60 Ways to Find Meaning in Life After 60
Does the meaning of life change after 60? That’s the question I found myself asking, recently, as I sat in a small café, writing and preparing for the week to come.
As I wrote, teenagers walked past the window, arms filled with shopping bags. Moms navigated the busy street with toddlers and buggies. Women in their 30s and 40s hustled past on their way to work.
Some people looked organized and purposeful. Others looked frantic and vaguely confused. Regardless, they all seemed to be going somewhere.
Whether they knew it or not, their lives had a purpose — perhaps a purpose defined by their life stage — but, a purpose all the same. With so many options available, life after 60 feels entirely different. So, the question struck me.
When our purpose is no longer defined by the roles we used to play, how do we find meaning in life after 60?
On the surface, the answer seems obvious. The meaning of life at any age can be defined by what is most important to us. Some women over 60 find meaning in their hobbies. Others continue to make their family or career the center of their lives, just as they always have. But, there is also a wonderful freedom that comes from being over 60. You finally have the opportunity to look beyond the role that society asks you to play. You get to ask yourself the question. What is most important to me?
So, ask yourself: “If I forget about what the world thinks, what do I value most in life?” Is it family, health, relationships, security, travel, music, art, simplicity, wisdom or love?
If you have identified your top priority and already have it in your life, treasure it. Hold it close. Embrace it. If you don’t know where to start, perhaps it would help to consider what some other amazing women, just like you, believe in.
I recently asked the 43,000 members of the Sixty and Me community what they felt was most important to them as this stage of life.
Their answers were as varied as their personalities. Perhaps you will find inspiration in the simple things that many women value. For many, health and family are the primary source of meaning. Perhaps 34 says it all. Or maybe it’s as basic as 24.
Elizabeth: Being with the ones I love.
Mindy: Downsizing.
Nuala: Appreciate the here and now.
Yvonne: Relationships.
Carolyn: Health.
Trinita: Family.
Susan: Growing an online business.
Fran: Maintaining health and vitality.
Susan: Recovering from a loss.
Rose: Family, friends, health.
Anne: Mental capacities.
Hedy: Health.
Toni: Staying cancer free.
Gina: Freedom.
Sandra: Doing things that make me happy.
Monica: Good health and happiness.
Sue: Being financially secure.
Carol: Keeping my memory.
Kathy: Being in control.
Angela: Finding peace.
Susan: My husband.
Marilyn: Being open to new adventures.
Dolores: My grandkids.
Mea: Waking up.
Pauline: Good social life with my good friends.
Zsuzsi: Happiness of my children and my grandchildren.
Gail: Lots of laughter.
Tessa: The love of a good man.
Patricia: Enhance my coaching business.
Richelle: My relationship with God.
Susan: Inner peace.
Helen: Friends.
Meli: Pursuing my interests
Lauraine: Being true to who I am.
Steffi: Enjoying every day.
Lyn: Good health.
Francine: Health and financial security.
Pam: Keeping my mind busy.
Barb: Freedom to do what I want, when I want.
Lynda: Friendship.
Pat: Being able to do things I like.
Abbey: Health.
Anita: Loving my family.
Susan: My grandchildren and 2 great granddaughters.
Frieda: Wealth.
Carol: My children and grandchildren.
Marillyn: Family and extended family.
June: Sanity.
Trish: Enjoy my grandchildren growing up.
Judy: Spending time with my grandchildren.
Carol: Friendship.
Wardene: My husband.
Shelley: Spiritual knowledge.
Cheryl: Move back to my hometown.
Alix: Sense of humor.
Gwen: Having fun.
Sandra: My eyesight.
Hermanda: Getting my PhD.
Gail: Unconditional love.
Barb: Having Money.
What do you feel is different about life after 60? What is the most important thing to you in this stage of your life? Please join the discussion.
December 18, 2014
Would love to have time to do any of those things but working takes up all my time and energy. Retirement is a long way off.
December 15, 2014
Reading, exercise, cooking, movies, friends, travel, learning new language, cleaning, plants, communing with nature, facebook, current events, dealing with chronic pain and chronic fatigue from Hashimoto’s through therapeutic yoga, my husband, and occasional personal hygiene.
December 14, 2014
Volunteering Nepal
December 14, 2014
… always keeping busy keeps me motivated….
