We’re all getting older, yet as our 40s tick over into our 50s and 60s, there is an almost imperceptible shift in outlook toward the final period of our lives. This is often quite hazy because we prefer not to focus on it, keeping it at arm’s length. It can be scary to think about how many years we have left. Most people dislike the idea of ageing so much that they avoid thinking about it altogether. Rather than processing these uncomfortable feelings or planning for the future, we distract ourselves or talk in jokey cliches about reading glasses, bus passes, and ‘senior moments' to hide our discomfort. The Stoics suggested a different path. They argued that facing our ageing head-on is key to living well.

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