I Was NOT the Oldest Person at the Concert...

I’ve always believed age is much more about outlook than the number on your birthday cake—but this weekend gave me the perfect reminder.

On Saturday, my husband and I were supposed to go to an alt-rock concert together in Edmonton. Think loud, sweaty, political, and full of energy. The kind of show that makes your ears ring for two days. The crowd? Mainly 18–30-year-olds, a few dozen Millennials and a handful of Gen X'ers like me —a 58-year-old woman who still loves a good wall of sound.

But here’s where the story takes a turn.

The friends we were staying with are a couple in their late 70s—former neighbours we adore. A few hours before the concert, my husband suddenly came down with the flu and had to bow out. I told them I was fine going alone, but our 78-year-old friend looked at me and said, “There’s no way you’re going by yourself. I’m coming with you.”

This man had never been to an alt-rock show. Not this genre, not this volume, not this atmosphere. It was the definition of "way out of his comfort zone".

And yet—off we went.

He took it all in with curiosity, humour, and the kind of open-mindedness that many people half his age haven’t yet figured out. When the music got louder, he leaned in. When the political commentary kicked up, he nodded along. When the crowd jumped and shouted and the crowd surfers and "moshers" did their thing, he smiled and said, "that's not something you see everyday!"

Ken & Shelley

And I stood there thinking: this is exactly what keeps someone young.

Not avoiding new things.

Not clinging to “I don’t do that.”

Not separating yourself from the world once you hit a certain age.

It’s the willingness to be curious.

To show up.

To try something unfamiliar.

To stay connected to the world around you.

That attitude—not the year on your birth certificate—is what determines how you age.

I talk a lot about strength, nutrition, mobility, and health, and yes, those things matter immensely. But your mindset is the doorway to all of it. If you believe you’re “too old,” you stop doing the things that help you stay vibrant. If you stay open, you keep discovering what your body and life are still capable of.

So here’s my gentle nudge this week:

• Say yes to something new.

  
  

• Walk into a place you’ve never been.

  
  

• Try the class, the food, the hobby, the event.

  
  

• Embrace the possibilities of trying something out of your comfort zone.

How you age starts with your attitude—and it’s never too late to change it.

Remember, progress not perfection!