Finding CALM in Life’s Changes: A Guide for Over 60s
In a year that promises plenty of change—a new old president, more climate-related challenges, the transition at home as my husband retires, another birthday, and travel to places both planned and unplanned—I’ve chosen CALM as my word for the year. It’s my anchor for navigating an already busy and unpredictable agenda.
To help keep me centered, I’ve turned CALM into an acronym that serves as my True North:
Curious
Accept
Loving
Mindful
Here’s how I plan to use CALM when life gets challenging, whether it’s dealing with difficulties, disappointments, boredom, or uncertainty:
Aging Out Loud: What’s Never Going to Be and What’s Next
This week, I turn 64. That feels like an out-of-body experience. Sixty-four doesn’t feel like something that could have anything to do with me. How did I get here?
One way I manage the shock of getting older is by pre-gaming my birthday. About four or five months beforehand, I start thinking of myself as the next year’s age. When someone asks how old I am, I say, “Almost 64.” And now, here it is: I am 64.
The only downside to this strategy is that when my birthday actually arrives, I can’t remember if I’m turning 64 or 65. For a moment, I’ll think, Wait, did I skip a year? It’s a harmless mind game—a way to nudge myself toward acceptance.
But those internal games are nothing compared to the ones the world plays with me. The ads I see. The snail mail I get. Just last week, I received a burial plot solicitation—nothing says, “Happy Birthday!” like a brochure for eternal rest.
Designing a Life of Meaning and Balance in the Year Ahead
Much like the word “liminal” that I explored in an earlier blog, two other words have been on my mind since a recent holiday gathering: magnanimity and equanimity. I knew their definitions, but understanding what they mean in practice—to recognize them when I encounter them—is another story entirely. Can you spot magnanimity when it greets you in the checkout line? Does equanimity show up when you least expect it?
Neuroplasticity and Buddhist Nuns: Finding the Power to Show Up
Neuroplasticity reminds us that we’re never stuck. Whether I live another year, another decade, or thirty more years, I can keep forging new pathways. With the luxury of being in my 60s, I’m choosing to use that power. Why? Because in a chaotic world, this is something I can control. I am capable of being a better human, and I intend to exercise that capability every single day.
The New Wealth Equation: The Most Valuable Commodities in Our 60s?
As I consider these trade-offs, I’m learning to ask: What’s more valuable—a little more financial security or a life rich in meaningful experiences? This shift in thinking feels liberating, even if it requires some recalibration.