December 14, 2014
Very helpful
December 14, 2014
Difficult, but not impossible, to find meaning when you have a chronic leukemia…..
December 14, 2014
its health and family! still save my time for friends… :)
June 16, 2014
I used to shop a lot in my younger days. Now I don’t as I’ve yet to use all the bought items.
June 16, 2014
To Carol, going through the same …
June 16, 2014
I have altogether too much meaning and purpose in my life already. What I need is to figure out how to be lazy, how to have fun again… :(
June 16, 2014
My focus and purpose are my children and grandchildren..showering them with love is what I live for..I give them my strength and support whenever it is needed, I am always ready with a shoulder to lean on, and ear to listen, and a kind word, I am blessed to be an extremely empathetic person and I am blessed to have four children who value my advice. I appreciate everyday God gives me, I see and appreciate the beauty in this world and focus on it…it’s the little things..a child’s laughter, a beautiful sunrise or sunset, birds singing, flowers blooming, just breathing in the fresh air, and the kindness of a stranger. What I love about this stage in my life is that I’m free to nurture my soul.
June 16, 2014
You still have a husband Carol !! believe me it gets really lonely when suddenly he is gone !
June 16, 2014
I helped raise my daughter. I worked. I helped others. Now for a little “me” time – travel, learning, friends, pursuing hobbies. Yep!
June 16, 2014
Good stuff
June 16, 2014
Going through a phase where I don’t feel needed anymore…..children raised and now living their own lives, husband retired and pursuing his golf dreams, friends busy with their children and lives………….. feeling very alone and trying to find my place in this new world…..
June 16, 2014
Too many I can’t possibly pick one.
June 16, 2014
56 today even though I’m going to the dentist
June 16, 2014
The focus might change, but the meaning – something along the lines of getting smarter, making a positive difference and having fun along the way – doesn’t.
May 21, 2014
Well,i am planning to back pack From Perth via Darwin towards great barrier reef. Any one want to jjoin me for adventure? I have two ‘future’ companions,maybe….
May 21, 2014
Retirement should be a second childhood…I’m in my teenager years right now!
May 21, 2014
I have soooo much to do, so much I want to do. Definitely not retiring, but sometimes feel that the job — which has allowed me to be a scientists all these years — also holds me back from doing more. The only thing I can do is, now and then, I can say “no” to some projects or to some trips or to some late night sessions using “age” as an excuse, hah!
May 21, 2014
<3 a wonderful new Sight of Life :)
May 20, 2014
Hard to choose just one…# 10 I guess..but there is no” being able to travel ” on the list..which We are enjoying so much these past few yrs .
May 20, 2014
I’m still working, and as I’m self employed I can’t see me ever being able to stop. It’s now almost become a hobby and it keeps me out of mischief. ;)
May 20, 2014
… all in all… never cease to be inspired…
May 20, 2014
I have refused to be catagorized my entire life and at 60, a number will not define me. Or society. Or commonly held beliefs about aging and security. I will live my life on my own terms.
May 20, 2014
Agreed with YN Leung
May 20, 2014
Lovely photo
May 20, 2014
Well i have good health and feel much younger than my age, so im grateful for those. But i do miss my job, i worked at the company for 20 yrs, i moved when it closed in my home town and relocated. i didnt want to retire but im not sure i want to work anywhere else, even if i could get another job which is very unlikely. I miss the camardarie of work, if you dont have a family or a partner , you cant invent one, and work sort of becomes your family i suppose. Its very hard for me now to find meaning in my life, i dont want to do voluntary work, as i believe work should be rewarded, know what everyone says but thats my opinion. I think there should be a lot more part time opportunities for over 60s to do paid work, in a less structured way, there seems very little 2 or 3 mornings week, the kind of thing id want. Work gives you extra money, camardarie, friends, social life and structure.to your life, Different if you have kids grandchildren and a partner but on your own, loose your job and you have lost a great part of your life.
May 20, 2014
They are all excellent comments but at present it has to be 39 for me.
Never again do I have to watch a clock due to work.
If I choose to help for a day or half a day its up to me. I Can Say NO.
Even now I have no commitments for 2 days and its wonderful. Plus the commitments I do have are my choice. .)