"Age is just a number" is a phrase that we often hear, but it holds so much truth. As we age, we gain wisdom, experience, and a deeper understanding of life. Yet society often focuses on the negative aspects of aging rather than celebrating its positive sides. As I look forward to being 64 later this month, I already know it can mean thriving in every aspect of life – from career to relationships and personal growth.
Anyone of a certain age has probably sung happily along to the sweet tune by the Beatles: When I’m Sixty-Four. It cheerfully asks for life’s simple joys to continue into life’s later years… “When I get older losing my hair, many years from now, will you still be sending me a valentine? Birthday greetings? Bottle of wine?” It croons on to ask in the refrain, “ Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm sixty-four?”
It’s going to be stuck in my head all month and I’m so glad to be reaching that number with full steam. So, let's raise a glass (of red wine for antioxidants, of course) to 64 and beyond!
Getting So Many More Days
It’s terrifying for most of us to stand on the paths that may be our last. Cancer survivors like myself definitely understand that feeling. By the time we reach retirement, nearly all of us have stood on some of those paths at various points in our lives – and know that we’re lucky to be here. It’s especially lucky in this era because our collective life expectancy is much longer than it used to be. We can truly look forward to 20-30 years of getting those awesome senior discounts everywhere we go.
We have more time to accomplish goals, spend with loved ones, and create lasting memories that will eventually become our legacies. Additionally, a longer life expectancy means that age-related health problems are occurring later – or not at all – so our quality of life is longer, too. All of this provides more opportunities to learn and grow as individuals, leading to a greater sense of fulfillment and satisfaction.
Plus, it comes with a big bowl full of cool perks, like:
Wisdom - With age comes wisdom. We’ve lived longer and have more life experience to draw from. This can help us make better decisions, solve problems more effectively, feel less stressed, and help others.
Confidence - As we get older, we become more comfortable in our own skin. We know who we are, what we want out of life, and have a pretty good idea of how to get it.
Freedom - In retirement or semi-retirement, many people have more time to do things they enjoy or have always wanted to enjoy but couldn’t because of responsibilities, time, or finances – all of which are usually more flexible in later years.
Gratitude - As we age, we often become more grateful for what we have. We appreciate our health, our loved ones, and the simple joys in life more deeply.
Find your passions and create good in the world around you. Be as active and healthy as you can. Live your best life knowing that it doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. And hopefully you’ll still be getting valentines when you’re 64, too.
It’s My Birthday… But Here’s a Gift for You!
One of the most exciting things that I’ve accomplished in recent years was completing my book, Courage Rises: How To Create The Life You Want By Leaning In To Fear. And now, one of the best birthday gifts ever would be getting it into even more hands to help even more people. To that end, here’s my gift to YOU for my birthday:
Throughout my birthday month of April, you can get a personally signed copy of my book at a super amazing discount: Click here for the form and use the code SUKI64 to get them at 40% off the cover price! Seriously. Get as many as you want and share them with everyone you love!
