Think Like a Kid: Approach this new adventure with a beginner’s mind. It’s okay not to know what you’re doing—that’s the whole point! Allow yourself to be a student, to mess up, and to learn. Rachel Wu’s research shows that adopting a child-like learning approach (open-minded, curious, unafraid of failure) is the secret to reaping cognitive rewards as an older adult. So if you take a painting class and your art looks like finger-painting—fantastic! Enjoy the process more than the outcome. Play, experiment, and don’t take yourself too seriously. We all seek novelty whether we realize it or not, and staying mentally young is more about attitude than chronology. Savor the Confidence Boost: The first time you conquer a fear or do something wild, take a moment to absorb how empowering it feels. Maybe you’ll notice a little extra swagger in your step, a newfound lightness in your mood. Bottle that feeling—it’s confidence, and it tends to spill over into other areas of life. Above all, embrace the freedom that comes with this stage of life. By 60 or 70, you’ve accumulated wisdom, experience, and quite possibly a healthy disregard for what anyone thinks. That is a powerful combination—use it! If not now, when? As one witty woman put it, “At 50, I stopped caring what people thought. By 60, I realized no one was actually paying attention—they’re all worried about themselves. So I might as well do as I please!” The truth is, you’ve earned the right to be ridiculous, audacious, and joyfully yourself.
A NEW CHAPTER OF BOLDNESS AND JOY
There is something revolutionary about a grown woman doing something “ridiculous”— it upends expectations and redefines what aging can look like. Instead of the tired narrative of decline, it paints a picture of continued growth, adventure, and laughter. It says: we don’t stop dreaming or doing daring things just because we’ve got a few decades under our belts . On the contrary, those decades can make the ridiculous endeavors even sweeter. You appreciate the freedom more. You have the confidence of your convictions. You can surprise the younger generations (and give them something to aspire to!). As author and 86-year-old poet Ursula K. Le Guin wrote, “Nobody’s going to tell me what to do” in my old age— old is not a limitation, it’s an emancipation.
So go ahead and plot your own ridiculous adventure. Let the world roll its eyes—and then watch as it starts to smile with you, because joy and boldness are contagious at any age.
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs