What My First Year of Being 60 Taught Me

After living a full year as a 60-year-old, I’ve found myself reflecting on what this season of life has taught me. And the truth is, turning 60 felt like a bigger milestone than I expected.

Last year when I turned 60, I celebrated with a cookbook giveaway here on the blog. It was fun, and I even gained a few new subscribers along the way.

Every year for my birthday I bake my favorite cake — angel food. It has been my birthday tradition for years, and nothing feels more celebratory to me than pulling a light, fluffy angel food cake out of the oven. If you’ve never made one from scratch, you can find my Gluten-Free Angel Food Cake recipe on the blog.

People talk about 60 as if it’s some kind of cliff you fall off of. Suddenly there are articles everywhere about how to stay young, how to dress younger, and how to somehow outrun the calendar.

After a full year of being 60, I can say something honestly:

Turning 60 didn’t make me feel old.

If anything, it made me feel more like myself.

Here are a few things my first year of being 60 has taught me.

Time Matters More Than Ever

Not in a scary way.

Just in a clearer way.

I find myself thinking more about how I spend my time and who I spend it with. I’m less interested in filling my calendar just to stay busy, and more interested in doing things that actually matter.

A quiet morning at home, baking something for the people I love, writing, quilting, spending time with family — those things feel more valuable than ever.

Time feels like a gift, and I want to treat it that way.

I Care a Lot Less About What People Think

Somewhere along the way, I adopted a motto that works pretty well for me:

“You do you, and I’ll do me.”

It’s not meant to be rude. It’s just honest.

At this stage of life, I don’t feel the need to explain every decision or try to make everyone happy. People are free to live their lives the way they want to, and I’m free to live mine.

And that kind of freedom is refreshing.

A Smaller Circle Can Be a Blessing

Over the years I’ve learned that there’s a difference between acquaintances and friends.

There’s nothing wrong with acquaintances. Life is full of them. But true friendships — the kind where you can be completely yourself — are something special.

I don’t feel the need to have a large circle. A small group of genuine relationships is more than enough.

Quality over quantity.

Confidence Doesn’t Have to Be Loud

When I was younger, confidence often looked like someone being bold, outspoken, or standing in the spotlight.

But now I’ve learned that confidence can be quiet.

It’s being comfortable in your own skin.

It’s knowing who you are.

It’s being content with the life you’ve built.

I wouldn’t call it flashy confidence. It’s more like a quiet steadiness.

And I’m thankful for that.

A Small Surprise I Didn’t Expect

There is one thing about aging that caught me a little off guard.

Gray hair.

I always thought I would age with grace, and I still believe that’s exactly what I’m doing. I don’t color my hair because I don’t want the expense or the upkeep. What you see is what you get.

But I’ll be honest — I wasn’t quite prepared for the gray strands that have started showing up, especially on the sides when I pull my hair back into a French twist or a ponytail.

It’s not exactly salt-and-pepper hair yet. Just little strands of silver quietly making themselves known.

Then something funny happened.

One of my coworkers, who is 18, puts hair tinsel in her hair. One day we decided to try silver tinsel in mine.

Oh. My. Goodness.

I love it.

Now when I look in the mirror, instead of noticing the gray, I see sparkle.

And the funny thing is, hair tinsel is not something I would normally do. I live a pretty conservative life. I don’t have tattoos, and other than my ears being double pierced, I’ve never been one for extra accessories.

But this little bit of sparkle? I think I’ll keep it.

It reminds me that getting older doesn’t mean life has to become dull. Sometimes it simply means learning to shine in a new way — silver strands and all.

Contentment Is a Beautiful Place to Be

If there’s one word that describes how I feel at this stage of life, it might be contentment.

Not because life is perfect. It certainly isn’t.

But because I’ve learned to appreciate the simple things.

A peaceful home.

A good meal shared with family.

Time to create something with my hands.

Moments with the Lord in the quiet of the morning.

Those things may seem small to the world, but they feel pretty big to me.

Turning 61 Doesn’t Feel Like Something to Dread

It feels like another year to live, to grow, to enjoy the life God has given me.

And if my first year of being 60 taught me anything, it’s this:

Getting older isn’t something to fight.

It’s something to receive with gratitude.

If this past year has taught me anything, it’s that getting older isn’t about losing who we are—it’s about becoming more comfortable in the life we’ve been given.

Maybe getting older isn’t about holding on to youth. Maybe it’s about learning to see the beauty in the years we’ve been given—silver strands, sparkle, and all.

From my happy, healthy home to yours,