Do you remember when you were young and you’d see someone “older” and think…”I don’t want to be that person?” Or thinking that turning 60 or 70 meant slowing down. That the big fun was behind me, and the rest of life would be tea, TV, and maybe a garden gnome or two? Oh, how wrong I was (thank goodness). Let me tell you from experience (I’m heading into 72 years), that being in your 70s can be downright delicious if you’re willing to flip the script and start treating this chapter like a juicy chapter and not the final act.
Yes, I do have a few aches and pains from aging (but I also had blown out knees in my 30s), and I forget what I walked into the kitchen for at least once a day, but guess what? I’ve also never felt more me. There’s no more chasing anyone’s expectations. I’m dancing (literally – more about that in the next section) to the beat of my own playlist. If you’re reading this, wondering how to squeeze more joy out of your days, stick with me. I’ve got ideas – and none of them involve acting your age.
1. Say Yes More Often (Even to the Weird Stuff)
You know what I said yes to this year? Dance Classes. Oh, I’m not talking about ballroom or square dancing, I’m taking online Groove classes with Ralph Beaubrun in anticipation of taking his class live in Paris next summer. And it’s not because I am trying to be trendy or get my heart rate up (though both of those things happen). I did it because I love to dance and I’d stopped. I thought that this woman, who went to college to become a dance therapist, who danced and acted professionally when she was young, had given it up because she thought she was too old, didn’t have the time, or just wasn’t good enough anymore.
In your 70s, it’s easy to get into a routine so familiar that you could do it blindfolded. Same coffee mug, same breakfast, same three TV shows you rotate between like a buffet of reruns (or even worse, the TV shows that your husband is watching and you despise, but sit there and mindlessly watch anyway). But life doesn’t have to shrink just because we’ve had more birthdays. Say yes to the art class at the community center, or the cruise with your cousin, or take a spontaneous road trip to nowhere (my friend Audrey and I used to get in the car when we were young and just drive until we found “something” and get out and explore, or pop into some roadside diner that was on a backroad).
Yes opens doors, and doors open experiences. Experiences are where the joy lives.
Bad Hair, Don’t Care -growing it out at 71
2. Let Your Style Reflect the Fire Still In You
Just because I’ve got a few decades behind me doesn’t mean I’m suddenly supposed to fade into beige clothes that are comfy but make me look dumpy. I never leave the house without makeup (heck, I never stay in the house without makeup). I still rock my signature stripes. And I’ll still buy a jacket just because it makes me feel like a movie star in Paris, even if the only place I wear it is the local Publix.
Let your style reflect who you are now, not who the world expects someone in their 70s to be. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Whether that’s a bold print, a new haircut, or finally trying those winged eyeliners (even if your hands shake a little like mine do!), fashion can be a form of freedom. Forget what’s “age-appropriate.” Wear what makes you feel alive.
3. Travel Like You’ve Got Time (Because You Do)
I’ve always traveled, but when I was younger, they were vacations with tight schedules, short trips, and frankly, there was more stress than sunsets. Now? I travel for me. I’ve got three (wait – four if you count the one I’m waiting on hearing from) cruises booked between now and the end of the year, and let me tell you, planning those trips brings me almost as much joy as the trips themselves.
And here’s the thing: travel doesn’t have to mean jetting off to Europe or living out of a suitcase. It can be a weekend staycation in a hotel in your own city. It can be hopping in the car and finding the best key lime pie within a 50-mile radius. Travel is about curiosity. It’s about seeing something new and realizing that there’s still so much out there worth exploring.
In your 70s, travel becomes sweeter. You appreciate the small moments: the sunrise from a ship’s deck, the friendliness of strangers, the quiet corners of a museum. Go see the world – or at least the parts of it you haven’t yet.
