When you stop caring about what other people think

Have you reached that point yet where you realise you just don’t care about what other people think anymore? How good is it?!

While we might hear a lot about the downsides of getting older — struggling to make ends meet, declining health, diminishing work life — there’s a tonne of good stuff that comes along with it too that way outweighs any of the negatives!

One of the best things about getting older, especially once you’re in your late-50s or early-60s, is realising that you don’t care about other peoples’ opinion so much.

While most people spend a lot of their lives worrying about what other people think about them there’s something so freeing about realising you just don’t give a damn any more.

That feeling of freedom happens in every part of your life too, from the big stuff to the small.

Gone are the days of worrying about what people think of your outfit or your hair cut or your size. You’ve been around the block long enough to know the most important opinion out there is yours.

If you feel good in that dress, why the hell shouldn’t you wear it? If you want to dye your hair pink, who’s going to stop you?

You’re also more open to giving people a piece of your mind when you see something you think is wrong.

While people often shy away from any form of public conflict, it’s often the over-60s who will pipe up if they see bad behaviour happening.

They have no problem calling out someone for skipping the queue, kids from running amok, or teenagers shooting off foul language – and let’s be honest, a stern word from an older person is usually enough to stop a teen in their tracks!

There’s something freeing about this new phase of life that isn’t talked about often enough.

For the first time in our lives we can kick back without the shackles of anxiety and worry over what others might think about us.

Growing older isn’t what it used to be these days. Now, reaching your 60s means you have more time to do all the things you’ve been dreaming about for the last 40 years or so.

Over-60s are active, lively, and a whole lot of fun to be around. You get to travel and take up new activities and hobbies.

There are plenty of ways to socialise and meet people thanks to the internet and community projects and the idea of sitting around on the couch knitting all day has gone out the window — unless that’s what you want to do of course because, remember, you don’t care what anyone else thinks about that!

The process of reaching this stage in your life is a gradual one, with most people eventually coming to the realisation one day that they’re a lot more laid back about life than they used to be.

Whether this is because a lot of the big stresses in our lives are gone – raising kids, trying to get ahead on the mortgage, juggling work and a family, or because we’re just past the point of caring remains to be seen.

But there is a lot to be said for turning 60 indeed, and most of it is great!

Do you care less about what other people think as you age? When did you start to notice this change in your life?