I turned sixty this week, so please forgive me if I am a bit sentimental. Even without a landmark birthday, 2020 is a year for reflection, but it is especially when you enter a new age group that you ponder the life you’ve lived and the road ahead.
There are many jokes about how life will change after sixty and while it might require you to be wiser when it comes to health and wellness choices, I also believe that you’re only as old as you feel. While being sixty might qualify you for certain discounts and preferential treatment, I have enough examples of those around me to know that it doesn’t make you old, even when, mentally, it might be something to come to terms with. It is easy to get stuck on the fact that you are now well and truly in the latter part of your life, but as with most things, there is a positive perspective.
What a blessed age to reach! To have survived six decades when so many we know and loved didn’t and then to also get here being healthy and happy, is beyond a blessing. It is good to reflect and while the wisdom of hindsight might make us cringe at a past decision or two, overall I just have gratitude for all the living and loving that came my way:
- People – some extraordinary leaders and experts, some dedicated and committed, some creative and energetic, some making life easier, some making it better and some who just love unconditionally.
- Places – from the most famous landmarks, to scenic golf courses and to little spots with special meaning and a view of the ocean or a seat next to a fire.
- Experiences – from those highlights that involve your loved ones – marriages, birthdays… – to dramatic events and also moments of little importance to anyone else, that I will never forget.
- Lessons – learned from mentors and leaders and influencers and then also sometimes just from someone unexpected, who happens to cross your path.
And while my past shaped me and continues to show me my blessings, I believe we also have to look at the future. Being sixty doesn’t mean that you’re out of plans – you might just have them ranked differently.
I want to treasure and enjoy time with my loved ones and prioritise the little things in life that bring me joy. I would love to return to travel – there’s a bucket lists of places to go, experiences to try, people to meet, cycling routes, golf courses…. But for the immediate future, I would love to help steer the wine and tourism ship through what are unprecedented troubled waters. It is my passion and my people and I think my age – bringing with it a little bit of experience and plenty of energy – qualifies me to do just that!