There’s a strange assumption about getting older, especially life after 60′ and it is that, somehow life becomes quieter, smaller and more predictable.

This week proved the exact opposite.

In the space of a few days I’ve gone from, looking forward to a relaxing weekend in Hampshire, catching up with family and friends, a baby shower, visiting a nice restaurant or two.

The plan included driving down to Winchester on Friday, having a nice lunch, and then booking into a nice hotel for a bit of me and Sharon time before meeting up with family on Saturday.

And if I’m honest!

It didn’t go to plan.

I had things I wanted to get done, posts I wanted finished earlier, a clearer structure in my head.

But life had other ideas, and maybe that’s the point.

Work and this website took over in a good way, extra meetings took place, website maintenance was required due to a significant increase in traffic which is fantastic.

It all meant that Friday had to be cancelled and instead take the trip from our home in Hertfordshire to Hampshire on Saturday instead.

Because what I realised this week is this:

Life after 60 isn’t quieter — it’s fuller.

It’s family, it’s memories, it’s still working things out, it’s still wanting to build something.

And it doesn’t neatly fit into a perfect plan anymore.

But here’s where it gets interesting, we spend years planning careers, families, businesses, finances etc.

Yet very few of us ever step back and plan this stage of life, we think we have, a retirement plan, then we get there or close to it and everything seems to change.

Or is that just me?

Starting to re-jig my plan, not rigidly, but intentionally.

Because if you don’t!

Life just fills the space for you.

This week wasn’t a mess.

It was a full life.

And maybe that’s the shift.

After 60 isn’t about slowing down.

It’s about choosing what matters
and making space for it.

Even when it doesn’t all go to plan.

Part of the weekend that will go to plan

Baby Shower

The main reason for travelling to Hampshire this weekend will be to attend my son and his partners baby shower

Baby showers still make me smile. Until fairly recently I only had a vague idea what one actually involved.

Sharon and our daughters have been to a few and always came back smiling, so I assumed it was one of those mysterious events that men don’t need to understand too deeply.

Then I got invited to my sister-in-law’s son’s baby shower, and I was hooked.

Not a macho thing to say probably, but it gave me a sense that life and families always move forward.

Sometimes chaotically and sometimes planned but always moving to new pastures, new adventures, sometimes loss and tragedy but always moving forward.

I have even looked up the origins of baby showers thinking it was probably an american thing that has grown in the UK and Europe.

Apparently, although gaining popularity in the US, it is a modern mix of old traditions, part advice-sharing, part “bring something useful”, and part excuse for cake and a good natter.

As I conclude this post which is about how to balance life and family I guess.

Please let me know how your me time or weekends get disrupted in your 60’s and how you plan a balanced life.

Or is it just not possible.

Please feel free to leave a message.

Life After 60 – Small business Ideas

A few people have asked me this week:

“Is there something small I could do, maybe online…
something to get started again?”

I’ll share some practical ideas next week — simple, realistic, no-nonsense.

Because there are options.

And they don’t have to be complicated.

Coming up next week!

Monday – Business Series – Dreams or Vision? Dreams or Vision? First in a new series on the fundamentals of running a business in your 60’s

Wednesday — Fitness, Mindset & Balance
Update on my planned skydiving fundraising challenge.

Friday — Lifestyle & Frivolity
Travel ideas, places to eat, walks, reflections and reminders that enjoying life is essential.