Pensions, Perspective, and the Quiet Joy of No Longer Needing to Impress

Why Ageing Might Be the Most Spiritual Journey of All

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I didn’t feel old — until a stranger offered me his seat on the bus.

To be honest, I’m usually wedded to my car, but I needed to make a journey while my car was undergoing its annual service, so it was the bus (or walking!)

So there I was, minding my own business on a crowded bus when I felt a tap on my shoulder. A very polite young man offered me his seat. It was a first for me and confirmed that the days of offering my seat have been replaced by people taking pity on me!

Yes, I’m officially old. I received my first UK State pension payment last month, having clicked over to the venerable age of 66 in March.

Do I think of myself as old? Not really — but I definitely feel older.

There are small things that remind you of it, like starting to receive the State Pension or the occasional creaky joint that wasn’t there before.

A couple of weeks ago, my wife and I decided to walk along the seafront between two small seaside towns near our home. I suppose it would have been about 3 miles round trip, with a stop for a cup of coffee and a rest at the halfway point. My wife, who is suffering…