Am I stil relevant at... (fill in current age)

@ 56

When I look at the reflection of my face in the mirror I still see my 'old' self. Yes, my gray hairs appear every now and then but nothing like a few squeezes of hair dye can fix. There are some droopy parts in my jaw line and grooves at the sides of my mouth and a line running between my eyebrows through the base of my nose but all in all I seem as youthful as my mindset.

My body is another story. The parts where it used to be firm and stretched have become wobbly and soft. I have managed to somehow reverse the parallel increase of my body weight and my age. (There was a time when my weight was the same number as my age until two years ago when I was forced to keep an eye on my health after a couple of age-related diagnoses.) At 56 I now weigh 50 kg instead of what would have been 56.

As a graphic illustrator I like to think that I can still deliver well executed work. However, I sometimes wonder if my ideas are in sync with the market expectations of today. I believe I am still technically capable but I might be missing out on new tools that the younger graphic artists are privy of. Have I been resting too long on my age-old know-how? How much updating do I need to be able to keep up again with what is currently going on in the industry?

@ 58

57 came and went without me noticing. Fast forward to 58, my gray hairs are now more visible that I have to increase the frequency of dyeing them. Facial folds seem to be okay except for the jowls that are beginning to really sag. My neck is still happily in its place but I feel more softness under my chin.

Since the change of medications against cholesterol, my muscles haven't been painful anymore. And I weigh 47 kilos, 9 less than my age which is quite an achievement! I still eat whatever I want but in small quantities. I do not drink juices nor soda. My alcohol intake is maybe one a couple of glasses in a month.

I still don't exercise, although I do physical work sometimes in my beau's garden. And if cleaning the house and doing other chores can be considered movement, then I am moving. I take the stairs, unless I'm carrying heavy groceries.

I haven't been to stores to buy new clothes for months, except to the recycling shop where 50 euros can get me a bagful of cute outfits. I don't carry cash around anymore. The very few moments that I do are when I am going on vacation which I end up not using at all.

I feel I am always in my car driving. On days when I have to work at the office, I do maybe 60 kms to and from my beau's house to mine, to the office and back to mine and to his house. On days when I work at home I do more or less half.

I spend a lot of time playing with beau's grandkids. They make me feel loved and appreciated. And they are never shy to show their affection. I communicate with my son often, now that he works nights and the window of time that I could see him at his best elements has increased, and with it, the quality of our exchanges has become much better.