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A 3-part ACSIS Wellbeing Series by Red [our Co-Founder Sam’s mum]
Honest reflections on growing older, staying curious, and finding peace in change.
Part 1 of 3. A New Chapter: Awakening to Aging
💬 ACSIS Value: Clarity
Understanding aging begins with noticing it, not fearing it.
Noticing Aging For Real. When It Stops Being Abstract
I never really feared getting old, I just wondered how on earth I’d keep up.
When menopause arrived at late fifty, I didn’t think too deeply about it. I was far too busy. There were children to raise, work to do, gardens to tend. Like many women, I was running on instinct, not introspection.
It wasn’t until my seventies that I truly began to feel aging: the stiffness, the slower recovery, the memory lapses that made me laugh and sigh in equal measure. That’s when I began to think: How do I adapt to this new chapter?
👩👧 Talking About Getting Older With Your Children
(Even When No One Wants To)
When I began talking to my children about aging, they looked at me as if I’d started speaking a different language. But I wanted them to understand, not for sympathy, but for wisdom.
Aging isn’t abstract; it’s real, physical, emotional. It’s not always easy to explain what it feels like when balance falters or when confidence wobbles. I wanted them to know so they could prepare, not panic.
Now my children, in their fifties and sixties, tell me about their own aches, routines, and health rituals. They drink water before coffee, eat better, rest more. I see them making choices I wish I’d made sooner, and it makes me proud.
I'm also really enjoying some of their 'life hacks' as they call it! Technology, science, medicine has changed so much during my lifetime, it is hard to keep up with it all. My children and grandchildren are a great way to keep me updated.
That’s clarity: seeing yourself and your life as they truly are.
🌷 Letting Go Of Habits That No Longer Serve You:
The Courage to Adjust
The hardest lesson? Accepting that I’m not forty anymore. I stopped smoking, after a bad fall that ended up in A&E and weeks in plaster. Not long after, I stopped drinking alcohol - with a history of balance issues a small glass of wine now felt like I'd spent the afternoon in a vineyard. I learned to use walking aids and map my routes carefully, near walls, hedges, something to hold on to. Courage isn’t pretending you’re strong; it’s knowing when to adapt.
🌻 Seeing The Quiet Kindness Of Strangers:
Connection in Kindness
Aging reveals the quiet kindness of strangers: the held door, the patient smile, the driver who waits. When I travelled to China for my seventieth birthday, I was moved by the deep respect for elders. It reminded me that compassion connects us across cultures, across generations.
🌿 Science • Soul • Story
Women spend 40% of their lives post-menopause (WHO).
Positive beliefs about aging add 7.5 years to lifespan (Yale).
Regular walking and balance work reduce fall risk by 40% (NHS).
💭 Reflection. Where Do You Need More Clarity About Aging?
Where in your life could you bring more clarity about how you’re aging - in body, mind, or routine?
Is there one small adjustment your future self would thank you for.
A conversation you need to have.
A check up you have been putting off.
A habit it might be time to soften or release.
Next: Part 2: The Balancing Act: Frustration, Kindness & Adapting the Body
ACSIS Life Coaching: Coaching that meets you where you are.
Growth that carries you where you want to go.
👉 Book your free discovery session with ACSIS today
👉 www.acsis.co.uk | ✉ contact@acsis.co.uk
FAQs. Aging Well In Your 60s, 70s And Beyond
1. Is it normal to feel worried about getting older?
Yes. Many people feel unsettled when they start noticing real changes in their body, memory or energy. Worry often softens when you name what is changing, talk about it with people you trust and focus on small, practical things you can do to look after yourself each day.
2. How can I talk to my family about my aging without scaring them?
Start with honesty and reassurance. You might say that you are noticing changes and you want them to understand so they can support you, not because you expect them to fix everything. Share a few real examples, then one or two things that already help, such as walking aids or new routines. Keep the tone calm and practical.
3. What small changes make the biggest difference as I age?
The basics still matter most. Moving your body regularly, doing gentle balance work, drinking enough water, eating well and resting when you need to. For many people, using simple aids, planning routes more carefully and removing trip hazards at home make everyday life feel safer and more confident.
4. Can I still age well if I already have health problems or past injuries?
Yes. Aging well does not mean being free from health issues. It means understanding your current reality and adapting around it. Even with long term conditions you can still build strength, confidence and joy by working with your body, not against it, and by making realistic adjustments.
5. How do I stay positive about aging without pretending everything is fine?
You do not have to be cheerful all the time. A grounded approach is to notice both truths. Some things are harder now and some things are richer, slower or more meaningful. Gratitude for small kindnesses, connection with others and a sense of humour about forgetfulness or stiffness can all help.
6. What does “clarity” mean when it comes to aging?
Clarity is seeing yourself and your life as they really are. Not as you wish they were or as you fear they might become. It looks like noticing changes early, being honest about what you find difficult, asking for support and making thoughtful choices about habits, routines and safety.
7. How can adult children support an aging parent kindly and respectfully?
Listen carefully to how things feel for them day to day. Ask what helps, rather than assuming. Offer practical support without taking over. Simple gestures like walking on the road side, carrying heavier bags or checking routes together can protect dignity as well as safety.
8. I am in my 50s or 60s. What can I do now to prepare for later life?
Think of it as future proofing. Build movement, balance and strength into your week, protect your sleep and pay attention to alcohol, smoking and stress. Talk to older relatives about their experiences so you understand what may be ahead and start putting small supportive routines in place now.
Absolutely loved this! As a 52-yr old woman navigating through everything her life could throw at her over the last five years - including the kitchen sink - my future frailty and vulnerability had taken a back seat. I’ll give some attention to my future me, starting now 💛
ooh - I love this and so relatable us women do just power on through and I know myself being a very independent woman mid 50’s it’s hard to ask for help and soften as you put it - but very wise advise to prepare for it 🤔
What a wonderful and relatable blog! Thank you for sharing! I’m heading towards 70 rapidly and also starting to feel it so thank you…good nudge for me to talk to my children more!
Red, you’ve somehow managed to combine South African spirit, UK snow and world-class wisdom in one blog 🤩. Love it! You’ve got more grit than a Joburg pothole and more warmth than a Durban winter 😂
Way to go Red!
Some wise words there for us “young’uns”
When are you running for PM, you’d whip it girl!