Say hi to TikTok’s Traveling Grannies, Sandy Hazelip and Ellie Hamby. These inspiring 81-year-old best friends decided that age was no reason to sit still and took on the adventure of a lifetime; traveling the world in just 80 days.

Their journey, shared through their blog #AroundtheWorldat80 and social media, has captured hearts across the globe. With over 100,000 followers cheering them on, Sandy and Ellie’s zest for life and incredible friendship are reminders that it’s never too late to chase a dream, or to create new stories worth telling.

When I read about them, I thought about a Tik Tok video that I did last July after visiting my 100-year-old grandma. She has the idea that how can she be pretty when she is old.

We seem to also embrace the idea that as we grow older, it is natural for us to be poorer in health or lose our usefulness. ☹ Feeling useless and dealing with self-directed ageism is a tough reality for many older people around the world.

In Asia, research shows that when elderly folks feel this way over long periods, their health takes a serious hit, even raising their risk of mortality. In China specifically, self-directed ageism is tied to a 20% higher chance of dying over just six years.

Europe isn’t immune to this, either. According to the World Health Organization, many people over 60 feel they’re becoming increasingly irrelevant and face regular discrimination. This mindset and experience don’t just hurt emotionally; they’re linked to depression, risky health choices, and worse overall well-being.

One study from 2024 found that when older adults see aging in a negative light, it can take a toll on their physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. On the flip side, embracing a positive outlook on aging makes a real difference. (Reference:  “The Association of Self-Perception of Aging and Quality of Life in Older Adults,” Gerontologist, Vithya Velaithan, Min-Min Tan, Ting-Fai Yu, Andrian Liem, Pei-Lee Teh, and Tin Tin Su.)

Another study in 2025 explored self-esteem and its connection to mental health and loneliness. Turns out, low self-esteem often leaves older adults feeling more isolated and struggling with mental health, while a strong sense of self-worth offers protection against those challenges. (Reference: “The Relationship of Self-Esteem and Mental Health Among Older Adults with the Mediating Role of Loneliness,” BMC Geriatrics, Mehri Alaviani, Naser Parizad, Masumeh Hemmati Maslakpak, and Vahid Alinejad.)

That’s why stories like Travelling Grannies and the centenarians living in the Blue Zones of the world are inspiring to me. If you have yet to watch “Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones” a four-part documentary series exploring how people in various regions live long and happy lives, please do. You can find it on Netflix.

This is one of the reasons why I started the club, so that we can intentionally choose how we would like to age by thinking about it now. Not when we are older or have more time.

If enjoying good vibes in good company is important to you in living a good life at all ages and especially in our golden years, then this is a useful pause for reflection and visualisation.

Some thoughts for your consideration:

Building Youthful & Agile Mindset

As you would have observed, the weekly Sunshine Inbox covers a wide range of topics. The more we feed and nurture our brains, the more youthful a mindset we will have. If we surround ourselves with people who are curious, enjoy learning and willing to share with one another, we will continue to adapt regardless of how the world evolves.

Taking Care of Our Bodies

Self-care is often delegated to the least of our priority. I invite you to place self-care as top priority for your continued well-being. My knee issue was an unpleasant but a needed wake up call for me. To be more mindful of my physical well-being so that I can continue to be a fit chick when I grow up. No jogging or strenuous exercises for me. 😉 Read up on as much research as possible on what will work well for you.

Utilising Gadgets

When I grudgingly agreed to using my hiking stick, it accelerated the recovery of my knee. That gave me a different perspective on using such tools and gadgets when needed to ensure we are still living fulfilling lives in our golden years. Of course, a balance between useful usage versus lazy usage.

Invest in Your Health Care

“Why should I pay for private consult when I can get it for free?” A friend replied when we encouraged him to seek a second opinion. He had been diagnosed with prostate cancer but was being shuffled around by the healthcare system in his country. In his case, time was of the essence, and he had the means. Now, one and half years later, he still cannot get a proper diagnosis nor treatment. He is now thinking of going private. Another person who was facing a similar situation decided to spend his savings on private care and within two months, he had the operation and was already healing from it. It is great that we have medical care and subsidies to support us. But if your situation requires immediate attention, do be willing to spend on yourself. What is the use of the money if you are not able to enjoy using it in good health?

Protirement not Retirement

Protirement is like retirement, but with a twist. Instead of just stepping away from work, it’s about leaving your job early to chase something more fulfilling, whether that’s a passion project, traveling the world, or just living life on your own terms. The term was first coined by Arthur Godfrey back in 1961. Read more about it in a new book by our club member Patrick. Packed with thought-provoking questions, inspiring stories and actionable steps, now you too can design a protirement life that’s rich in joy, connection and purpose. Find out more about it here: Welcome Protirement – The Essentials A to Z. Patrick has kindly extended the special pre-launch offer to our club members till 30^th June. When you are placing an order with him, please let him know you are from The Dream Catalyst Club.

Clear Any Traumas

During one of my 1-1 sessions, a new client spent a large amount of time talking about her painful relationship with her mother. As this client was in her seventies, I curiously asked her how old her mother is. “She has passed on 10 years ago”. She was sad that she cannot have the opportunity to heal the relationship with her mum. That conversation with her made me decide to clear trauma that I have and not live with regrets. If you have any deep-seated traumas, it is worth it to spend money and time to resolve it. So that you can live your life with joy and fulfilment, free from bitterness.

Live with Who

A lot of times, we think about where we would like to be or live in when we are older. Equally important in your consideration is who you want to live with or be near with. Especially if you are single. After lots of reflection, I like the idea of co-living concept for my golden years instead of living on my own. I even had conversations with my sister and aunties on this to prepare for the future. 😊

What other areas of consideration have you thought of?

Please share with us over at our FB group!