Sometimes becoming who you are means finally giving yourself permission to do the thing you always wanted to do. For Paula, that thing is music. Although her younger self might also be surprised to discover she now has a personal trainer.

“I currently have a personal trainer, not something that I ever envisaged would be part of my life.”

Then there was the surfboat… Paula spent a season as a surf lifesaver (!) so she could row a surfboat and went on to win gold in a State Masters competition.

But music has always (apparently) been waiting in the wings… (and we are all grateful for that!)

“Music is my current project. Writing songs and performing with others is my favourite thing to do. Something I dreamt of doing since childhood.”

It took time to get there.

Raising children and earning a living came first. Then, when Paula stopped full-time work, she finally turned to music. That was 13 years ago. She hasn’t looked back.

“Doing what you love is the most rewarding job.”

These days Paula writes songs, performs, teaches singing – and shares her musical adventures through her YouTube channel, including the wonderfully unapologetic pink feather dress.

It’s a pretty good demonstration of what happens when you stop waiting for the right time.

For Paula, something else clicked around 50.

“Once you realise there is less time in front than there is behind, sense of time changes.”

Having already achieved things she is proud of, she no longer feels the need to prove herself.

“I just do my thing and no longer care what anyone thinks.”

That’s not to say she spends her energy recklessly.

“My energy is spent on keeping myself upright.”

Fair enough. The rest, it seems, is for music. For creating. Performing. Teaching. Trying things. Having a go. And perhaps that is the real freedom that comes with getting older: knowing what matters to you and becoming increasingly comfortable ignoring the noise around it!!

Paula’s advice is wonderfully direct.

“Now is the time to live your life by your own rules.”

Still becoming.
Still singing.
Still having a go.

And, judging by that pink feather dress, still having some fun along the way.

---

This is part of the GreyMatter International Day of Older Persons on 1 October campaign. Who are you becoming?

For International Day of Older Persons on 1 October, GreyMatter is asking people a simple question:

Who are you becoming?

Becoming isn’t about adding more to ourselves, it can also be about letting go of the expectations. The should haves, and could ofs, or the versions of ourselves we thought we had to be, then discovering there is still so much life left to live!!

Still becoming.

#GreyMatterStudioLife

This campaign will run for the Day of Older Person and Active Ageing Week.

The questions to ask yourself…

1. What is something new you’ve taken up, learned, or explored recently that would have surprised your younger self?

2. When you look at where you are today, what is a chapter of your life story that people might not expect just by looking at your age?

3. What is a project, passion, or goal you’re actively focused on right now, and what’s driving your excitement for it?

4. How has your definition of purpose or meaningful work shifted over time, and what keeps you feeling connected and useful today?

5. If you could share one piece of wisdom with someone worrying about getting older, what would you tell them about the value of the perspective you have now?