#005: Old before THEIR time. Why are my friends getting old?

This is going to sound harsh, but some of my friends have got really old.

On paper, we are roughly the same age (many in the same school year - yes, I think like this even if I left school 25ish years ago), but whereas I still feel 27 in my heart, they are acting more like 127.

I am viewing life with more and more of an insatiable thirst to make this one wild and precious life really count; whereas they are closing in, slowing down. They were buying beige cardigans in M&S long before it got cool again, our conversations are centred on retirement plans, downsizing, and quiet weekends in the countryside.

Don't get me wrong—there's nothing inherently wrong with these things (I am obsessed with M&S, and I love a quiet weekend in the countryside). But it's the energy behind them that troubles me. It feels like they've lost that sense of curiosity, that drive to explore new things or push boundaries.

Meanwhile, I'm still out here chasing adventures, making new friends, learning new skills, and dreaming bigger than ever before.

Maybe it’s a difference in mindset, or maybe it's just how we all age differently. But I can't help but feel like they're settling into routines and into comfort zones, while I’m fighting against them. They talk about being tired more often, like they’re already winding down, when in my mind, this is the time to wind up, to seize the years ahead before they slip away too fast.

I guess it’s easy to fall into that trap—of thinking that at a certain age, you’re supposed to slow down, to "act your age." But what does that even mean? Who decided that once we hit 45 or 55, that life becomes about maintenance instead of growth, about preserving instead of expanding?

So yeah, some of my friends have got old. Not in their bodies, but in their souls. And while I love them dearly, it makes me sad. It makes me wonder if I’m being unrealistic in refusing to accept this version of ageing, or if they’re missing out on something essential—something I’m still desperately holding onto.

Maybe one day I’ll understand their perspective. Maybe one day, I’ll feel the same. But for now, I can’t shake the feeling that there’s still so much more to do, to see, to feel.

I’m not ready to settle for less, not ready to stop wanting more from life. And I hope in some small way, I can inspire them to rekindle that spark too, to remember that age is just a number, and life, no matter where we are, still has so much to offer. And quite frankly, I am just getting started.

So, in my quest to unleash the wild of as many women as possible, we are exploring this topic. Why are some people young at heart and why are others old long before their time? Check out the juicy stuff below to unleash more of your WILD!

Mindset : Changing The Way You Think to Fulfil Your Potential by Carol Dweck

Have you heard of a fixed or growth mindset? You likely have one or the other, and this book shares how you can develop your brain for more success and resilience.

Thankfully, Elizabeth Japal from The Derma Lab is here to give us an insight into these skin changes, their psychological implications, and some suggestions regarding the aesthetic treatments that are available to help manage them.

The Impact of Perimenopause on Women's Skin and Confidence

Check out these women who are standing up, standing out, and smashing goals. All are worth a follow, we simply love what they stand for.

• Davina McCall has just launched a podcast, check it out here
• Gillian Anderson advocating up unleashing your desires 
• Annie Mac letting us rave before midnight