When I turned 70, I didn’t throw a big party.
I didn’t go on a cruise or host a brunch.
I did something simpler but far more surprising.
I signed up for a beginners’ ceramics class.
Just me.
A smock.
Some clay.
And a room full of strangers, most of whom were half my age.
I wasn’t trying to “reinvent” myself.
I just wanted to do something I’d never done before.
To be a beginner again.
What I didn’t expect was this:
That trying new things at 70 would teach me more than I ever learned in my 30s and in a much kinder way.
In My 30s, I Chased Perfection. Now I Chase Joy.
My 30s were full of pressure.
To perform.
To prove.
To rise, hustle, accomplish, compare.
Everything I did felt like it had to mean something.
A step toward a goal. A bullet on a résumé.
Failure was embarrassing.
Mistakes meant you weren’t “serious enough.”
But now?
Now I get to try things just because they sound fun.
No one’s grading me.
No one’s watching.
I don’t need to be impressive I just need to be interested.
It’s the most liberating shift of all:
Joy over judgment.
I Tried Things That Made Me Laugh And Things That Made Me Cry
In the past year, I’ve tried:
Painting with watercolours (my sunset looked like spilled tea)
Joining a local walking group (the average pace was faster than I expected)
Writing short stories (and reading them out loud with trembling hands)
Attending a dance class (I laughed so hard I forgot to feel embarrassed)
Taking an online course on birdwatching (yes, really)
Each one brought something new not just a skill, but a feeling.
Freedom
Discovery
Camaraderie
Curiosity
Courage
Sometimes I loved it. Sometimes I didn’t. But I always felt more alive than the day before.
Being a Beginner Again Is Humbling and Healing
There’s something magical about not being good at something and doing it anyway.
When we were younger, we avoided that feeling.
Now? We get to embrace it.
Being a beginner removes the ego.
It invites humility.
It reminds you how to learn, how to laugh at yourself, how to listen again.
And in doing so, it softens the edges life has hardened.
You stop needing to “master” everything.
Instead, you begin to experience it.
Neuroscience tells us that new activities especially those that challenge coordination, memory, or creativity can help strengthen the brain and even delay cognitive decline.
But beyond the science, there’s the spirit.
Each new thing you try sends a quiet message to yourself:
“I’m still here. I’m still growing. I’m still becoming.”
And that’s powerful.
Because trying something new in your later years isn’t just an activity it’s an act of rebellion against invisibility.
You’re Allowed to Do Things Badly and Love It Anyway
I once made a vase that looked like a melting mushroom.
I brought it home.
I put it on the windowsill like it belonged in a museum.
Because I made it.
And that’s enough.
Not everything we do needs to be shared or monetized or turned into a brand.
Some things are just for you.
You are allowed to do things:
Just because they light you up
Just because you’ve never done them
Just because they make you feel human again
No performance. No pressure. Just play.
How to Start (Even If You’re Nervous)
Pick something small.
Something you’ve always been curious about but never made time for.
Then:
Google a beginner’s class
Ask a friend to join (or go solo and surprise yourself)
Show up with zero expectations
Allow yourself to mess up and have fun doing it
Remember: no one cares if you’re good.
They care if you’re present.
If you’re open.
If you’re real.
You don’t owe anyone a reason for trying new things.
You can wake up one morning and decide to:
Take singing lessons
Try paddleboarding
Learn how to play chess
Grow a tomato plant
Join a community choir
Speak French with strangers on the internet
No goal. No deadline. Just adventure.
This chapter of life is not about finishing it’s about opening up.
If You Needed a Sign, This Is It
You are not too old.
You are not behind.
You are not done.
There are still firsts waiting for you.
Still skills you haven’t discovered.
Still moments that will surprise you with how much joy they hold.
So go try.
Be a beginner.
Be brave enough to look silly.
And let your 70s (or your 60s, or 80s) be the most curious decade yet.
Join LifeMinusWork today!
Explore new hobbies. Share your “firsts.” Connect with others who are growing boldly and beginning again one joyful step at a time.
