While sitting in the dentist chair getting some news about another new crown I need, I started to think, (I’m almost 69), “Well, what are the GOOD things about aging 60+?”
So, let’s not dwell on the things that bring us down (I have them, too) and think about this:
1. You Know Things = You ARE Wiser After 60
We’ve lived through things enough to say “oh your baby’s separation anxiety is a phase” or “it will click with your pre-teen boy to open the door for women eventually.” I used to think how wise my mom was and now I understand how she got that way. It’s called experience.
You’ve accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience over the years, making you a valuable resource for advice and insight for yourself and others.
My mother-in-law may be housebound, but she is a powerful source for prayers…and she still has her sense of humor to share.
And at 60+, you’ve got good stories!
2. You ARE Your Own Best Friend
Over 60, people often feel freer to express themselves authentically and pursue interests without worrying about societal expectations. You are cool the way you are.
And you can take a nap if you want.
3. You Are Better At Handling Stress At 60+
You can recognize when stress is getting the better of you.
Have you ever had a panic attack? 40 years ago, Howard asked me to marry him. I was in love but it meant moving away from my family in southern California to New York City. Another time, after we moved back to Florida from living in Paris. I completely unpacked, had the kids settled in new schools and then Howard wanted to move to California to accept another job opportunity.
I said yes both times but the first time we went to the Santa Monica emergency room for excruciating neck and back pains and the second time I thought I was having heart attack. Both were stress-related and wake up calls.
The point is at other traumatic times as I got older, like deaths in the family or moving from San Francisco to Atlantic Beach, FL, I could recognize all the signs of an impending meltdown and take the steps necessary to calm down.
Take a walk with music, watch reruns of “Modern Family” or your favorite show, and breathe deeply.
4. A Glass Half Full Attitude Makes You Happier
You recognize your blessings even if your health or others’ are declining. One reader said at 80, she no longer travels but has those memories and now she lives where she can see her beloved mountains.
What’s good in your life right now? It can be simple like “watermelon is in season!”
5. You Don’t Care What Others Think
Many people find they become more comfortable in their own skin and more confident in their decisions as they age.
Like… “I am wearing comfortable shoes, even to the wedding.”
6. Freedom And Time For Relationships
With potentially fewer work and family obligations, there’s more time to nurture relationships with friends, family, and grandchildren.
And thank God for Facetime.
Other Healthy Tips About Aging 60+:
This article is interesting: The Most Powerful Exercise You’re Not Doing.
You may also like: The National Geographic article “The Benefits Of Aging.”
And Cindy Hattersley: How to Age Positively With Grace.
Also 26 Small Ways To Feel HAPPIER.
What is good about aging for you? Please leave a comment.
I just turned 60 in June and I’m still adjusting to the idea of this age number. I loved your perspective
You are so young!
Great post! The best part about my 60s is getting married 4 years ago (at age 61). I was widowed with 4 school-aged children at 49 and reacquainted several years later at a college homecoming with a man I briefly knew in college. We have been married 4 years now and he is truly the love of my life. We have seven children between us and two granddaughters. Life is good! I recently read a quote from Jen Wilkin that I think is fantastic: “Don’t let a youth-obsessed culture rob you of your sense of value of all parts of life. We need our aging faces and slowing bodies to tell us the truth: that time is passing, and that it is exceedingly precious. Each season yields its own exquisite fruit. No need to cling to what was never meant to last. God is faithful in every season.”
Mary Ann! What a lovely and heart-warming post. You are so wise! I love you!
I love the photo of you on the beach with Louisa! Just looking at that reduced my stress. Spending time with our grandchildren is the joy of our lives.
Mary Ann, What a lovely post! I, too, share your glass half full approach.
Paul and I spent a good portion of our 50’s taking care of our parents as their health declined. Now in our 60’s we are both fortunate enough to be retired, and are taking advantage of this free time to focus on ourselves (weight lifting, eating right, playing pickleball, etc.) in hopes that we live a healthier life for a longer period than our parents did. We hope this enables us to have more quality time with each other, and with our kids. I have come to realize that it is a real luxury in life to be able to focus on wellness.
The picture of you and your granddaughter on the beach is just beautiful. You should frame that!
All the best to you!
Nancy
After you moved from Paris to Florida and had your young family settled, Howard wanted to transplant all of you again?! I honestly felt your stress reading this.
I as well felt your stress with this move..Oh my! I struggle leaving my pups to go off on a weeks vacation let alone another household move to another in such short time frame. Home is where I’m happiest..routine is my thing.
Beautiful post and beautiful comments!!!
Show John how we are wearing the t-shirts he gave us!
Love this and the comments! I turned 60 a few months ago and often forget how old I am as I have made aging well a priority. I cringe when I hear anyone say that aging is hell. (I’ve met some incredible women in their 80’s who can run circles around people half their age and a few in their early 50’s who truly believe their best years are in the rear view mirror!) There is so much we can do lifestyle-wise to increase our healthspan-exercising, cutting down consumption of ultra processed foods and alcohol, and prioritizing sleep…I’m not saying it’s always easy but it’s so worth the effort to get the rewards. Cheers to aging well and celebrating the wisdom that comes with it!
