Happy start to this week!
A friend from our community sent me a video this weekend that really struck home.
It’s a 92-year-old woman sharing what she wishes she had known when she was 60. She was encouraging people to realize that life, our health and relationships are more fleeting than we might imagine.
As I listened, it reinforced the importance of the changes I've been making in my own life in recent years–to take better care of my body, to cherish and nurture my relationships and to fully enjoy this lifetime.
So today, I thought I’d take a different approach. And share some of the thoughts of someone who’s already lived it.
One of the things she says right out of the gate is this:
“Your 60s are not the beginning of your golden years. Your 60s are your last real chance to prepare for everything that comes next. And everything that comes next is harder than you think.”
While she was intending this to be a wake-up call, she was also sharing the reality of her experience in an open and honest way.
A few of her other reflections that really stood out:
- Your body is about to change in ways you can’t reverse — build strength now while you still can.
- Retirement won’t magically fix things; it tends to expose what’s already there, especially around identity and purpose.
- You have less time with the people you love than you think.
- Courage isn’t the absence of fear — it’s doing the thing anyway.
- And somehow… the last 30 years go faster than the first 60.
When my client shared this video with friends, a few of them said it felt depressing. And I get that. Looking forward can feel heavy if we believe it’s too late or out of our control.
But here’s how I see it.
It’s only depressing if we wait.
It’s empowering when we realize we still can make choices that impact the years ahead. Choices in how we care for our bodies. Choices in how we spend our days. Choices in how intentionally we live now, instead of someday.
She also me a picture that made us both laugh (look below) Honestly? That image says it all.
This isn’t about becoming rigid or sacrificing in the name of “doing it right.”
It’s about balance.
Take care of your body and enjoy your life.
Be mindful and have the glass of wine if you choose.
Plan ahead and savor what’s right in front of you.
That, to me, is what slow, intentional living is really about.
If you’re curious, here’s the video she sent me. Choose to watch it with an open heart — not as a warning, but as an invitation to lead your best life.
👉 [link to video
And then maybe ask yourself one gentle question:
What’s one small thing I could do now that my future self would thank me for?
With warmth,
Julie
Strength, ease, and pleasure coexist in my life.
What We Loved This Week
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