Sixty, and Stepping Into It
I didn’t expect sixty to feel like this.
There’s a kind of clarity that comes with this stage of life. You stop chasing everything and start paying attention to what actually matters. Time feels different. More real somehow. And the things you say yes to carry a little more weight.
Lately, I’ve been noticing that.
Here in Ohio, the seasons change whether you’re ready or not. You learn to go with it. But some changes still sneak up on you.
Like hitting sixty and realizing you’ve crossed into what people call “senior” territory. Like realizing I now qualify for the Golden Buckeye Card (a free discount program for residents aged 60+). At first, the Golden Buckeye Card felt like a small thing. But the more I thought about it, the more it started to feel like something else.
Recognition.
Not in a loud way. Just a quiet acknowledgment—of time, of experience, of everything it took to get here.
I don’t even have the card yet—I just applied this week—but that’s not really the point.
It’s what it represents.
Because this stage of life isn’t just about getting older—it’s about how I choose to live.
That really came into focus for me.
A few years ago, my husband and I stopped into our local Council on Aging (COA) to play bingo. This week, we dropped in again and found a different scene—people were gathered around card tables playing what I think was euchre, and another group was laughing over a game of Scrabble.
I nodded over in their direction and then headed to the back, where I browsed the bookshelf. There were quite a few Danielle Steel novels. It made me smile and reflect back to the 1980s, when people would come into the library I worked at asking for anything by her. I looked her up recently and saw she’s now 78. It’s strange to think I remember seeing her on television when she was in her 30s.
Off in the distance, I heard someone mention line dancing. And I heard talk about Zumba… even chair Zumba, which made me smile a little.
What struck me wasn’t just the activities—it was the energy behind them. People showing up- sitting down at a table. Joining a game. Trying something new, even if it’s just a card game, class, or a conversation.
I know community doesn’t just happen. You choose it. You walk in. You sit down. You say hello. Maybe you stay a little longer than you planned.
I find myself actually looking forward to trying things—maybe a class with mom at my local COA, or just sitting down at a table and seeing where the conversation goes.
And doing some volunteering feels like a good step too. Because it makes sense. Because I’ve lived enough now to have something to give—and I like the idea of doing that in a place that feels full of life.
This stage of life doesn’t feel like winding down.
It feels like getting intentional.
And maybe that’s what sixty really is.
Not an ending.
Just a different way of showing up.
If you’re curious about what your local Council on Aging might offer, you can explore programs and activities through the National Council on Aging at https://www.ncoa.org. In addition to classes and community programs, they also provide helpful resources through their Center for Economic Well-Being. These include support for older adults who are looking for work, access to job training, and tools to help with retirement planning.
Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging https://www.ohioaging.org/aws/O4A/pt/sp/home_page
Ohio Department of Aging
https://aging.ohio.gov
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