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 deep sense of anticipation for what’s still to come.
Turning 60: A Life in Motion
At 60, I was working hard and playing hard. I wasn’t waiting for retirement to travel; I was living fully in the present. My birthday year was bookended by extraordinary adventures:
- A nine-week trip to Australia, culminating in climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge on New Year’s Eve, despite my fear of heights.
- A small boat trip along the Croatian coast, with a Game of Thrones tour in Dubrovnik on my actual birthday. This was a replacement for a trekking holiday, including Pakistan, that was cancelled on Foreign Office advice.
- An expedition across the Indian Ocean, sailing to Zanzibar, Mafia Island, the Seychelles, Madagascar, Réunion, and Mauritius to end my birthday year.
What was my mindset at 60?
I wasn’t giving later life much thought. I was fully engaged in work and couldn’t see anything changing. Success was still defined by my career, and while I was living life to the full, I wasn’t yet questioning what lay beyond.
But travel wasn’t just about adventure, it was also an escape. I began to realise that I wasn’t just working hard to fund these trips; I was filling a void. My marriage was unhappy. My life, though full, felt misaligned. Change was inevitable.
That realisation set in motion a major personal shift. I left my marriage, moved from a barn conversion to a town flat, and immersed myself in a different kind of adventure, one centred on connection, joy, and self-discovery. I rediscovered my love for live music, often out at gigs several nights a week. My focus shifted from external experiences to building a life I truly wanted.
What about health and money at 60?
At 60, I took my health for granted. I went to the gym, but I wasn’t thinking about long-term well-being. Now, health is paramount. I move daily, do strength exercises, and focus on protecting my knees. I’m lucky to have avoided knee surgery and long-term medication, but I recognise that things can change, and I want to be as prepared as possible.
Financially, I had expected to receive my state pension at 60, like many women of my generation, but the changes meant I didn’t get it until 66. Now, at 67½, I receive £220 per week, paid every four weeks. It has made a big difference, taking the pressure off earning, allowing me to focus on meaningful work, and giving me the freedom to be more selective with clients and projects.
Turning 65: A Deeper Milestone
Reaching 65 felt significant in a way that previous milestones hadn’t. Many never get the privilege of growing older, and I wanted to mark it in a way that was meaningful to me, not with balloons and cake, but with ceremony and reflection.
I spent the night before my birthday alone in my wood, immersed in nature. I turned off my phone, smudged with sage, drummed, danced, and journaled. As dawn arrived, I sat quietly, reflecting on the years behind me and those ahead.
This milestone was marked by:
- Personal transformation: embracing single life, deepening independence, and prioritising joy.
- Work transitions: shifting towards retirement coaching and later-life transitions.
- Physical and emotional changes: gaining and regaining fitness, learning to be kinder to myself.
What did turning 65 mean to me?
By 65, I had completed three Vision Quests, and I knew the benefit of deep reflection. I spent my birthday reading notes and poems from friends, reflecting on their words and my own experiences.
This was also the point where I fully embraced ageing. My hair was grey, I was content in my own skin, and I no longer needed external validation. I had stepped into this phase of life with confidence and ease.
I realised then, as I do now, that later life is not about being over the hill, it’s about climbing new ones.
Now at 67½: A Life Reimagined
Since 60, the years have been a period of continuous reinvention. I have:
- Completed three Vision Quests, became an apprentice Vision Quest guide, and am now qualified to lead my own.
- Bought a four-acre wood and held two retreats on my own land.
- Spent two weeks living with a Maasai tribe.
- Trained as a game ranger in South Africa, learning to track animals, notice signs, and understand conservation work. I also trained in firearm handling, a skill I never imagined gaining!
- Earned my PhD at 64, diving deeply into later-life meaning and transitions.
And yet, life is not just about achievements, it’s also about the unexpected twists. A bad fall led to a concussion that still affects me today. My approach to health has shifted, not just focusing on weight loss, but on staying strong, mobile, and resilient.
Looking Ahead to 70 and Beyond
I no longer see retirement as an endpoint, even though others may see it as my “next step.” Nor do I resonate with the traditional narratives of ageing. Instead, I see this time as a transformation, an evolution of who I am and how I engage with the world.
What do I hope to embrace, change, or leave behind?
I am thinking more about legacy. My writing is part of that, but I have more ideas—more ways to encourage people to step into a wiser role, to embrace being an elder in society rather than resisting it.
Writing has been another constant thread:
- Find Work at 50+ was written just before I turned 60.
- Rethinking Retirement was published at 65.
- And before I turn 70, I will have at least two more books completed. My next manuscript will be handed in before my next birthday.
The language we use to describe later life matters. “Retirement” suggests stepping back, winding down, becoming less. But what if we replaced it with:
- Olderhood: a time of wisdom, contribution, and growth.
- The reinvention years: embracing new identities, passions, and ways of living.
- Conscious ageing: an intentional, reflective journey of self-discovery.
At 67½, I feel deeply curious about what the next chapter holds.
Your Turn: Reflecting on Your Milestones
I would love to hear from you:
👉 How do you reflect on your own milestone birthdays?
👉 What have been the biggest turning points in your life?
👉 If you could write a letter to your younger self, what would you say?
Let’s start a conversation,because later life is not about retreating; it’s about reinvention.
Final Thoughts
Looking back over the past seven years, I see a journey of transformation; not one of slowing down, but of shifting focus, redefining success, and stepping into a new way of being.
At 60, I didn’t think much about later life. At 65, I embraced it. Now, at 67½, I see it as a time of immense potential, a chance to redefine what it means to grow older, to contribute, to lead, and to leave a legacy.
So, I ask you:
🔹 What story are you telling yourself about later life?
🔹 How might that story change if you saw ageing as a time of expansion, rather than limitation?
Whatever chapter you’re in now, know that the next one is still yours to write.
