Pursue Yourself: A New Era for Women of a Certain Age
Women of a certain age have already pursued so much – relationships, family, education, careers, caregiving, community. We’ve poured into everyone and everything around us. But eventually the question arrives, sometimes quietly, sometimes like a shout:
Now What?
If you don’t know what to pursue next, pursue yourself. Pursue becoming the healthiest, happiest, most healed, most present, most confident version of who you are. When you do that, the right path has a way of revealing itself.
This is your era – not a season of winding down, but of rising up.
Where Do You Begin?
Start by identifying what you enjoy. Are you a reader, a hiker, a pickleballer, a gardener, a traveler, a creator? Or is there something new tugging at you – something you’ve always wanted to try but never gave yourself permission to explore?
At 54, I finally listened to that tug. I’d always wanted to write a book. So I dug in, word by word, chapter by chapter. A year later, I published my first book – and now I’m working on my second. That dream didn’t expire. It was simply waiting for me to make space for it.
Reflect on What Fulfills You
Ask yourself questions that pull you inward:
- When do I feel most like myself?
- What legacy do I want to leave?
- How do I define success at this stage of life?
- What brings me joy, peace, or a spark of excitement?
You don’t have to aim for the Olympics. You can start small – tiny acts that align with your values and interests. Small steps still move you forward.
And if you’re unsure where to begin, seek guidance. A friend, a coach, a mentor, a community – someone who can nudge you toward the thing you’re curious about.
Try Something New – Even if You’re Terrible at It
I wanted to see what all the pickleball craze was about, so a dear friend and I signed up for a beginner class. The group was evenly split between 50‑plus women and 13‑year‑old kids. We had an absolute blast.
Was I good? No. Did I have fun? Absolutely.
That’s the point. Joy doesn’t require perfection.
Embrace Uncertainty
You never know what life has in store. The unknown can feel intimidating, but life is too short to sit on the sidelines. Go out there and seize it – even if your knees pop, even if you’re the oldest one in the room, even if you’re starting from scratch.
And if things don’t go the way you hoped, give yourself grace. It’s not about flawless execution. It’s about showing up. It’s about getting back up when something doesn’t work out — or pivoting toward something that fits you better.
This Is Your Invitation
Pursue yourself. Pursue joy. Pursue curiosity. Pursue the version of you that’s been waiting patiently while you took care of everyone else.
Your next chapter isn’t behind you. It’s right here, ready when you are.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
What interests do you actively pursue now that you’re past 60? What do they bring you?
Tags Finding Happiness
Hi there. I’m a Greek writer living in Greece, I’m 66 and I still work – I retired a few years ago but as I said, I still work. I write books mainly, one every 2 years, and scripts (scenarios), dialogue for other people’s scripts, articles in an online magazine… I try to walk at least 5 klm every day and I do some yoga. After 3 kids and a more or less brutal divorce 5 years ago, I don’t want to give up. We collaborate with a movie director girlfriend and we were discussing how we can’t live without a “project”, something to plan, something to work on, like a movie, a book, a play, whatever. So there. I read your articles although you are way too American or maybe Canadian for me, and I enjoy your newsletter. Keep it up!
Manina, Thank you for your comment. Sounds like you are leading a very full life! Enjoy
Kaylin
I was sitting in my extra bedroom painting when I noticed my work on the easel and on the walls. No one was seeing them but me. What’s more, I need more money than Social Security and my tiny pension from a past 5-year job are providing. While I don’t want to work full-time anymore and certainly not as a corporate administrative assistant which is what I had been, I definitely wanted to draw money off of my art. So, I went out and asked if I could share the patio with a pet groomer who comes to a restaurant near me to clip nails of pets once a month. I got permission to set up and do on-the-spot drawings of pets and to advertise my pet portraits, which are too good to sit in my house on the floor. I have my first event in a week and hopefully, folks will order some and pay for on-the-spot sketches (I’m only charging $10 for those) because they are 5 x 7. I do have little frames that I am putting them in. The place is 5 minutes from where I live so hopefully, I’ll make enough to pay for the gas and have a little pocket change. Most importantly, I’m doing what I love! I used to envision drawing for folks and making money when I was sitting in front of a computer at work.
Jacki, Thank you so much for sharing. Love your art and wish you much success! Kaylin