11/08/2025

MONDAY | AUG 11, 2025

11

Thriving at 60: Living fully and beyond T HE feeling is one mixed with exuberance and exhilaration. A sudden sense of achievement washed over me like the fresh fully. It is recognising that we are not bottomless wells and that we are vessels that need constant and kind replenishment.

thoughts are transforming. I now witness remarkable men and women in this era, vibrant in their seventh decade and beyond, boldly seeking new partners if life has made them single, pursuing passions, launching ventures or simply rediscovering themselves. While societal permission may come easier for men exploiting this terrain, it is often a steeper climb for women. Decades of prioritising family, of physical and emotional toil, can leave their bodies feeling like they are starting to cave in, with whispering aches where youthful energy once roared. The cumulative weight of care-giving, often shouldered silently, leaves its mark. Yet, there are superb exceptions and radiant testaments to a different possibility. Those who consciously nurture the essential factors contributing to holistic wellness often age not just gracefully but powerfully. They retain an undeniable magnetism, an inner light that makes them truly attractive and appealing, far beyond superficial standards. But are looks all that matters? To some extent, yes, we cannot entirely dismiss the reality of first impressions – that ingrained cliche. Feeling good in our own skin, projecting vitality, matters for confidence and how we engage with the world. For myself, keeping fit and eating right have always been non-negotiable pillars, foundational to my physical wellness. This is basic. Then comes psychological wellness, the intricate landscape of mental

health, clarity and cognitive agility. Interwoven with this is emotional wellness, our capacity to effectively deal with the complex tides of feeling, to regulate our inner storms and harness our thinking and problem-solving skills with resilience. As the years accumulate, another dimension blossoms in importance: social wellness. This becomes a vital focal point for connection, belonging and shared joy. Giving and receiving care within a circle of family, friends and community is what makes life rich and meaningful as they thrive, with a tangible increase in life expectancy and, more crucially, life satisfaction. Laughter shared, burdens halved, experiences multiplied – this connection is oxygen for the spirit. But underpinning all these pillars – physical, psychological, emotional and social – is the element we most frequently and dangerously, overlook, especially as we cross the threshold of sixty: self-care. Self-care is far more than an occasional bubble bath or a guilty pleasure (though those can be lovely parts of it!). At its core, self-care is the conscious, consistent and compassionate practice of attending to our own fundamental needs – physical, mental, emotional, social and even spiritual. It is the radical act of prioritising our well-being, not as an afterthought, but as the essential fuel that allows us to function, contribute, love and live

For those of us sixty and above, self care shifts from a luxury into a non negotiable strategy for sustainable and vibrant living. It becomes the key to completing this “cycle of birth”, not just with endurance, but with flourishing. Self-care is not selfish; it is the basis of self-preservation and sustained contribution. It is the daily practice that allows us to stand tall in this seventh decade, radiating the hard won confidence that comes from truly living. It empowers us to defy the stereotypes, to embrace the exuberance and exhilaration of having made it this far and to continue crafting a life of depth, connection and unapologetic vitality. It is how we ensure that finishing this cycle is done not with a whimper but with a resounding and joyful affirmation of a life fiercely and lovingly lived. This is the essence of thriving at sixty and beyond. And, nobody decides my “expiry date”, not in a literal or metaphorical sense. My life as a story continues and I decide when it peaks or concludes. Dr Bhavani Krishna Iyer holds a doctorate in English literature. Her professional background encompasses teaching, journalism and public relations. She is currently pursuing a second master’s degree in counselling. Comments: letters@thesundaily.com

