Are you single over 60? I am. If I’m honest, there are times when I love being without a man in my life. Without commitments, I am free to travel and world and explore my passions.
Just this spring, I had a 2 month travel adventure in Bali. It was a bit scary to be traveling as a single woman, but, it was also invigorating.
On the other hand, there are definitely things that I miss about having a romantic partner or husband. Of course, there are the obvious things, like physical contact that I, like all women, crave.
What I miss the most, however, is having someone to talk with about the little things (and the big things) in my life. Do you feel the same?
If You Are Single Over 60, Dr. Margaret Has Some Advice
We have 1000s of single women over 60 in the community. Many of these women have told me that they face the same opportunities and challenges that I do. They want to be independent, but, they also want human contact. They are not necessarily looking for love, but, they wouldn’t turn it down either. It definitely is funny being a single 60-year-old woman!
To help the community to get the most from single life after 60, I recently interviewed Dr. Margaret, a clinical psychologist who specialises in depression and anxiety. I hope that you find her advice useful. I certainly did! Enjoy the show.
How to Survive as a Single Older Woman in a World of Couples
Dr. Margaret has some advice for surviving in a world filled with couples.
She starts by pointing out that thinking about activities as “for singles” vs. “for couples” is part of the problem. Instead, you should look for opportunities to create situations that encourage everyone to mix.
For example, I recently started a group using meetup.com. Even though I live in a fairly small city of just under 30,000 people, we had 10 people show up to the first meeting. We had several single men and women, but, we also had a few couples. If anything, I felt less pressure having a mix of people there. If everyone was single, it would have felt like a speed-dating session. I can’t imagine anything more stressful!
How Good Are You At Living Alone?
Some women, like myself, have had plenty of time to get used to being single. At the same time, with “silver divorces” on the rise, many of us are getting used to being single over 60 for the first time.
If this sounds like you, Dr. Margaret says that it’s important to practice living well. Rather than worrying about being shut out from the world of couples, build your own reality.
For example, many women believe that losing their partner means that travel will be more difficult. Nothing could be further from the truth! Do you have to be a little more careful as an older solo female traveller? Of course! Is it worth the trouble? Absolutely!
As I mentioned, I just spent 2-months in Bali. I was terrified and excited all at the same time. But, I didn’t let the fact that I am a single woman prevent me from following my dreams. You shouldn’t either!
Being Single is an Opportunity for Different Kinds of Relationships
I had a good relationship with my ex-husband, but, like all married women there were relationships that I couldn’t fully develop. As a single older woman, you are free to have all kinds of friends. You can have best friends who are men. You can hang out with single and married women. You can have relationships that are just physical. It’s completely up to you.
Don’t restrict yourself to what you have done in the past. Like every woman, you probably developed social habits while you were married that are hard to break. This is your time. You deserve to find happiness. So be bold! Explore your passions. Say hi to strangers on the bus. Travel the world and, most of all, be yourself.
Being single over 60 is challenging. At the same time, being a single woman our age also presents limitless opportunities. I hope that you found my interview with Dr. Margaret inspiring. If you have a question that you would like us to cover in a future interview, please add it in the comments.
Are you single over 60? What do you think are the keys to getting the most from life as a single older woman? Please join the conversation.