by Vera Grant AMMM                                       Ireland                                             28.03.2026

“All the worlds a stage; we are merely players.” These words penned by Shakespeare, some say on the human condition write about us entering one stage and exiting to start the next one. In all there are seven stages until we reach the last scene, that of old age, sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. Only for me it is not quite true.

I remember thinking twenty-one was old and in vain tried to hold on to being a teenager. That was the time our elders told us were the best years of our life. And that is not quite true either. There was the pressure of exams, the need to do well, to be in synch with your peers, wearing the ‘in’ clothes, liking the same music, trying to find your identity, the battle between the mods and the rockers and the big one, your preference for The Beatles versus The Stones. I was the latter but held my own in face of strong opposition.

What I enjoyed, apart from the above mentioned, was being young, being free, enjoying life, discos, parties and the shared, secret moments with friends to whom you could tell everything, particularly those things you couldn’t or wouldn’t tell your parents or even your sisters.

My seven stages were not dissimilar to the Bard’s and each one, following the schooldays, formed a pattern, marriage, motherhood, career, the wise owl of mid life and now supposedly I find myself in the final scene of old age. Every stage has its highs and lows, and this one is no different. What has to be acknowledged is the gift of good health; that apart from the failing eyesight, the impaired hearing, the slowness, taking forever to do the simplest of jobs, the widening or wizening depending on your genes, the yellowing teeth, the parched skin and more. Thankfully in the 21st century there are invisible hearing aids, dental implants, fabulous choice of spectacles if laser treatment isn’t an option. Truly we are spoiled for choice.

So, what makes this last scene better if not the best? Having friends of a similar age who are not only experiencing the same signs of ageing but happy to embrace and to laugh about this well documented decline. The acceptance of a much slower pace of life, the need to factor in times to rest, to sit down with a cup of tea and not feel guilty is a given. We are experts in finding something to occupy the quieter times, reading, playing bridge online (yet another of the advances in technology), light gardening, walking and going to Mass in the mornings and having time to visit and to pray for those who are less able.

‘I am truly thankful’ or / and ‘I have been very lucky’ is an often-heard sentiment and earlier this month on Women’s International Day it was heart warming to receive a beautiful card from a friend with words of gratitude to all the women who have had a positive influence in her life. I felt so privileged to be included and thought a little goes a long way and we never know what an impact we have on those we meet on this journey through its many stages.