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 yurt, but we’ve decided on a Lotus Belle tent instead, which we’ll put up at Easter.
Today, I’m reflecting on being my age. I’m 67 and 29 weeks, just three months from 68.
I don’t fear ageing. Another year? Bring it on!
But I do notice changes in my body, and I think it’s useful to acknowledge them. We all experience ageing differently, and what I notice may not be what you notice, but paying attention helps us adapt.
For instance, I’ve started seeing a personal trainer again after doing my own thing for a while. She’s challenged me on certain movements, and I’ve had to say, “I know my body; I’m not going to do something I know I can’t.” Some exercises, like squatting lower, I’m working on. Others, like bending my leg a certain way (due to past DVTs), simply aren’t possible. It’s about knowing my limits and working with my body, not against it.
Another example: yesterday, I spent the day moving a big pile of logs. At first, I used the wheelbarrow, but with the muddy ground and a slight incline, it became easier to just carry them. So, I embraced it, mindfully carrying the logs, feeling the weight, taking breaks when needed. It was a physical challenge, but satisfying.
And then, when I got home, I felt it, I was tired. The old me would have pushed through, grabbed a cup of tea, and gone straight to work. But instead, I listened to my body. I rested, watched some TV, and let myself recover. Today, I’m taking it easy, spending hours in my hammock, enjoying a simple meal of fresh fruit and yogurt, and just being in nature.
That’s a big shift from how I used to be. In my 50s, work always came first. I barely noticed the seasons because I was too busy at my desk. Now, I’ve changed my priorities. If the weather’s good, I’m outside. Being in the wood is good for my mental and physical well-being, it gets me away from screens, moving, and noticing the world around me.
And that’s my takeaway today: listen to your body, acknowledge the changes, and adapt rather than resist. Ageing isn’t about giving up; it’s about adjusting so we can keep living well.
Now, I’m off to say hello to my friend Dave, who’s just arrived to help out here. Until next time, it’s Dr. Denise in the wood.
Dr Denise Taylor is on a mission to reclaim, reframe (and rethink!) retirement. It is not retiring and slowing down but a new phase of life where we have more freedom and flexibility to live a life the way we want.
Denise has been involved in retirement planning for almost 40 years. At 64 she gained her doctorate having researched how people find meaning in life after full-time work. To share this widely her latest book – Rethinking Retirement for Positive Ageing is on sale, published by Routledge. Dr Denise is a Chartered Psychologist, and also a wilderness rites of passage guide combining her interest in transitions and ritual with a love of nature. Beyond her work she gains great fulfilment through owning a private wood.
