Getting older isn’t all about aching joints and reading glasses. I mean, ya, there’s an awful lot of grunting and groaning as we get off the couch and out of bed, but there’s more to aging than that.
There actually are quite a few perks of aging, and I’m happy to share them here with you!
I’ll be honest, though. My first year or two in my 60th decade was tough. I couldn’t find anything good about getting older, but as time went on, it became clear. Aging is kinda cool.
Anyway, no more babbling – let’s get to the 10 perks of aging, and I hope these give you hope and remind you that aging isn’t all bad.
10 perks of aging-finding the simple joys
Here are just a few of the perks of aging that I’ve discovered in the last couple of years. I’ll be 63 this year, and while my body still hurts and new pains creep up, I can still find joy in life and aging.
You honestly don’t care what people think anymore
When you’re 20, you worry about how you look. At 40, you still sort of care. At 60? You’ll happily walk to the corner store in your jammies (yes, I’ve done it many times).
You’ll dye your hair whatever colour you want, you’ll go braless. You’ll do, say and wear things that would mortify a younger you. But at this stage in life, you just don’t care, and it’s super freeing!
Senior’s discounts
Movie tickets, bus passes, restaurants, museums, hello!!! Being over 60 is like holding a permanent coupon book. I love it!!
I remember the first senior discount I got. It was for the Greyhound bus from one city in Ontario to another. When I got to the purchase ticket option, I saw the over 60 senior discount. Wait, what?? Woohoo!!!
You’ve got the confidence to say no
Or stop people pleasing, as I like to call it. No to extra obligations, no to people who drain your energy, no to things you simply don’t feel like doing. “No” is a complete sentence, and it feels amazing.
No to putting others’ needs first and putting yourself last. NO to everyone and everything that isn’t you or doesn’t bring you joy.
Yassssssssssssssss!!!
Guiltless naps
Nap at 2 pm? Totally fine. Nap at 10 am? Even better. Nap for 30 minutes, nap for 3 hours. You nap for as long as you want, when you want and feel absolutely 0 guilt over it.
Girl, we deserve these naps! We worked hard our entire lives to be able to nap in broad daylight.
You can get away with being a little eccentric
Whether it’s a bold new hair colour, funky glasses, or talking to your plants like they’re your kids, people just nod and smile.
You go ahead and wear that bright yellow floofy top with those psychedelic purple polka dot pants. People will love you simply because you’re adorable!
People love to hear your stories
You’ve lived through decades of wild hairstyles, music trends, and world events. You survived a life with no internet, no cell phones, and so much more.
People love to hear these stories of ‘back in my time,’ and you’re more than happy to share them. It’s fun!! And it brings us down memory lane, which is also fun!
You finally have time for your hobbies
Painting, gardening, puzzles, pickleball, chasing butterflies, feeding chipmunks, or just sitting on the porch with coffee. Whatever you love, you actually get to do it now.
Finally, there is time in your day, in between naps, of course, to do the things that bring you joy and make your heart sing. Yay!!!
You dress for comfort now, not to impress
Elastic waistbands, stretchy fabrics, and shoes that don’t kill your feet (yes, even Crocs). And you may even be brave enough to toss that bra in the garbage or donate it to Goodwill!
We ain’t dressing to impress or pick anyone up (or maybe you still are?). We dress for comfort and joy. And that’s all that matters these days. PJs all day? Ok!
You can eat dessert first, and no one questions it
Why not? You want your chocolate cake right now? Go ahead and eat it, girl!! Life’s too short to wait until the end of the meal.
And the best part? No one gives a shit.
Grocery store clerks just carry your bags
You don’t even have to ask. They just grab them and ask where your car is. The young man at the pet food store started doing that with my 10 lb bag of kitty litter. He’d put it on my scooter without even asking me.
Oh hell ya. It helps that he’s hot!
final thoughts on the perks of aging
In this stage of life, it can be a struggle to find the good things about growing old, but trust me, they exist. You just have to look a little harder, is all.
Yes, aging comes with challenges and can even make you a little sad, but take the time to find the good things. It will make life that much more enjoyable.
