Full Circle…And Still Learning
Recently, I read an article on Oldster, one of my favorite Substack publications, suggesting that many older folks don’t love learning new things. I found this interesting, and also a bit controversial.
On one hand, I get it. The routine of doing what we know. The familiar and comfortable. Do. Rinse. Repeat. For many of us, learning might not feel as easy as when we were younger. The flip side? Learning something new can be electrifying, no matter our age. Trying something unfamiliar, mastering something untried, can create confidence and capability. If I’m being honest, conquering a new skill makes me feel more relevant.
Until 60, milestone birthdays never really bothered me. My 40s and 50s still felt young-ish. Perhaps, because I was an older mom, my kids, and the other younger moms around me, somehow kept me feeling younger? The whole lying about our age never resonated…my age didn’t feel like an insult, it felt like a badge…to still be here, doing, trying. No judgment towards those more sensitive about this though!
60 landed differently.
When I was younger, 60 sounded old, like really old. Now that I’m here, and then some, I don’t feel the way 60 once seemed. Don’t get me wrong. The zillions of Medicare, retirement, and life insurance ads that populate my inbox and social media feeds remind me daily. In many ways, the rearview mirror definitely appears larger than the windshield. And when I look in the mirror, I’m reminded. The mirror doesn’t lie.
But as 65 looms, I still feel a sense of wonder about life. The places I have never seen. The things I have never tried, or would like to try again. Knowing I won’t have the chance to complete the bucket list, which grows daily. This brings, at times, a real sense of urgency.
70 is five years away!!
Learning new things is part of how I stay engaged. With life, with the world, and honestly, with myself.
When I started this blog, I had no idea what I was doing. With the help of ChatGPT, “Gepetto” as I like to call it, I figured out how to build a Squarespace site, hire a freelancer on Upwork, and publish on Substack. I made lots of mistakes and did my best to learn from them. AI, artificial intelligence, has really captured my imagination. I have been trying to learn as much as I can about using it in daily life and research. It is, at once, amazing and a bit scary.
Tom and I recently attended a workshop in Denver. We both really enjoyed being back in a classroom type setting. It felt familiar, and invigorating, in the best way. We both agreed we’d love to use learning and workshops as springboards to explore and travel. In the queue: skeet shooting lessons. Tom is diving back into fly fishing.
We treasure each day, thankful to be retired and to have the time and health to pursue new adventures. Travel continues to be one of our greatest teachers. New places, museums, meeting new people, and unexpected moments along the way.
We have had inspirational role models. My dad learned to windsurf at 60. He was studying history on YouTube and television documentaries right up until his last days. My mom took up water exercise at 88, and learned Mahjong at 90. She is nearly 92, and enjoys learning new things daily, fully engaged with her iPhone, iPad, and social media. Boredom is simply not part of her vocabulary. She absolutely amazes us.
I recently learned that listening to music regularly can actually help keep our brains engaged and might even stave off dementia (ironically, in an article I can no longer find because I’ve forgotten where I saw it). Who knew?! Articles around the benefits of staying physically active and keeping our brains engaged flood my inbox daily. It makes me think…maybe the learning, trying, and even just staying curious is doing more for us than we realize.
No judgment, ever, for those who prefer the comfort of the familiar.
For as long as we can, we plan to keep trying. To keep learning. To keep stretching just a little beyond. Beyond what we already know. Beyond what we’ve mastered. To keep leaning into what’s next.
