What does 58 look like

So, yesterday I was 58.

It's kind of an interesting number because it definitely makes you realise that 60 is not that far away. And I don't know what I thought 58 would look like when I was younger, but it's definitely not this.

When I was at school, 58 seemed really old. I don't really know what I thought it would feel like, but I don't think of myself as 58. I think so much has changed about the way we approach age, and that's really important.

I still lift weights in the same way that I did when I was in my 30s. I used to run a lot and I don't run anymore, and that is due to age - the arthritis in my big toes causing too much pain! Instead, I walk a lot. I walk a lot with Billie, and I walk when I play golf, which helps to keep the step count up! And I do think it's that combination of keeping moving and keeping strong that helps us almost feel ageless.

In the past, I think we used to think that we couldn't do certain things because we'd reached a certain age. Now there seem to be far fewer limits. You can open up social media and see countless examples of people in their 80s deadlifting their age and more, and that's just so good to see, changing the narrative as to what we “should” do as we age, 

But I guess the other thing about being 58 is that I assumed I'd be settled by now. Relationship wise and financially. But no! I guess that's also part of a changing world. A lot of us are navigating our older years without a life partner, which is quite an interesting thing and something I never thought would be the case for me. But at the moment, it is.

And as you get older, I think time becomes more precious.

For me, that's more about trying not to waste the time I've got. Mum died at 49 and Dad died at 70, so I'm very aware of the fragility of life, and not to take it for granted. Age makes you aware of passing years and not feeling like you are wasting them, but trying to live life as fully as you can, and creating a good work life balance , which at times I am not very good at !!  But then, for the last 20 odd years, I've had a job that I've never really thought of as a proper job. I'm helping people and I'm not in the corporate world. So although work has to be a big part of my life, I'm lucky that it's something I've chosen to do and have been doing for more than 20 years.

And then there's golf.

The funny thing about getting older and becoming a senior is that suddenly I can compete. I didn't play golf competitively when I was younger, so I've never really been at an age in golf where I could compete in the way I can now. Being a senior has actually opened that up for me. I can play competitions, travel all over the country and see parts of Portugal that I probably never would have seen otherwise. And I've played for my country. That's something I never thought I'd do.

Now I've got the potential to try to do it again next year and the following year, and that gives me an aim, focus and purpose outside work. It also gives me motivation to train.

So what does being 58 actually look like for me?

It means embracing going to bed before 10 o'clock because I've learnt to value sleep.

It's getting up and walking Billie. It's being with clients all day.

It's fitting in some golf practice after work as a way of chilling out and getting outside.

It's working out with friends.

It's playing golf competitions and travelling around the country. It's having something to train for and something I still want to achieve.

And my downtime, particularly in the summer, is trying to make time for a few hours on the beach,  sitting and reading or walking Billie.

So, no. I don't think 58 looks anything like I thought it would when I was younger.

I'm not necessarily as settled as I thought I would be. I don't run anymore. I go to bed ridiculously early. Work still takes up a huge amount of my life.

But I'm still lifting weights. I'm still training. I'm walking. I'm playing competitive golf. I'm travelling. I've played for my country and I'm trying to do it again. I'm doing a job that I've never really thought of as a proper job because I spend my days helping people.

And I'm increasingly aware that time is precious, so I want to fit as much life into it as I can.

Maybe that's what 58 looks like.