Getting older … I’m 57 too and you’re right, we’re old enough, experienced enough, confident enough to speak our mind and hopefully smart enough not to waste time on things that don’t matter. Many of the things on your list spoke to me. However in the last couple of years I’ve watched my wonderful parents become less resolute, more infirm, more dependent – and ultimately, die. I learnt then that 57 isn’t old – 91 and 92 are old. By then everything you are or have been, has been packed away in a box because you can’t use it any more. The only choices you can make are around what you might wear or whether you prefer coffee to tea.

One of the comments about this article was from someone a decade older who said that 10 years makes a difference. Ten years will, I expect, take me out if the workforce, make my body less functional and perhaps my mind less acute. I agree with that person. Ten years ago I could certainly do things I can’t do now. Ten years ago I had a nine year old a 13 year old and a 16 year old to manage. I barely had time to think. I have time now. I like my job, I’m studying again. So at 57, I think we’re middle of the road.

There are compensations in getting older and life as my Mum used to say, is sweet at any time. But I don’t think 57 is the time to celebrate having ‘made it’ in the old age stakes.