May 22, 2026
Reader
Here's something no one tells you when you're 13 or 14 and desperate to be taken seriously: adulthood is wildly overrated.
I remember wanting it so badly. My own car. My own money. My own decisions. Freedom. And then I got all of it — along with a mortgage, a deadline-driven career, and an inexhaustible talent for worrying about things I couldn't control. Congratulations, kid. You made it.
But here's what I've learned, somewhere in the neighborhood of sixty-something: the secret to a joyful life might just be letting a little of that kid back in. And maybe that's how grandkids help.
Last week, I told you about my daughter finally passing the Bar — a moment worth every celebration we could throw at her. My son hosted a party, and because he is a wonderful human, there was a bouncy house. For the grandkids, of course.
Now, most adults at a party will smile at the bouncy house. Maybe film the grandchildren from a safe, dignified distance. I, however, went in.
I chased small people around an inflatable obstacle course. I bounced. I probably looked ridiculous. I did not care even a little bit.
And you know what? It was one of the best times of my week.
A word of caution, though: the bouncy house does not care how old you are. The next morning, my body had some thoughts about the previous evening's athletic pursuits. Nothing serious — just a gentle reminder from my joints that I am not, in fact, twenty anymore. Totally worth it for every laugh I shared with my grandsons. But maybe stretch first. Or at least know where you left the ibuprofen.
There's something about the over-60 chapter that gives us permission we didn't quite have before — permission to stop performing adulthood so seriously. The career pressure has eased. The kids are grown. The neighbors' opinions? Truly no longer our problem.
We've earned the right to bounce.
So this week, I'm giving you a gentle nudge: what's your version of the bouncy house? Maybe it's finally trying the pottery class you've been "too busy" for. Maybe it's a spontaneous ice cream cone before dinner. Maybe it's a cannonball into the pool instead of easing in from the steps.
Whatever it is, do it. Your inner kid has been waiting very patiently.
Warmly,
Wendy
Founder OverSixtyInsights
Looking for more reading: OverSixtyInsights.com
Quote for the Day:
“It’s funny, isn’t it? When you are young you just want to be old, and then later you wish you could go back to being a kid.” – Lauren Oliver
Recent Blog Posts:
Happiness in Retirement: The Honest 3 Year Story
Hidden Medicare Costs in Retirement: What to Expect at 65
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Books I'm Reading
A Fun Book: The Last Call at the Savoy - Brisa Carlton
The Meaning of Your Life - Arthur C. Brooks
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