I know what people mean about “aging is hell” when you have chronic health issues, Karen. But you can’t dwell on the negative. We just had a nice visit with my 95 year old mother-in-law and she expressed so much gratitude.
Thanks so much for commenting, Karen.
Mary Ann, thank you for the lovely and wise blog today. You are only a little older than my four sons and my husband’s children. I agree that the 60s were fun and still very active. I have so much gratitude that my husband of 83 is healthy and still at my side. We always walk hand in when we walk our little dog every morning. I have gratitude that I can live in these beautiful mountains and enjoy our little town and our neighbors mostly our age. We watch after each other. Our family is large with 7 children, 17 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren but they are scattered all over this great country of ours. Thank goodness for text chains where we get so many videos and pictures of the family events. Our life is blessedly quiet and full of love. After all, love is the very best part of life.
What a lovely life, Sydney!!!
My husband has 17 heart stents and a quadruple bypass. I was fortunate to be able to resuscitate him twice. It has taught me to appreciate every day. Appreciate him being here. Appreciate that I can walk so much better with total knee replacement times 2! And that life has much to offer!
Bravo that you resuscitated him. Did you take a class in CPR? I need to do that…it’s been several years since I had one. I think knee replacement surgery has come a long way, right? Two friends had it done recently. It’s not easy tho.
I am 94 and I think that attitude and gratitude adds a lot of joy to my life, also being economically and emotionally secure really helps
The fact that you are active on a computer, Amelia, at 94 shows you are mentally active, too!
Hi Mary Ann,
You certainly have been tested in your life time.
The big thing that helps is “attitude determines altitude.” When all or so many things that are taken away from you that you have no control of, what is left is how we respond. Holding onto hope, and trying to find joy and prayer during difficult times is important. Having good support and love is extremely important.
Enjoyed all the pictures, your mother-in-law’s cake and her top are pretty. You are blessed to have her in your life.
Good luck in getting a new crown. I have had so many and a root canals, and I take good care of my teeth too.
Thanks, Katherine. I have four dental implants…and I take care of my teeth, too (wear a night guard every night due to grinding). But let’s get back to the good things 🙂
Like you said…trying to find joy.
Mary Ann, I would agree with all the points you make about aging. You’re still in your 60’s and from the looks of it, you have a wonderful life. I would say, that your perspective may change a little with time. Aging isn’t easy. Attitude is everything. When I was 69, I was still carefree for the most part. When my 70’s hit, things started falling apart healthwise for both me and my husband. And this was happening right after we had lost my mother at the age of 102! We had cared for her in our home for 10 years. So, my 60’s were spent doing that. Cherish your 60’s if you are healthy, because looking back, that decade was golden.
Of course everyone’s path is different and life is what you make it, but sometimes there are factors you cannot totally control. Not to be a downer, I am blessed and I do have a wonderful life…it’s just not what I expected.
I know things will be challenging in our 70’s and 80’s and hopefully in our 90’s, Nancy. I will have to reread this post and everyone’s comments!!
Thanks for sharing your stress stories, Mary Ann, as it gives us a glimpse of another side of you. My husband has had numerous emergency room stress-caused visits, but on about the 5th one, in our mid-40’s, he began having discomfort in his chest, and I was pretty much over it… I kept putting him off all day about going to the ER. Finally, around 8 pm, he said he really thought we should go. 5 minutes after being taken into an exam room, he CODED! He actually had an infection of the lining of the lungs and heart, perhaps caught while flying back from Europe 4 days before (very sick lady behind us lying down throughout our flight). That was a wake up call for ME!
I’m 65 and still looking forward to realizing that I’m wiser ;-}
How frightening!!! And you were so young.
I am sure you are wiser NOW after that.
I love your list and although I’m slightly shy of 60 couldn’t agree more with every single point. My body may be falling apart thanks to perimenopause (the worst part of aging so far) but everything else just keeps getting better. ha! Love your guts Mary Ann. xoxo 😉
I can’t believe that you are almost 60, Nancy. You look great. And it IS good to be through menopause in my case…and sleeping better, sort of 🙂
I will be 85 in August. I have arthritis and allergies. That’s nothing I can’t live with and workout. I am very blesses. I have learned that we have to accept our limitations and go with them. Never stop trying. Keep on keeping on and live with JOY!
I enjoy your posts. Good job!
Good for you, Kay!!!
Good advice, Kay. I have arthritis in one knee and one ankle that I dislocated. I try not to think about it. You are an inspiration.
Thank you MA- at 46 I am starting to feel the changing tides of life. One of the reasons I love your blog is that I find you an inspiration for how to age well. Who said it? Good taste never goes out of style? Same for aging well! Thanks for sharing your expierence with us.
