Hey there! Let’s chat about something that’s been on my mind lately-‘aging’. It’s funny how time goes by so quickly. I’ve noticed some changes in myself and my spouse as we’ve gotten older, and what used to be a vase of flowers on the dining table, now has beside it, a rainbow-colored pill organizer, which appears to have taken permanent residence there!

I can’t help but smile as I walk by, reflecting on the journey we have taken together, the battles we have fought and won or are in the process of facing and winning, and the scars and war medals we have earned as a result of our bravery in battling various illnesses and dis-eases! It’s amazing to see how we have evolved over time and overcome so many challenges, and I’m proud of the resilience we have shown.

I am on the threshold of having left my sweet sixties behind, and stepping into the smouldering seventies! What! Wait a minute! Seriously! I find it hard to believe ! It seems so unreal that time has passed by so fast! I could transport myself to the 60’s in an instant and see myself in kindergarten. I can remember my earliest primary school days like they were just yesterday! Those are my ‘youngest’ memories!

This is so amazing, that I can relive my past so clearly. As I approach my 70s, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement! I mean, who knows what amazing adventures and experiences are waiting for me in this new decade of my life? Sure, my body may not be as firm as it once was, my skin not as taut as before, wrinkles around my eyes, flab flaps here and there, ‘silvering’ hair which I still color because I’m not ready to turn full-on , a few aches and pains here and there, lumps and bumps where they shouldn’t be, but, despite all that, I still feel young at heart, no less vibrant, no less in love with life.

Undergarments have taken a raincheck, an expression of freedom, a new relaxed vibe that I enjoy only within the confines of my home, comfort has replaced style which has reduced my ailing wardrobe to a Netflix limited series, and don’t even talk about my footwear! My beautiful heels have shed their outer layers like a reptilian, having been confined within the walls of my wardrobe as if they were protesting from inactivity, disuse, and dormancy, and the less said about my costume jewelry and sarees, the better.A new sense of liberation!

Returning to the main topic of age, and in this case, of me turning into a debutante of the 70s, it feels good! As I enter the ‘twilight years’ of my life, I see it as an opportunity to discover a new me. It’s a chance to pursue all the passions and dreams that I’ve put on hold for so long, a last chance to attempt something I never dared to do, or a specific time to fix broken dreams and splattered relationships, or breathe,and take in the fresh air. In fact, I feel more alive than ever before! I’m shedding my inhibitions and embracing all the joys that come with age!

I think it’s a reality check vacancy- to discover a new you, live out your closeted ambitions, finish what you didn’t have time to do, embark on something you shelved for years, discover a new passion, visit someone who popped into your mind’s eye, reach out for the phone to talk to someone whose face showed up on your visual screen, to inspire a sad soul, lend a listening ear to a grieving someone…

I want to create memories that will last a lifetime, to give my life that purpose towards a life well spent. Our latter years present the best opportunity to leave our mark in this world. You are that somebody that someone, someday will talk about with a soft expression and a tender voice. It’s the perfect time to leave your indelible mark on the life of a human or humans, to be fondly remembered and talked about for generations perhaps.

Most importantly, I want to leave a legacy. I want to touch people’s lives in a meaningful way, to be remembered for the kindness and love I have shared with them, and with me. I want to leave behind a trail, a treasury of magical whispers that helped transform others’ lives and mine, graceful gestures that spoke to a broken heart and helped bandaid it beautifully, warm hugs that restored confidence in a crumbling persona and helped blossom the inner aura of a battered soul.

So, bring on the seventies! I’m ready for whatever this new decade has in store for me. It’s going to be one, wild, exciting adventure, and I can’t wait to see where it takes me!