Imagine you are 80 years old. Your skin is a little looser, your hair is whiter or thinner (or maybe gone altogether), and your teeth might not be where they used to be. If any of that already applies to you, no offense—it’s all perfectly natural. But if you’re just imagining it, ask yourself: What am I proud of in my life? How do I spend my time now? What do I still hope for? And, just for fun—where are my teeth?
If these questions make you pause, lean into that feeling. Don’t brush it off with, “That’s ages away. My teeth are fine. No need to think about it now.” The truth is, time moves quickly. The people you know who are 80 now were once your age. They’ve already lived the years that are ahead of you.
I’m not trying to make you panic or be morbid. Neither were the Stoics when they practiced Memento Mori—the reminder that life is fleeting. The point is to reflect on what really matters to you, right now.
My grandmother just turned 82. Every week, I visit her, and every week, she hands me a big cup of coffee and a plate with exactly seven cakes or biscuits—always seven, though I have no idea why. I drink, eat, chat with her, and leave feeling recharged—not just from the sugar and caffeine, but from her contagious energy.
She doesn’t have a big house, expensive things, or a passport full of stamps. She’s lived alone since my grandfather passed away 24 years ago. Some might say she’s missed out on a lot, but I admire how little she needs to be happy.
The Stoics believed that not needing wealth is better than having it. It’s not the amount of money but your mindset that determines your happiness.
A few years ago, my grandmother had a stroke. Sometimes she gets mixed up—names, dates, memories—but she always catches herself, laughs, and corrects it. (“Sandra visited Tuesday—no, Sunday—no, Monday—no, Thursday! Yes, Thursday! Got it in one!”)
She’s had falls and injuries, but nothing stops her. No matter what happens, she keeps moving forward with a smile. She may not know the term Amor Fati, but she certainly lives by it—embracing whatever life brings.
Will you still find joy in life when things don’t go your way? Can you do it today?
Another person who doesn’t need much to be happy is Margaret Gallagher. At 77, she has lived her whole life off-grid. She carries buckets of water across a field up to ten times a day, has no electricity, and goes to bed when the sun sets.
No central heating, no TV, no internet. For most of us, that sounds unimaginable. But she doesn’t see it that way: “You have the birds in the morning nesting in the house, the views, the peace and quiet, the clock ticking—all things you couldn’t put a price on.”
Because she’s never been surrounded by luxury, she finds joy in simple things. Her philosophy? “Be content with what you have instead of always chasing something bigger and better.”
That advice is more relevant now than ever. It echoes the words of Seneca: “The man who adapts himself to his slender means and makes himself wealthy on a little sum, is the truly rich man.” (Letters 108.11)
Will you need a lot of money or things when you’re 80? Are you still chasing “bigger and better” right now?
Margaret is 77, my grandmother is 82, but they’re just kids compared to Sadie, who is 95. I don’t know her personally, but her story is inspiring. She doesn’t tie her happiness to money or possessions. Her children—not her earnings—are what she’s most proud of. She loves simple things, like a can of cola, and even took her first vacation abroad at 70.
If you believe it’s not too late to do something, it isn’t. If you believe it is, you’re right. Your attitude is what makes the difference.
Sadie doesn’t waste time wishing for more. Instead, she focuses on gratitude: “I don’t look at the neighbor with the big car and all the things I don’t have. I look at the neighbor with less than me, and that makes me grateful.”
What do you think when you see someone with a fancy car? What about when you see someone who has less than you?
Success and wealth are impressive, but true inspiration comes from character, attitude, and virtue. If people like Sadie can live without regrets, not chasing material things, that gives me hope. It makes the idea of living another 65 years feel exciting instead of overwhelming.
If Margaret has lived 77 years without electricity or running water, do I really need Netflix and Amazon Prime? I doubt I’ll look back at 80 and feel proud of how many shows I binged. Without those distractions, Margaret has dedicated her time to community work—and even received an MBE for it. That’s something to be proud of.
My grandmother is my only living grandparent now, and I know we’re at the tail end of our time together. That’s why I try to remember what Tim Urban says: if you’re in the final 10% of time with someone you love, be fully present. That time is precious.
If I can live with less, appreciate what I have, and adopt the same attitude as Sadie, Margaret, and my grandmother, I’ll be a happy man at 80. And if anyone visits me then, they’ll get seven cakes—every time.
I hope this makes you want to spend time with an older loved one or even make a new elderly friend. More than that, I hope it makes you think about what really matters to you—so that one day, when you look back, you’ll be proud of the life you lived.
