10 Women On What They Didn't Expect To Love About Growing Older
A collection of thoughts from real women on what's surprised them about growing older, and how they've come to embrace it
By Michelle Lee SM -
Growing older gets a bad rep, with a lot of stereotypes and negativity about ageing. True, it might not always be a fun process, but it's also a celebration of getting wiser, having more confidence, and having a greater sense of self that comes with age.
We get real women of different ages to share what they didn't expect to love about getting older.
"The heightened awareness of how the things that I fixated on didn't matter, and grounding in self-acceptance." — Kendra Ng, 30, assistant vice president
"The fact that you really do care less. And having lesser friends, too." — Ang Peng Lin, 28, experience designer
"Enjoying the simple things like tending to my plants, and realising that I don't need a lot. It was a lot about the money in my earlier years - I dedicated a majority of my time to my business, and was always on the plane for business trips. Now, I work from home (even before the pandemic), and read or take walks during my leisure time. I'm also less hot-headed, calmer and more open-minded about many situations than I would have been when I was younger." — Kristine Lee, 63, in the automotive industry
"I feel like I know myself better, what I like, what I don't and what I do well. This gives me more confidence. I'm also more comfortable with saying no to people and situations." — Melissa Tan, 41, logistics manager