News and Stories from Take Shape

Let me just say it straight: getting old is not easy for me. There, I said it. It’s not the final statement of life, it’s not definitive or exclusive to all else, nor should it be taken as the entire value of my worth. But for anyone who has hit their mid 40s and maybe creeping into their late 50’s, there is research to support the fact that we decline faster around 44 and 60.

or most of my life, I moved fast. Productivity was my superpower, and I wore busyness like a badge of honour. My days were packed with work, training, studying, and adventuring. No matter what I was doing, I was constantly chasing the next goal, the next task, the next challenge. It felt good, like I was achieving something, but in hindsight, I can see the pattern I was trapped in.

I wasn’t making conscious choices. I was running on autopilot. I pushed myself hard, often to the point of burnout, making decisions out of habit rather than intention. I was great at getting things done, but not always great at making the choices that truly served me.

From the moment we enter the world, we’re taught to colour inside the lines. Follow the rules, stick to the path, don’t stray too far. Society gives us a framework to live within, always encouraging us to go to school, get a job, be productive, and generally stay in line. And while there are benefits to this system, it can also limit us.

We are expected to grow in controlled ways, much like a bonsai tree is pruned, shaped, and maintained for aesthetic perfection. But at what cost? What if the endless trimming of our wild edges is holding us back?