Ageing: Why Growing Older Is a Privilege, Not a Problem
With my 66th birthday upon me, I found myself reflecting again on just how lucky I am to be getting older.
Another year of laughter lines. Another year of stories. Another year of seeing more of this beautiful world and squeezing every bit out of life that I can.
And honestly? That feels pretty special.
We used the birthday for an excuse to take a break and spend five days away in Darwin — warm air, balmy evenings, sunsets over the water, champagne breakfasts, conversations, laughter and that wonderful feeling travel gives us when it gently shakes us out of our usual bubble.
I think that’s one of the reasons I love getting away so much.
Not just because of the destinations, but because travel reminds us we are alive. It stimulates us. It reconnects us with curiosity, spontaneity, beauty and perspective. It reminds us there’s still so much to experience, taste, learn, laugh at and appreciate.
And perhaps that becomes even more important as we get older.
Because somewhere along the way, society started feeding us this strange idea that aging is something to fear… something to “fight”… as though youth is the only place beauty exists.
But the truth is, if we are fortunate enough to stay here long enough, we age, we change physically, and we notice mental shifts.
That shouldn't be seen as a disadvantage, but a privilege.
While in Darwin, I reconnected with one of my cousins. We both grew up on farms on Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, but went in different directions afterward. His Mum is my Mum's elder sister. We had many laughs reminiscing about our childhoods and marvelling at the longevity of our mothers.
☝️ Above: The mangrove boardwalk in Darwin - with my cousin David on the right and my partner Colin on the left.
☝️ Above: My Mum on her 99th birthday in January (left) and her 100 year old sister, Yvonne (cousin David's Mum).
The day before I left for Darwin, Mum - now in Aged Care — had a fall. At her age, those phone calls are always frightening. Thankfully, scans showed she’d only sustained a small hairline fracture in her pubic bone and not a devastating hip fracture, which honestly felt like an enormous gift. I dread to think what the outcome would've been if there had been more damage.
Dad passed away seven years ago at 93, and these days Mum’s cognition is fading....but not always her energy. But when I think about both of them, I don’t think first about wrinkles or old age. I think about their stories, their resilience, their humour, their warmth, the life they lived and the love they gave.
And it makes me wonder what's so concerning about wanting that same privilege for ourselves.
Personally, I hope I never stop making plans.
I hope I keep booking the trip, saying yes to experiences, walking unfamiliar streets, trying local food, laughing too loudly over long lunches and finding reasons to celebrate life — even if my energy levels have peaks and troughs more than before.
Maybe aging isn’t something to resist with clenched fists and expensive serums.
Maybe it’s something we meet with gratitude… while still wearing fabulous lipstick and planning the next adventure, obviously.
Because growing older is never guaranteed.
And every birthday candle really does mean we got another year.
Here’s to growing older… and making sure we actually live while we’re doing it. ✨
Marie x
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