In my family, this is the season for birthdays. A lot us are somehow born in these couple of months! And birthdays for older people like myself often carry a different kind of meaning compared to when we were younger. They are more moments of gratitude for health, family, friends and the simple gift of life itself.

As we age, I have noticed that time becomes something we can actively steer in the direction we want. If I have fewer years ahead than behind, now is the time to prioritise what truly matters: having conversations that I have postponed, spending time with the people who matter to me, and exploring things I have always been curious about but never had the chance to.

This newfound freedom comes from breaking free from the constraints of our calendars and societal obligations. We feel time speeding up when we have familiar routines, fewer firsts, and more autopilot living.

When society basis its existence on continuity without realising that decay is essential then endless consumption, eternal youth and artificial happiness become the way of the world.

To slow it down, we can focus on being present, stopping performing to win, avoiding unnecessary arguments, seeking validation, and trying to be everything to everyone.

More than anything else, time becomes your own property when you realise that you do not need to explain or justify yourself to anyone anymore!

For me, the way forward is to seek out moments when time expands with firsts, unfamiliar experiences, and meaningful work. It is not just about novelty for its own sake, but about choosing experiences and relationships that are at the core of who I am.

Understanding ‘memento mori’ provides clarity that endings are not failures and helps us live fully in the present.

Sure, time will accelerate, but certain parts can also expand, deepen and hold. We cannot stop time, but we can shape it with purpose, with wisdom, presence, and a slowing that feels more alive, not like giving up.

Worth thinking about 🤔