rays of the morning sun, unadulterated and real. Entering the seventh decade of my existence, I welcomed it with profound joy. This is not just another birthday; it is the year I can scream with complete abundance that I have made it this far in life. Life has not been a bed of roses but as you live it, life possesses a unique way of showing, telling and teaching you lessons you simply could not have acquired otherwise. Someone once asked if I would take back five years of my life. The answer was, is and always will be a resounding no! I have lived deeply, messily and fully, and now, it is about consciously finishing this cycle of birth with intention and grace. In many corners of the world, sixty whispers of endings. In some Indian communities, sexagenarians can feel sidelined, considered “over and done with”, a sentiment often amplified for women. Once a woman crosses into her fifties and sixties, archaic narratives shrink her world where it is relegated to babysitting grandchildren, tending to an ageing husband or caring for in laws. While these too are important, her own vibrant existence, desires and potential seem to fade into the background of others’ needs. Thankfully, such rigid, dusty Here is one example. In a well-known commercial complex, bays located right next to a centre for children and youths with cerebral palsy are being reclassified as “preferred zone” parking. The monthly pass? Jumping from RM120 to RM450. No discounts and no exemptions, not even for an NGO helping wheelchair users who depend on those bays for safe and easy access. It is not just outrageous; it is insulting. Accessibility bays aren’t “premium”; they are essential infrastructure. Tripling the price is like putting a toll gate in front of a wheelchair ramp. Then there is Aniq, an autistic student who scored a 3.83 CGPA in matriculation and met the entry requirements for Computer Science and Statistics, only to find that his chosen programmes had vanished from the UPU system. Not due to his grades but because he holds a disabled persons card. An algorithm decided his disability status mattered more than his achievements. That is not inclusion; that is discrimination dressed up as “process”. Consider the blind pensioner living on RM1,085 a month, whose health insurance premium doubled overnight, from RM250 to RM500. Nearly half of their income now goes just to stay insured. When a policy becomes too expensive to afford, it is no longer insurance; it is exclusion by price. These are not isolated sob stories; they are proof that our Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Act 2008 is toothless. It recognises rights but does not make discrimination illegal in a way you can challenge. It does not force schools, insurers or service providers to make“reasonable adjustments”. And it does not create a clear, powerful body to hold anyone accountable.

“It is the radical act of prioritising our own well-being, not as an afterthought, but as the essential fuel that allows us to function, contribute, love and live fully.

LETTERS letters@thesundaily.com

Stop putting price tag on inclusion EVERY so often, something happens in Malaysia that makes you stop and think: “Do we actually understand what inclusion means or are we just paying lip service?”

Here is the kicker: Malaysia already has world class standards sitting on the shelf. We have MS 1184 (Universal Design and Accessibility in the Built Environment), MS 1331 (Access Outside Buildings) and MS ISO 21542 (Accessibility and Usability of the Built Environment). They tell us how to make parking, entrances and routes accessible but they say nothing about keeping those facilities affordable. That is the gap operators are exploiting. Globally, ISO 22458: 2022 on Consumer Vulnerability spells it out: You must design services so that vulnerable groups, including PWDs and low-income communities, can actually use them. That means physical access and financial access. ISO 26000 on Social Responsibility and ISO 37120 on Sustainable Cities both treat inclusion as a key measure of progress. In the UK, Australia and Canada, it is illegal to deny a qualified student a place because of disability or to monetise accessible parking in ways that shut out the very people it is meant for. Insurers must justify disability-related premium increases with hard data and are often subject to affordability caps. There is an urgent need for a coordinated national effort to strengthen Malaysia’s accessibility standards, including MS 1184 and MS ISO 21542, so they go beyond the physical design of facilities to also address fair pricing and proper allocation. This should be aligned with global benchmarks, such as ISO 22458, which ensure physical and financial access for vulnerable consumers and supported by clear sector guidelines so that “universal design” means practical, affordable inclusion rather than just compliance on paper. By embedding affordability into the definition of accessibility, we can close the loopholes that currently allow facilities to exist only in name but remain out of reach in reality.

The Higher Education Ministry should ensure no student is denied opportunities because of disability status. – BERNAMAPIC

achieving student from a university system or price health cover out of reach, you are not just making life harder; you are shutting the door. Here is the truth: a nation is not measured only by GDP; it is measured by whether everyone, including those who face the steepest climbs, can still move forward. Standards Users will work with councils, ministries and operators to make sure these standards are not just documents on a shelf but an everyday reality in our parking lots, classrooms and insurance policies. Because inclusion that costs extra is not inclusion at all. Saral James Maniam Secretary-General Malaysian Association of Standards Users Affiliate of the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association

While longer-term improvements to standards and guidelines are vital, immediate action is equally important. Local councils can set licensing requirements to ensure accessible bays closest to entrances remain affordable or free for PWD. The Higher Education Ministry should ensure no student is denied opportunities because of disability status and Bank Negara should safeguard against exclusionary insurance practices by requiring clear justifications for premium loadings and promoting basic plans within the reach of disability pensions. These steps, taken together, will move Malaysia from lip service on inclusion to genuine, measurable change in daily life. Because inclusion is not charity; it is a basic right, like clean water or safe roads. If you triple the cost of a disabled parking bay, erase a high