At 65, I have reached elderhood. It constantly surprises me as I honestly don’t truly relate to the concept of being an elder and yet according to the World Health Organization, a person over age 65 is often referred to as elderly.
And yet, I don’t feel elderly. If I were to listen to the way that the media often portray ageing, I might have believed that, at this age, my passion for dance, for writing and for life, might have reached its peak, and I would be on a slow decline into taking it easy or stepping back from my life in some way.
And yet, this isn’t me. This is not how I feel. If anything, I feel more alive and passionate about life than ever before. In my 20s, I had all the time in the world to create my dreams and forge ahead with what called me. I took it for granted that I could achieve what I desired and that I would always have the energy to do so. And so, here I am, wondering how on earth I got to be 65 and amazed at the vitality that I feel for life and gratitude for every day in my life.
My dear mother would always talk about living three score years and ten (if you were lucky). This long-held belief came to fruition when she died at age 70 – exactly three score years and ten.
As a body confidence and age empowerment coach/author and movement presenter it made me wonder about the energy of ageing and how the old narratives and stereotypes need to be changed as more and more women are tapping into their own creative spark and life force at 60 and well beyond.
Don’t get me wrong. My energy today is different from the girl of my youth. I no longer desire to stay out until 3 a.m. or burn the candle at both ends. I know when I need to rest, and I have got so much better at looking after myself. What I am talking about is an energy that is born from who we were and is evolving into who we are and who we are becoming.
This is the extraordinary energy of elderhood – a vibrant, unapologetic, and wise force that lives within the 60-plus woman. This is not about clinging to youth, it’s about stepping into a deeper power that was always meant to be yours.
For me, this energy is like a sacred flame that lives in every woman – ancient, untamed, and enduring. Through the seasons of life, it flickers and flares, grows and softens, sometimes buried beneath duty, silence, or survival. But it never dies.
And then, one day, around the sixth or seventh decade of life, something stirs.
The world may speak of aging as decline, invisibility, or irrelevance – but our sacred fire knows better. Elderhood is not an ending. It is a return. A remembering. A magnificent reawakening of the original, authentic self. This is the time when the flame once dimmed begins to burn with new heat – slow, steady, and utterly unstoppable.
This is the extraordinary energy of elderhood – and it is magic.
I read a beautiful quote the other day about how ageing wasn’t about retirement – it was about re-enchantment. I loved that. What if we could re-enchant ourselves and fall in love with each year that passes, growing more radiant, confident and steeped in vitality?
Our culture often underestimates the vitality and power of the older woman and yet we see her everywhere – in the grandmother tending her garden with hands that have known both hardship and harvest, in the activist who still marches for justice with a fierceness honed by years of persistence, in the teacher who continues to shape young minds long after retirement.
We see her in boardrooms and community halls, in hospital wards and art studios, her presence steady and assured. She is the friend who gathers others when things fall apart, the neighbour who remembers everyone’s name, the writer who finally finds her voice at 60 and refuses to soften her truth.
By the time we reach our 60s, we have navigated the diverse terrain of careers, families, caregiving, relationships and societal expectations. Our elderhood is rich with stories, steeped in learning, powered by our courage and shaped by our longings. We are not fading – we are rising. We are, in essence, literally, full of life.
To be full of life at 60 and beyond is not just a poetic sentiment – it’s a lived truth. We carry the stories of our past: the heartbreaks, the breakthroughs, the lessons learned through pain and joy, the love we’ve given, and the strength we’ve cultivated through challenges of all kinds. These aren’t weights that slow us down – they are the roots that make us unshakable. They give us the right to bloom now, in ways we may never have dared to before.
More and more women are reclaiming this identity – not as a return to the past, but as a necessary medicine for the present. In an anxious and disconnected world, your steady hand, your perspective, your love, vitality and authenticity are needed more than ever.
One of the most underestimated sources of energy in elderhood is community. Women in their 60s and beyond often rediscover or newly form deep bonds – sisterhoods built not on superficial chatter, but on soulful connection.
