There’s something powerful about watching someone in their seventies still living with intention—not just existing, but really thriving.
It’s not about having a busy calendar or trying to turn back the clock. It’s about staying connected to the things that matter: relationships, curiosity, health, growth, and presence.
I’ve met plenty of people in their 70s who seem more alive than some folks half their age. And when I look closely, there are certain things they’re still doing that give them that unmistakable spark.
Let’s dive into them.
1. You keep showing up for others
Whether it’s a weekly phone call to a grandchild, volunteering at the local food bank, or simply checking in on a neighbor—being there for others is a quiet, powerful act of purpose.
I once met a woman named Judith at a community park event. She was 78, walked with a cane, and still showed up every Friday to read to kids at the library. “It gives me more than I give them,” she told me. That stuck with me. When we give, especially later in life, we remind ourselves we still matter.
2. You stay curious about the world
You don’t need to master quantum physics or take up archaeology. But if you’re still asking questions, still wondering why the birds migrated early this year or how your smartphone actually works, you’ve still got a foot in the river of life.
I’ve mentioned this before, but one of the most underrated things we can do for our minds is to keep learning. Curiosity isn’t just for kids—it keeps our minds nimble and our hearts open.
3. You invest in your physical health, not out of vanity, but vitality
No one’s expecting you to run marathons or bench press your age. But if you’re still prioritizing movement, sleep, hydration, and decent meals—you’re telling the world (and yourself) that your life is still worth nurturing.
A neighbor of mine, Tony, who’s in his early 70s, walks laps around the park every morning with his rescue dog. He doesn’t do it for show. He does it because it helps his knees, clears his head, and lets him chat with whoever’s passing by.
4. You listen more than you speak
There’s something deeply purposeful about giving people your full attention—especially younger folks. It tells them they’re worth your time. And it reminds you that wisdom isn’t about preaching. It’s about connecting.
At Sunday family dinners, I try to resist the urge to jump in with stories from “my day.” Instead, I ask my grandkids about school or what they’ve been reading lately. I don’t always understand their lingo, but I try. And that effort keeps the channel between us alive.
5. You make time for creativity
Whether you’re sketching, gardening, writing, knitting, or just playing with ideas in your journal—making something from nothing is a beautiful way to stay engaged with life.
After I retired, I started writing—not because I thought I had anything profound to say, but because I needed an outlet. A reason to reflect, to process, to express. Turns out, it became one of the most meaningful chapters of my life.
6. You allow yourself to feel deeply
I’m no know-it-all, but if there’s one thing aging teaches us, it’s that numbing your emotions doesn’t make life easier—it just makes it duller.
I had a dear friend pass away last year. We’d shared a lot of laughs over the years—golf, coffee, a few rants about the news. When he died, I let myself cry. Not behind closed doors, but right there on the bench we used to sit on. And a young man passing by, probably in his twenties, sat down next to me and said, “I hope I have friendships like that when I’m older.”
That moment reminded me that showing emotion isn’t weakness—it’s a sign you’ve lived, and loved, and still care.
7. You stay open to change, even when it’s uncomfortable
Let’s be honest—change can feel overwhelming as we get older. Tech moves faster than we’d like, social norms shift, and the world doesn’t always look familiar.
But if you can still adapt, even in small ways—trying a new app to keep in touch with the family, learning how to order groceries online, or adjusting how you think about something you once believed firmly—you’re staying engaged with the present, not just the past.
8. You look forward to something—however small
Purpose isn’t always grand. Sometimes it’s a standing breakfast date. Or the anticipation of the next book in your mystery series. Or walking your dog at the same time every evening and chatting with the other regulars.
A few years back, I went through a rough patch. A mix of health worries and the loss of an old colleague had me feeling unmoored. I found myself getting up later, going to bed earlier, and in between, just going through the motions. What shifted it wasn’t some dramatic breakthrough—it was planting tomatoes.
Yep. Tomatoes. Every morning, I’d check on them. Water them. Talk to them even. Watching them grow gave me something to look forward to. And slowly, I started looking forward to more again.
9. You reflect on your life without bitterness
There’s something admirable about someone who can look back on seven decades and say, “It wasn’t perfect—but it was mine.”
That kind of acceptance doesn’t mean giving up on growth. It means you’ve made peace with the chapters you can’t rewrite, and you’re focused on how you live the rest.
Regret is heavy baggage, and I’ve carried my fair share. But I’ve learned that the only way to lighten it is to forgive—yourself and others. If you can do that, you’re living with a kind of wisdom the world badly needs.
10. You continue to ask, “How can I help?”
If you’re still looking for ways to be of use—to your family, your community, or even a stranger—you’re not just passing time. You’re choosing to matter.
Purpose isn’t a title or a trophy. It’s the daily decision to care. And people who keep doing that in their 70s are walking proof that aging doesn’t mean fading.
It means refining.
Final thought
I’m still figuring things out myself, but I believe this: Purpose isn’t something you chase. It’s something you practice. Every conversation, every act of care, every small decision to stay involved—these are the threads that make a meaningful life.
So ask yourself—are you still doing the things that bring you alive?
Because if you are, age isn’t slowing you down. It’s sharpening your sense of what matters.
And that, my friend, is a beautiful way to move through life.
