At age 16, there might have been 60 things to know.
At age 60, there are not as many.
The longer you live, the more you learn – but that doesn’t mean complacency should kick in. There is still some learning to do at this golden age.
- Number One is…it’s ok to look after Number One! After years of putting others first and making their needs a priority, it’s now perfectly acceptable to indulge yourself without feeling guilty.
- Problem-solving becomes easier at age 60. It might have something to do with life experience or a change in the brain but there’s no dilemma you can’t resolve.
- Take every opportunity to enjoy the lighter side of life. Laughter lowers blood pressure, reduces stress hormones, and can even suppress pain.
- Being fit at 60 doesn’t mean having a six-pack. It’s more about endurance, moderate strengthening, balance and stretching and maintaining enough muscle mass without resembling a bodybuilder. (But if you do want to resemble a bodybuilder, that’s fine too!)
- Exercise your brain as much as your body. By staying mentally active now you’re investing in a switched-on and nimble-minded future. It might be as involved as enrolling in a university course, or as simple as reading every day; anything it takes to keep your brain in shape.
- There will always be room for romance in your life. You and your heart are never past it.
- You’re still young but you should still make plans for the future. By sorting out estate planning and end-of-life issues now, you can make it easier on loved ones when the time comes, even though that day is still a long way down the track.
- It’s alright to like Facebook and other social media. These platforms are great for reconnection and provide a wonderful way to stay in touch with friends. They’re not a waste of time.
- A little sun is good, too much sun is bad. A little sunscreen will stop your still youthful-looking skin from turning to leather.
- Be polite when people talk about their physical ailments. You might be fighting fit and not keen to listen to that sort of talk, but by showing empathy towards someone less fortunate then you’re doing them a favour.
- Don’t be shy to make the most of the senior’s discounts. Yes, yes…you’re not senior and you certainly feel too young to be claiming a discount – but the money you save will be spent on fun stuff that we youthful folk like.
- You should have learned this by now but we’ll remind you once again: dump the people in your life who bring you down, or who drag a whole lot of negativity into the environment whenever they enter your space. 60 is an age that should be embraced, and you want to enjoy these good times with people who share your love for life.
- Be patient.
- Embrace the imperfections in others, and in yourself, and accept that this is what makes the world go round.
- Commit these words of wisdom to memory: “Getting old is mandatory. Acting old is optional."
- Try and learn something new every day.