These relationships are a wellspring of energy. They are where laughter becomes medicine, storytelling becomes legacy, and presence becomes a shared ritual. Whether around a kitchen table, in a book circle, on a hiking trail, or travelling to far off places with a group of like-minded people, or through the quiet intimacy of handwritten letters, these connections remind you that we are more powerful (and joyful) together.
Start your own women’s circle – in person or online. It can be as simple as tea and truth-telling, or as magical as moon rituals and poetry nights. Or find one that already exists. Listen for soul resonance. Keep it sacred. Make space for depth, silence, belly laughs, truth, and magic.
The wild woman in you wants to move, laugh, sing, touch the earth, and defy expectations. Creating a ritual that celebrates this untamed part of you feeds your energy and reminds you of your freedom.
Boost your wild energy by:
Elderhood brings clarity – you know things now that your younger self never could. Writing a letter from your elder self to your current self (or even to your younger self) helps anchor your energy and access your wisdom.
How:
As much as we give to others, we also need to give back to ourselves. Replenish your energy and vitality by allowing yourself to slow down, daydream, sit quietly or indulge in a beautiful meditation practice.
I would love your company. If you would love more inspiration and connection do join me on Instagram. You would be most welcome.
You may also like to read Empowered Aging: How to Feel Fabulous as We Grow Older.
What do you know about yourself now that you could not have known 20 years ago? Have you shared your life experiences in written form? Are you planning to?
Tags Empowerment
Well said. I am 83, and still reinventing myself. Around the age of 80, I quit writing for other people and started writing for myself. Since then, I have published two books and have a third near ready for publication. I still have two on the back burner that I am anxious to get started on.
Some things have changed. I recently chose to quit driving at night. I planned well enough to start having night time events at my house, so that my evenings need not be lonely or without purpose. I switched some activities to zoom in order to stay in touch. I face time some friends and relatives and make lots of phone calls. This is an exciting time of my life.
I experience the joys of more peace and less worry and anxiety. In fact, this is a time of seeing the impact I have had on others, and feel excited that I have lived long enough to know that others have indeed used the knowledge and wisdom I tried to pass on to them. At sixty, I could not have known that.
I would not have wanted to miss out on this phase of my life, and I cannot wait to see what’s next.
Thank you for your article.
Hi Carole, thank you so much for your comment. I am so glad you enjoyed the article. You are inspiring. I loved it when you said that you are still reinventing yourself and that you are following your love of writing and publishing your books. Wow! Your energy for life just shines through in your words. I feel rather similar to you in that I too cannot wait to see whats next. Keep shining brightly and thank you so much, warmly, Astrid http://www.instagram.com/romancingyourbody
Great article!
Thanks so much Elaine – so glad you enjoyed it! x warmly, Astrid http://www.instagram.com/romancingyourbody
Elderly? I can almost hear my grandmother talking about “old people” when she was…….92..
Loved that…my own grandmother did the same! x warmly, Astrid http://www.instagram.com/romancingyourbody
In all honesty, at age 72, it dépends. Most days I am full of energy. I’ve learnt that I’m too kind and now snap back occasionally. I’m soft spoken so à sharp retort has the effect of à bomb. I’m too “old” to let others annoy me now.
Hi Jane, thank you for your comment. Its wonderful that most days you are full of energy and so great that you don’t allow others to annoy you. That is something that took me a long time to learn…have a lovely day. Warmly, Astrid http://www.instagram.com/romancingyourbody
OMG I flipping LOVE this! and on October 30 when we can call for the strength and power of the strong and brilliant women of our ancestry. As elders we are wise and have more to offer now than ever before. Thank you! This article is going with me to book club tonight for my elder brilliant women friends to enjoy too
Hi Diane, thank you so much for your lovely words. I am so glad you loved the article. Thank you also for sharing it in your book club – that is lovely of you and I hope they enjoyed it too. I loved your comment about our ancestors – something that is with me very much at the moment. Have a beautiful day. Warmly, Astrid http://www.instagram.com/romancingyourbody
I agree. She articulated it perfectly! Women need to see that there’s a treasure that can await beyond the traditional ‘entrance’ into old age. It’s just not an absolute truth.