third, fourth, and fifth place, respectively. Overall, the rankings for the top five remained the same from 2023 to 2024.

However, the remaining spots within the top 10 did see some shifts. Beagles rose one spot from eighth place to seventh place, and Rottweilers also climbed up to eighth place; meanwhile, Bulldogs dropped to ninth place, and German Shorthaired Pointers stayed in tenth place.

Now, of the 201 breeds included in the list, several saw significant rises in popularity over the past year. Leading the charge is the Kerry Blue Terrier, a working dog that jumped an impressive 25 spots to number 135. The Bracco Italiano, which was only officially recognized by the AKC in 2022, followed suit, catapulting 20 spots ahead to number 132.

Then, both the German Pinscher and the American Staffordshire Terrier also advanced 18 slots each. Other notable climbs include the Bedlington Terrier and the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. The former rose 15 places to number 134, and the latter jumped 14 places to number 69.

Interestingly, the Saluki dropped considerably in popularity during 2024, moving 21 spots down to number 141. The Black and Tan Coonhound and the Wirehaired Vizsla witnessed significant decreases, too, at 20 spots and 17 spots, respectively.

At the same time, some breeds held their ground and maintained their 2023 popularity positions. Shih Tzus stayed at number 20, and Pomeranians and Boston Terriers continued to clock in at numbers 22 and 23.

Finally, the list's bottom 20 is comprised of rarer breeds, which have the lowest registration numbers in the U.S. The least popular dog in 2024 was the English Foxhound, falling from number 199 to number 201 from 2023 to 2024.

The first and second runners-up to last place go to the Bergamasco Sheepdog and the Grand Basset Griffon Vendeen. The former is an Italian herding dog, and the latter is a French scent hound.

What are the top 20 dog breeds for 2024?

1. French Bulldog
2. Labrador Retriever
3. Golden Retriever
4. German Shepherd
5. Poodle
6. Dachshund
7. Beagle
8. Rottweiler
9. Bulldog
10. German Shorthaired Pointer
11. Yorkshire Terrier
12. Australian Shepherd
13. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
14. Cane Corso
15. Pembroke Welsh Corgi
16. Doberman Pinscher
17. Boxer
18. Miniature Schnauzer
19. Bernese Mountain Dog
20. Shih Tzu

Is Meryl Streep in the Narnia cast?

Meryl Streep is reportedly in talks to voice Aslan in Greta Gerwig's Narnia movies. The casting rumor first broke on March 31, leading some people to wonder if it was an early April Fool's Day joke, until Deadlineconfirmed the rumor on April 3. Fans of the book have called the choice everything from "interesting" to "cruel," and the conversation revolves around one particular question: are they making Aslan female?

A lot of Narnia fans were taken aback by the rumor about Meryl Streep because of the fact Aslan is an allegory for Jesus (referred to in the Bible as the Lion of Judah) — especially since Aslan's mane is such an integral part of the series, and lioness' typically don't have manes.

When the White Witch sacrifices Aslan on the Stone Table in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, she shaves off his mane in an attempt to shame him and strip away his identity as King of Narnia. Lucy Pevensie hiding her face in his mane in Prince Caspian plays a huge role in bolstering her courage and faith, and the mane even comes into play during The Last Battle before (spoiler alert) Narnia gets destroyed.

'Narnia' fans have a lot of opinions about a female Aslan.

The most iconic visual of the Narnia series, arguably more than the wardrobe or the lamppost, is Aslan's mane. "If it’s true that Aslan has been changed to a female lion in the upcoming film, it’s deeply troubling that the filmmakers would make the choice to visually distance itself from The Chronicles of Narnia as it has always been known to its fans and the public imagination," one Narnia fan wrote on NarniaWeb. "It would be hard to look at a decision like that and not think that they were deliberately disassociating from the Narnia canon."

Another fan on NarniaWeb points out that having Meryl potentially voice a male Aslan "would be a fine way to convey the genderless nature of the soul. Aslan transcends all of that and was never bound by the idea of duality in the way that the ‘fallen’ believe they are."

@bereckerwentviral for his claim that fans who are upset about the casting simply "hate women" (yes, some of the backlash to Meryl's casting rumor has been atrocious). "I would like to officially say that if I die, I would be more than honored if Meryl Streep were to play me in my biopic, she’s the greatest to ever do it," he said in the comments.

"Meryl was hired based on merit. She’s the best," another Instagram user said in the comments.

However, Netflix hasn't confirmed Meryl Streep as Aslan.

Let the record show that, as of writing this story on April 7, Netflix hasn't actually confirmed anything about the movie outside Greta as director and Atonement cinematographer Seamus McGarvey as Director of Photography. Whether the film is a The Magician's Nephew adaptation, whether Daniel Craig is playing Uncle Andrew, and whether Meryl Streep is actually voicing Aslan are speculation at this point.

As one viral tweet puts it, "Increasingly convinced Greta either has no idea what she wants to do with this movie or has a vision so incredible nobody else can see it." Stay tuned for official casting announcements!