Is 60 the New 40?

The first time I heard this quote I laughed. I clearly remember turning 40 and thinking then that it was the best time of my life. Ha! Twenty years ago, I didn’t know better. 60 is by far better than 40 because I’ve started putting me first, instead of everyone else. Please do not take this the wrong way, as I’m not a selfish person.  I’ve just learned through the years that it is finally time to recognize myself! I’m a woman who has hobbies, true lifelong girlfriends, loves to golf, and is obsessed with fashion. Twenty some-odd years ago, if I was asked about myself, I would have said I was a mother, a wife, a daughter and a caregiver.

       “I thought more about what I did and my responsibilities, rather than who I really was.”

Throughout my life, I have always taken those titles very seriously. Although in doing so, I put my hobbies, my time with friends, my passions, and self-care on the back burner.  Rarely did I consider going out on a weeknight because I knew I needed to be a responsible mother in the morning, making sure my children were prepared for school. I have absolutely no regrets from my past, but I at sixty, I see myself with more confidence and a clearer perception of who I am. My responsibilities have somewhat downsized, and I’m no longer defining myself by what I do, rather than who I am.

At age 62, I am more confident than ever before

60 being the new 40 does not mean that 60-year-old women now look like they are 40.  Nor is it about defying age and physical appearance. I like to interpret this by saying women at 60 years old have much more confidence in themselves. We know that we need to slow down and enjoy life before it’s too late. At 60, more than half of our life is over.  It’s now time to make the most of it. If we don’t start enjoying ourselves now, it may be too late. With no health guarantees, we should appreciate life every single day.

I’ve learned to say no

Since I’ve turned 60, I’m less tolerant.  Maybe that is not always the best thing, but I just do not allow myself to accept something I do not want to. I’ve learned to say no. 60 is the time to invest in improving our quality of life, in self-care and finding joy in everything we do. I understand that we all have diverse situations that may prevent us from fully enjoying ourselves, but there will never be a perfect time.  Like it or not, these are our golden years.

I recently reached out to couple of my Instagram friends and asked them for their feelings on…

Why 60 is the new 40:

@60_isthenew40 Leigh DeRoche “We are no longer old ladies from our grandmother’s era that have to dress or behave a certain way…….We are strong, fit, powerful women who want to live life to the fullest, feel fantastic and contribute to society. I do not feel stronger than I was in my forties, but I do feel stronger and fit with the benefit of having lived and learned. With age comes experience, knowledge, and less stress. You learn what’s important and what is not. You have more time to spend on yourself and find out what it is that you really love to do.”

@sixtee_isthenew_fortee Vicki Bouchard “I can’t say that I don’t miss my forty-year-old body, but if I knew that my body would be in the shape it is at sixty with a full head of silver hair I would be very pleased. I love the freedom I have at 60. With the wisdom I have acquired over the years, I’m qualified to give advice. It is true that I have much less life to live than I have already lived, and that is why it’s so important to make every day count.”

Their replies nailed it! I could not agree more with what had to say. At 60 we may not be young and vivacious, but we are wise because of the knowledge we have gained through life’s experiences. Each of us having gone down different paths have a very powerful story to tell. We are emotionally stronger than we have ever been. We feel triumphant about changing the perception of seniors and wanting to show the world that sixty is the prime of our life.

You’ll have to excuse me now, as I’m meeting up with the girls for a little day drinking.

Cheers!