Want to Thrive in Your Midlife and Senior Years? Here’s How!
“Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going to work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.
Several years ago, I shared a story in my first book, I’m Too Young to Be This Old—Surviving and Thriving in the Muddled Middle Years. It’s a story that still shapes how I live today.
I learned this truth on a Paris street.
There I was, staggering under a backpack that made me look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. My neck bulged, my shoulder blades felt fused together, and every step through the throngs of tourists made me question my sanity. What had possessed me to take a trip where I had to carry everything on my back?
“Are you okay, Mom?” my daughter Malaika asked as she walked ahead of me.
“Sure, I’ll make it,” I muttered through clenched teeth.
And I did. Once I pushed past the fear of collapsing into a Paris gutter forever, something surprising happened—I swelled with pride. Here I am, I thought, a middle‑aged woman backpacking for the first time. I’m not just surviving, I’m doing great. I’m really able to do this. Who would have thought it possible?
That moment changed me. I had pushed beyond my self‑imposed limits and discovered I was capable of more than I believed. It whetted my appetite for challenge, growth, and new experiences.
I learned this truth on a Paris street.
There I was, staggering under a backpack that made me look like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. My neck bulged, my shoulder blades felt fused together, and every step through the throngs of tourists made me question my sanity. What had possessed me to take a trip where I had to carry everything on my back?
“Are you okay, Mom?” my daughter Malaika asked as she walked ahead of me.
“Sure, I’ll make it,” I muttered through clenched teeth.
And I did. Once I pushed past the fear of collapsing into a Paris gutter forever, something surprising happened—I swelled with pride. Here I am, I thought, a middle‑aged woman backpacking for the first time. I’m not just surviving, I’m doing great. I’m really able to do this. Who would have thought it possible?
That moment changed me. I had pushed beyond my self‑imposed limits and discovered I was capable of more than I believed. It whetted my appetite for challenge, growth, and new experiences.
Thriving Requires Action
Now, as a seasoned senior, I’ve discovered the same principles still apply. If I want to flourish, find joy, and live with purpose, I must stay open to new experiences. Thriving doesn’t happen by accident—it happens through intentional action.
As someone whose calling is to encourage women to live God‑inspired and God-directed lives at every age, I love pointing out that God’s purposes for us don’t end at 60. They don’t end at 80 either! If we have breath, He has plans for us.
Thriving means rejecting stagnation. It means refusing to shrink back from unfamiliar paths simply because they feel risky. It means embracing Paul’s words in Philippians 3:13–14:
Say YES to the Opportunities God Brings
Be adventurous. Step beyond your self‑imposed limits. Who knows what God wants to do with your life when you say YES to the opportunities He places before you?
Taking risks and stretching beyond what’s comfortable is one of the most powerful ways to thrive. Without saying YES to new seasons, new challenges, and new opportunities, we stay stuck—and miss out on fulfillment, fun, and fruitfulness. All good things God intends for us.
Eight Actions That Help You Thrive
No matter your age, your health, your family situation, or your financial circumstances, there are ways that can help you enjoy your “one go‑around” in life as fully as possible. Out of many, here are 8 we all need!
Your life is still rich with possibility. Let’s explore it together.
I’m excited to share more with you,
Poppy
(If you think this upcoming series would encourage a friend, please forward this to them. They can sign up to get their own copy at poppysmith.com. They will also receive a free copy of my ebook: Overcoming Worry and Fear.)
Now, as a seasoned senior, I’ve discovered the same principles still apply. If I want to flourish, find joy, and live with purpose, I must stay open to new experiences. Thriving doesn’t happen by accident—it happens through intentional action.
As someone whose calling is to encourage women to live God‑inspired and God-directed lives at every age, I love pointing out that God’s purposes for us don’t end at 60. They don’t end at 80 either! If we have breath, He has plans for us.
Thriving means rejecting stagnation. It means refusing to shrink back from unfamiliar paths simply because they feel risky. It means embracing Paul’s words in Philippians 3:13–14:
- Forget what is behind
- Strain toward what is ahead
- Press on toward the goal
Say YES to the Opportunities God Brings
Be adventurous. Step beyond your self‑imposed limits. Who knows what God wants to do with your life when you say YES to the opportunities He places before you?
Taking risks and stretching beyond what’s comfortable is one of the most powerful ways to thrive. Without saying YES to new seasons, new challenges, and new opportunities, we stay stuck—and miss out on fulfillment, fun, and fruitfulness. All good things God intends for us.
Eight Actions That Help You Thrive
No matter your age, your health, your family situation, or your financial circumstances, there are ways that can help you enjoy your “one go‑around” in life as fully as possible. Out of many, here are 8 we all need!
- Cultivate your relationship with God
- Make time for friends
- Take care of yourself
- Live at your own pace
- Move your body
- Keep learning
- Choose a positive attitude
- Get involved with what matters to you
Your life is still rich with possibility. Let’s explore it together.
I’m excited to share more with you,
Poppy
(If you think this upcoming series would encourage a friend, please forward this to them. They can sign up to get their own copy at poppysmith.com. They will also receive a free copy of my ebook: Overcoming Worry and Fear.)
Scripture links:
Philippians 3:13–14
Psalm 92:12–15
Find out more about I'm Too Young to Be This Old!