4. Cultivate Friendships That Feel Like Warm Bread
I used to chase friendships that felt like hard work. I’ll admit that I’m not the best at reaching out. I’m more of a sit and wait for the phone to ring. My friends will tell you (or rather complain) that I’m phone-averse. I’m lucky that they are the ones who are always reaching out, always wondering where we stand. I’m starting to get better at that (although my friend Sandy might not agree with you). However, in this chapter of life, I only keep the people who feel like home. You know the ones who laugh at your bad jokes, who text to say they saw something that reminded them of you, who bring you soup when you’re sick, or wine when you’re not.
If you’ve lost touch with people you love, reach out. If you’re feeling lonely, join a group, a club, or even an online community. Age should never mean isolation. You deserve connection. Deep, real, soul-nourishing connection.
And hey, don’t be afraid to make friends with people younger than you, either. I’ve got a few 30-somethings in my lif e who keep me laughing and updated on trends (even if I still don’t fully understand them). Age doesn’t define friendship, your heart does.
5. Do Something That Scares You Just a Little
No, I’m not talking skydiving, although I did go hang gliding in my 60s, so, if that’s your thing, I’m here cheering you on. I mean doing something that pushes your comfort zone. For me, that was starting a new phase of content creation, stepping in front of the camera more often, and sharing my voice even when I wasn’t sure people wanted to hear it.
Maybe for you it’s writing a blog, learning to play piano, or finally joining a dating site. Maybe it’s admitting out loud that you still have dreams and then doing something about them.
Growth isn’t just for the young. We’re allowed to surprise ourselves.
6. Take Care of Your Body, But Don’t Make It a Chore
Look, some days my body feels like a 20-year-old rental car. But I’ve learned that treating it with kindness makes a difference. I take the meds the doctor gave me when the back and hips act up, and get cortisone shots in my shoulder when I’ve slept in the wrong position for a few days in a row. I stretch gently. I move when I can, and I rest when I need to. Yes, even those dance classes I’m taking, I have to modify.
Health doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing thing. You don’t need to run marathons. Just walk a little, dance in the kitchen, swim when you can, and laugh —- a lot. Laughter is the most underrated medicine.
And eat the cake. For the love of all things sweet, eat the damn cake. Life’s too short for diet culture.
7. Celebrate the Heck Out of Yourself
This is big. Somewhere along the way, we forget to celebrate ourselves. We celebrate kids, grandkids, anniversaries, and holidays, but what about you?
Buy yourself flowers because you made it through a hard week. Take yourself to lunch just because. Throw yourself a birthday party, even if it’s only three people. Mark your milestones. You are still here. That’s worth celebrating.
8. Leave a Little Legacy
Not just for others but for you. Write your stories down. Film yourself talking about your favorite memories. Pass on recipes, advice, love notes, and voice memos. Create something—anything—that reminds the world you were here, you mattered, and you were one-of-a-kind.
This doesn’t have to be grand. It can be a photo album. A letter to your younger self. A box of favorite things with handwritten notes. Legacy is love made visible.
9. Live Loudly, Even in the Quiet Moments
Some of the best moments in your 70s are the quiet ones. A good book on a rainy day. The sound of waves. A grandchild’s giggle (oh, Jack, you little charmer). Your favorite song on vinyl. Sitting next to your person while watching reruns of Columbo or The Thin Man movies.
But don’t shrink. Don’t dim. Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you need to “quiet down” just because your age starts with a 7. Live out loud. Sing. Swear (if you want). Dream. Flirt. Giggle. Gossip. Be alive in every little way.
So here’s the truth: Life doesn’t end when you get older. It just changes shape.
You’re not too old, too late, or too anything.
You’re just you—maybe softer in some places, sassier in others, but still vibrant, curious, and worthy of wonder. So go out there and enjoy this beautiful decade. Say yes. Laugh more. Love deeper. Be a little wild.
And if anyone tells you to act your age?
Smile politely. Then do whatever the hell you want. Like take photos of yourself while you’re writing an article – like I just did as I wrote this one.
