Celebrating my body this birthday - not just my age!

It’s my birthday today! 51. Nothing dramatic. The year after the big milestone, so I’ve got no wild plans; just a walk with my husband, a pub lunch somewhere lovely, and then time with family in the evening. Last year brought with it some really fun celebrations that still make me smile, so this year it feels good to keep things simple.

But that doesn’t mean I won’t mark the day. I’ve come to believe that ageing truly is a privilege. And it’s worth pausing, noticing, celebrating in whatever way brings you joy.

Not everyone gets to grow older and I’m aware that not everyone gets to reach this age with the energy and health to enjoy it. And having experienced years of chronic pain, I will never take for granted again what my body can do. In fact, the longer I live, the more I appreciate my movement, not as a chore or a box to tick, but as one of the biggest gifts I’ve got. 

There’s so little in life that has no downside, only benefit, and movement - no matter how small - really is an incredible gift. 

I’m no longer trying to force myself to do exercises I hate just because they’re supposed to be “good for me.” I’ve tried that and I know it just doesn’t last. I’m interested in ways of moving that are more sustainable and more meaningful. I want to move in ways that bring me joy, that help me feel connected to myself and the people around me, that make me feel alive.

Just this weekend, I had the honour of speaking at the Smart Ageing Summit for the Oxford Longevity Project. I shared a couple of short talks on the power of everyday movement and got the audience up and moving, just for five minutes each, after they’d been sitting whilst listening to other inspiring speakers. You could feel the shift in the room; people smiled, connected and you could see their bodies ease. They laughed and chatted their way into the tea break; all from a few minutes of gentle, playful movement. It was a reminder that it doesn’t take much to feel better, we just have to give ourselves permission.

One of the most joyful moments of the day came from Angela Rippon, a UK national treasure, the utterly brilliant 80-year-old who has set up the ‘Let’s Dance’ campaign in the UK after her stint on the BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. At 80, she’s doing high kicks and splits and most importantly, she’s spreading joy through movement. She got us all up on our feet dancing to ‘Stayin’ Alive’ by the Bee Gees and honestly… no one wanted to stop. Imagine that - a 130 strong audience reluctant to leave for the lunch break at a conference! That’s the power of movement that makes you feel alive.

We also heard from Sir Chris Ball, who at 90 is still sharing his vision for ageing well. He only started running in his 60s, and then in his 70s, created the Brathay 10 in 10 challenge: 10 marathons in 10 days. You can hear more about his inspiring story and ticket to ageing well here. It’s remarkable. But what struck me more than the physical feat was the ‘why’. These are people who prioritise movement not as a duty, but as something that makes life richer, more vibrant, and more connected.

That’s what I want for myself. Not necessarily marathons or splits ( never say never, but with my hypermobility I might break in two!), but to keep setting challenges that stretch me, without overwhelming me. To keep my expectations high, while staying kind to myself. To move forward with curiosity and a sense of adventure.

I’m not sure what I thought my 50s would look like when I was younger. To be honest, it just sounded ‘old’. But now that I’m here, I feel more content, more fulfilled and more excited for the future than ever before. And a huge part of that comes down to the fact that I’m no longer in pain, an experience that shifted my entire perspective on what matters. 

I’m not chasing someone else’s idea of success. I’m not trying to punish or shrink my body. I’m living with it, learning from it, working ‘with’ it. And I’m moving because it helps me feel better in every sense of the word.

And I now never use the word ‘old’ to describe anyone - we’re all getting ‘older’ from the day we’re born, but you’re only as ‘old’ as you feel and I plan to do my best to focus on feeling the best I can, for as long as I can, to embrace all life’s opportunities, no matter my chronological age. 

If you’re reading this and feeling stuck, or stiff, or frustrated with the pressure to get ‘fit’ in ways that feel disconnected from your life, I want you to know: there is another way. You don’t need to follow a punishing routine. You don’t need to force yourself through workouts that feel like drudgery. You can reclaim movement as something that adds to your life, rather than drains from it.

As this goes out, I’m celebrating my birthday with a walk in beautiful surroundings that feels good, a meal I’ll enjoy and the company of people I love. That’s more than enough. And that’s what I want both my movement and my life to be full of: joy, connection and meaning.

Growing older isn’t something I fear, it’s something I embrace. Because with each passing year, I get better at knowing what matters, letting go of what doesn’t and moving in ways that help me feel alive.

And that, to me, is worth celebrating - every year.