Still Expanding: When Possibility Feels Like Pressure in Later Life
There’s a kind of overwhelm that has nothing to do with deadlines, and everything to do with possibility. You might know it. The quiet pressure of unfinished ideas. Of folders and saved articles. Of software tools you meant to explore. The sense that there’s still more you could be doing, not because anyone’s asking, but […]
Climbing Mountains at 83: Sheila Hancock and the Art of Bold Ageing
What does it really mean to age boldly? For me, it’s about doing something unexpected, something that stretches you. Not to prove anything, but to feel fully alive. That’s why Sheila Hancock’s story stays with me. At 83, she climbed a real mountain for a film role, not because she had to, but because she […]
Today, retirement is about identity, purpose, and possibilities, not just age
When it comes to retirement, the old rules don’t always apply. Today, I’m exploring why a more flexible, personal approach can help us navigate this important life transition with greater purpose and clarity. Rethinking the Traditional Retirement Timeline Retirement is changing. It’s no longer just about hitting 66 or 67 and stepping away from work […]
Healthy Ageing and the Future of Work
What the IMF Report Really Tells Us About Later Life “Fury as baby boomers ordered to work into their 70s – ‘the new 50′” That was the Daily Express headline following the release of the IMF’s April 2025 World Economic Outlook. It’s dramatic. It’s clickable. And it’s deeply misleading. As someone who works closely with […]
Is 70 the New 65? Rethinking Ageing in the 21st Century
Introduction At what age do we truly become ‘old’? For decades, 65 has been the traditional marker of older age in the UK, largely because it was the official retirement age and the point at which people could claim their State Pension. But with people living longer and healthier lives, is it time to rethink […]
Listening to My Body and Embracing the Seasons of Life
Hi, it’s Dr. Denise Taylor, coming to you from my wood. It’s just after 1pm on Thursday, March 20th, the first day of spring, and it certainly feels like it. My watch says it’s 16 degrees, and I’m enjoying the fresh air. Behind me is the base that Justin and I built, originally for a […]
Rethinking the “Age Wave”: Embracing the Opportunities of a Longer Life
The way we talk about ageing matters. Describing demographic change as an “age wave” or worse, a “retirement tsunami”, fuels a fear-based narrative that frames longer lives as a crisis rather than an evolution. As a 67-year-old psychologist and later-life coach with a doctorate in meaningful ageing, I see this shift not as a disaster […]
Feminism Then and Now: What’s Changed, and What Hasn’t?
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown’s recent piece in The Independent calls for a revival of feminism. I welcomed it. Like her, I came of age in the 1970s, when feminism was a movement, not a brand. We didn’t just talk about equality, we fought for it. We challenged the system, questioned norms, and rejected the idea that our […]
Marking 67½: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Today I am 67 and 26 weeks Halfway through my 67th year, I find myself reflecting, not just on this moment, but on the years that have shaped it. Looking back to 60 and 65, I see distinct chapters, each defined by transformation, adventure, and self-discovery. Looking ahead to 70 and beyond, I feel a […]
Rethinking Life Expectancy: Beyond the Oversimplified Narrative
Introduction The claim that life expectancy has more than doubled over the past century is widely cited in media, policy discussions, and public discourse. While technically accurate, this statistic is misleading without proper context. As a researcher who obtained my PhD at 64, specialising in retirement adjustment and meaningful ageing, I have watched this narrative […]