Who Are You at This Stage of Life as Time Becomes More Precious?
One of us just turned 80. The other is not far behind. Hitting that milestone makes us reflect on who we are at this stage, when time is precious. It’s about accepting the new, older us. As youth, ambition, our looks, and long-held plans begin to shift, we care less about what we accumulate and more about how we love, how we listen, what we return to, what work is worth our days, and how we treat people.
Who are we now? Maria Shriver grappled with this in her Sunday Paper, "I've Been Thinking," on May 23, 2026. Take the Reins. She wrote: “A few weeks ago, my executive coach asked me a question I couldn’t answer. He asked, ‘How do you describe what it is you do? How do you describe your job these days? How do you describe yourself? What fuels you? Who fuels you?’ I sat there. Opened my mouth. Closed it. Tried again. Nothing came to me.”
Take a moment to decide how you would describe yourself today. Perhaps you are leading a simpler life than you imagined. Maybe now is the right time to become the person you always wanted to be by living life authentically, fully and with purpose. Look inward, be honest and know there’s still time to rewind if desired.
We asked a group of seniors to describe themselves today. We are not using names. Here are some of the responses we received:
I’m more patient, understanding and caring.
I’m more authentic and outspoken, more direct about expressing my love for my friends; I try new things (because…tick tock), and I eschew false modesty.
When I reflect on this stage of life I keep returning to the word liberated. I’m liberated from having to work, from raising my children, and from caring for extended family. I’m a very lucky and grateful woman!
Now into what I refer to as my resilient ‘third act,’ I am even more aware that each day is a gift and an opportunity to give with love.
Passionate, positive and resilient. I believe deeply in certain core values—honesty, loyalty, caring and helping others.
More caring, less afraid to try new experiences and learn more things with time to, as we say, smell the roses. I’m also a good friend/listener who can keep a secret.
Generous, curious, forgiving, now that time is limited. No reason to hold grudges either. I can finally let go of them.
Well, today and in the future, I am hoping for reasonably good health, both mentally and physically and emotionally. Happiness is what matters in this time of life; in whatever form I find it. A book, a walk, interesting television, a satisfying dinner, and when I am spending time with positive people, happiness comes to me.
I see myself as head of the family—and loving every minute! Hardworking, happy, easy to please.
Present, honest and caring in a way I wasn’t able to understand or feel when younger. It’s probably because I’ve now experienced life’s ups and downs—happy moments and moments of unmitigated grief as friends and family have died. Many others are fighting illnesses or caring for sick family members and partners.
Always a complicated, conflicted, Gemini late-bloomer, I finally feel confident in my uniqueness, am intellectually at my peak, and feel daily joy in my life, my family and friends. For that rich bounty, including good health, I am beyond grateful.
I’m more patient and am more able to talk myself out of the anger I feel and love more deeply, more passionately and feel strongly about embracing life and those that I love.
I try hard to be more patient, less judgmental, more understanding, adaptable, loving, and respectful, and to follow the rule of peace in the home. I am enjoying my peaceful setting immensely and focusing more on being closer to home after many years of a super active civic life and caring for my aging parents.
I’m pushing my boundaries and pursuing adventure.
More aware of what truly matters, more insight, and the courage to tackle things I avoided when younger.
More loving, dependable and caring…a good thing for sure.
“Who are we really now?” often becomes less about roles, achievements, or how others see us—and more about how we live our lives when time feels so precious. There is no key to immortality except our legacy, something to keep in mind as the clock winds down.