Very true and wise – a big Happy Birthday to you! Photos of the grands are so dear.
Thanks…my birthday isn’t until October though 🙂
Good morning Mary Ann, I love the positive reframe for the joys of aging. I’m not sure I’m your target demographic for sharing lessons learned, but one thing that’s become clear to me is to “use it or lose it” in regard to physical health. A recent chronic health diagnosis was a real wake up call for me, as well as observing older relatives’ not so graceful aging and declining health. This has lead me to try to eat better and make sure I’m exercising, so I’m taking it as a win!
I know what you mean. I’ve added pilates and yoga to my walking.
Maybe you and your readers can help me with joy.
Friends ask often … how are you? How is your 36 year old daughter?
Well, reality is bilateral mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation….over past two years.
Now, more sonograms, MRI’s and more surgery. And Tamoxifen, ugh.
Caring for her and our young grandchildren.
During brief “breaks,” caring for & driving 88 year old parents to never ending doctors appointments.
Please just help me with the brief answer, How is your daughter? How are you? How are your parents?
I am praying, quick walks, long showers, breathing.
I just need a quick answer that appreciates friends asking, but does not send them into despair, too.
There is no time for a social life, but I don’t want to lose friends. You think I would know a quick answer……
That’s got to be so hard, Gia. You have me thinking about my mom when she came to take care of me when I had breast cancer treatments at 38…and we had a two and seven year old. I wish I would have told her thank you more.
Since you pray, I would tell people that you would appreciate their prayers. It makes them feel useful. Good luck…I’m saying a prayer for your family now.
Mary Ann,
I had no clue that you were a cancer survivor. You inspire me.
You appear to be the most gracious, lovely friend, MIL & Grandmother, too!
You & your readers have given so much encouragement & wisdom in todays post.
Thank you for the succinct answer to my question.
Thanks, Gia. I don’t think about that scary time very often and hopefully it will be the same for you and your daughter one of these days! I forgot to mention that while my mom was taking care of me, my MIL was there for our kids! We are going to see her today.
Gia, please try to take care of yourself as well. Praying for you and your family.
A bonus of getting older has been my granddaughters, all now in their 20’s. growing into such lovely young women. All graduating from college, starting their careers, and they still like to spend time with me! We were always close, lived near each other, they used to call my house “headquarters”. They keep me young. check out my clothes, got me wearing wide leg jeans, and taught me how to work my Apple Watch. In return, I taught them to cook, now they cook dinner for me.
Oh my gosh…I love this. They must be crazy about you, Nancy!!
Loved your post today. Agree with everything you wrote. As I get older, these 3 quotes stand the test of time…
”Love the face you have today. It’s the one you’ll wish you had five years from now.”
“A grandchild is the only thing in life that is not over-rated.”
“We’re all just walking each other home.”
Thank you so much for those beautiful quotes, Kelly!
I shouldn’t have worried so much. Fifty years ago my high school sweetheart popped the question after he returned from four years in the navy. Not one letter. No idea if he survived. I said no. Because how could I trust him. Fast forward fifty years. He shows up widowed and I divorced. And he is the greatest thing to happen to my life. We are making plans for the rest of our time. I know what I want and need now. I shouldn’t have worried so much! ❤️
What a romantic story, Leslie!
You become more adaptable to the “aging you” and that allows you to still find joy. I love your comments! A new book is coming out by Kerry Burnight called Joyspan. I think anyone reading this could benefit from the research and findings on how to increase joy as we age. She also has an online presence and often features her joy-filled 95 year old mother. Kerry is a gerontologist.
I will check into “Joyspan”…thanks Ruth Ann.
Say “O get to….” Rather than “I have to….”
I get to watch mu husband age and be there for him as he has s and down!
I still have him!
Sorry for my typos! 😑
True, Shari. I like that attitude.
Love this post! After a 10 day stay in the hospital I know one thing for sure. Take care of yourself first. Make your own recovery the first priority in your life. That is my new motto and I will turn 75 in September. We never know by looking at people what they are going through. Kindness matters most.
Thank you for your honesty Mary Ann. Authentic and down to earth.
OMG 10 days in the hospital. Yes…take care of yourself! I am going to be kinder today.
Beautiful! Also time to say yes to new experiences and strong enough to say no.
wow…yes..that is a very good one about saying no.
1. You don’t sweat the small stuff
2. You treasure each day, each month, each year and make them matter
3. Realizing how important it is to nurture relationships
4. Have fun!
5. If not now, when? Recognize that today you are the youngest you will ever be
6. Time to ramp up the exercise efforts
We have had a number of friends/coworkers/family die recently. Some lived long, but quite a few were very young. What a wake up call.
See how wise you are, Jill!??
Thanx for this…a week into ny first (ugh…maybe only) hip replacement…I must…”think positive.” Over 80 isn’t as forgiving… 🙄 franki
I just said a prayer for your recovery, Franki!