New Directions Over 50 London

“It’s never too late to be what you might have been,” said writer George Eliot and that’s never more true than when you’re 50 and over. You’ve now reached the stage where you’ve accomplished much in your life, had many experiences – good and bad – and as a result, have accumulated a considerable weight of insight and knowledge into the way the world works.

So the challenge now is to use your wisdom, insight and knowledge to identify and address your unfulfilled ambitions and dreams – and by doing so, become even more of the person you have always wanted to be.

The starting point for a happy old age

Fundamentally, change keeps you young and in your prime. Those fabulous elderly people who we all admire because of their infectious enthusiasm, wry humour and inquisitive minds are like that because invariably they never stop taking on board new information and seeking out new experiences and challenges. What’s wrong with being old if we knew we could be like them?

Of course, there are no guarantees that you will experience a long and happy old age in full control of your mental faculties. But now’s the time when, if you put extra effort into broadening your horizons, you will improve your chances of that happening and also, more importantly, see amazing new opportunities opening up for you now.

What does it involve? Well, nothing too difficult – just a positive mindset that looks for interesting new experiences and is prepared to take a few risks. How to go about it? Here are a few pointers to start you off to a new way of thinking:

• Watch your language: Be careful of what you say. When talking to others, don’t mention age at all unless you really have to, and certainly if you do, don’t refer to yourself as a fogey, an old git, an old-timer, a golden oldie, a TOG, or a silver anything.

• Manage your attitude: Beware of being negative, angry, uptight and hostile. Why should you be – this is an age where there is much to be cheerful about, with the possibility of shedding many of life’s previous stresses. Be careful also of ranting, repeating yourself or just being self-opinionated and boring.

• Seek out role models: No doubt when you were younger you had role models and people you looked to for inspiration. It’s still appropriate – in fact you should positively seek them out. Keep reminders of them about the place – photographs, quotations, or whatever, just to constantly reinforce the message that there are still new heights to reach, new goals to aspire to.

• Keep an optimistic outlook: Ultimately the difference between those who are truly in their prime and those who aren’t, is attitude. Being ageless means always looking forward, not back (although of course everyone is allowed to reminisce every now and again). Remember, yesterday is gone, and tomorrow we can’t control, so the only time that really matters is today.

Now’s the time to be innovative not conservative; adventurous not afraid; expansive rather than restrictive. Curiousity and courage are the order of the day. Okay, so something might not work, or it might not turn out quite as you might have wished or planned. But ultimately, does it really matter?

Won’t it be better to have at least tried rather than never to have done something at all? And, guess what – it just might be a huge success!


Click here for more information about “Choices, Changes and Challenges over 50” from in my prime