5 Things I’ve Learned About Life in My 60’s

(Last Updated On: November 3, 2021)

There are countless lessons I’ve learned over the years, and now that I’ve turned 64, I have been pondering life and how I have matured. I could probably create a long, long list of what I’ve learned over the years, but have condensed it to the most relevant 5 things I’ve learned about life in my 60’s.

Sixty sounds so old, but I don’t feel old, not really. When I look in the mirror, of course, I’m brought back to reality, although I’m working on keeping myself in shape and maintaining a youthful appearance. But the bottom line is, I’m experiencing the 2nd half of my life. The 20’s, 30’s, 40’s and even the 50’s are a thing of the past.

The positive that comes out of those years gone by is the life experience, the  maturity, the perspective that only comes with the passing of time.

Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.

Betty Friedan

5 Things I’ve Learned About Life in My 60’s
What I Know…

…I know that time goes by  very, very quickly. 

When you’re young, the future seems so distant and intangible. As you live through each day, some seem to fly by while others drag on and on. But I know this. The older I become, the quicker time passes.

I don’t want to waste one day of my life, but I also don’t want to create such a hectic list of expectations for myself that I’m racing to get through the days. Life is about balance. I work on that every single day.

It’s something that I need to continually work on, though, because my nature is to pack more than can realistically be accomplished in a day, and set myself up for frustration or disappointment, in myself, because it didn’t all get done. It can turn into a vicious circle, my friends.

In order to keep that tendency under control, I start each day with a morning routine that will get my head, and heart, straight. I also have a weekly meeting with myself to adjust the expectations, take a deep breath, and thank the Lord for everything I have been given.

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…I know that as I age, my body begins to dictate more and more of what I am going to do in a day. 

I have to say that I don’t particularly care for this natural occurrence, not one bit. In my mind I’m 25 and can keep going all day, no worries. The energy is there, I am fresh and ready for the next task or activity.

However, the 64 year old me, although in good shape and able to keep up with the younger set for the most part, is feeling some tweaks and twangs that are telling me when enough is enough. I am learning to listen to what my body is saying to me…I want to keep it for awhile yet 🙂

It is a struggle between my head and my body, every day, and is quite specifically tied into the tendency that I mentioned above. So again, I give myself permission to skip a workout here and there, take a break, and remain in tune with my body.

When it comes to staying young, a mind-lift beats a face-lift any day.

Marty Bucella

…I know that I can do anything I put my mind to. I am not too old, and maybe  never will be.

Although my body may give me signals when I’ve done enough for one day, that doesn’t mean that I’m going to sit back, read a book and call it a day.  No…not this girl.

If I decide to learn a new language, start a new business, purchase some real estate, learn a new sport…whatever the opportunity may be, I do not say to myself, “wait a minute, aren’t you too old for that?” Nope. That thought never crosses my mind.

Over the past 9 months or so I have created an online self development course for women in midlife. It has been a huge undertaking of time and money, as I invested in an in-depth course to learn how to create an online course. Got that? 🙂

I taught myself how to use PowerPoint, how to create videos, and how to record my voice so that it sounded interesting when students listened to it. And, I was running my business and preparing to move across the country at the same time.

So no…I don’t think of myself as too old to learn anything new!

I hope I’m still blogging, walking several miles a day, playing golf, and enjoying life when I’m in my 80’s and beyond. Why not?!

…I know that grandchildren are a gift from God.

I remember when friends used to say to me, “aren’t you anxious for grand kids?” I really wasn’t even thinking about it. I figured that when, and if, my kids were ready to procreate they would do it, and if not, okay by me.

Well, ask me today and what will I say? My grandchildren are beautiful little people and I love them dearly. When I lived 1,100 miles away from them it was a long distance relationship more often than not. But I loved them just the same whether we were together or using Skype, Instagram, Facebook or talking on the phone.

My decision to relocate was heavily influenced by the fact that I was so far away from my family. Now, I have the joy of living within a short drive of all of the family and being a Nana to the grand kids quite often!

It is such a miracle to me when I look at them, knowing that there is a part of me that contributed to their life and who they are as individuals. Whether biological or parenting perspectives, I have had a role in their little lives. How cool is that!

I thank the Lord every single day for my grand kids.

There’s always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example, I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don’t hurt.

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…I know that how much stuff you have, and how much it cost, really doesn’t matter.

Do I want to live a comfortable life? Of course. But I know that for me, I don’t have to have to biggest, best and/or most expensive you-fill-in-the-blank. It is just not that important. The phrase ‘you can’t take it with you’ is, ultimately, absolutely true.

I work with some clients in my design business who fret, stress and lose sleep over the paint color on their walls. Is it important to enjoy the decor and color palette in your home? For many of us, yes it is. But is it the end of the world if the wall color isn’t perfect? Not in my world. It’s only paint.

Don’t get me wrong. I love my home and how it is decorated. It is my haven and refuge. It is a reflection of me and what I enjoy. But it’s simple, with furniture that I hand selected but didn’t pay a lot of money for. So yes, I love my home. But it’s just stuff.

I know that in life there are no guarantees, very few absolutes,  and that we are not promised tomorrow. These 5 things I’ve learned about life in my 60’s tell me that every day. And I’m okay with it. Life is good.

There is no old age. There is, as there always was, just you.

Carol Matthau

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