Inspiration, Conversation, and Hell Yeah!

Because the Third-Third is a giant space where we can explore the unique experiences and issues of women in this exciting and vastly interesting decade.

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Lessons from my Sixteen-Year-Old Self: Reclaiming Freedom in our 60s

There’s a quiet but radical idea here: aging doesn’t always require reinvention. Sometimes it calls for reconnection and extracting the very best from every age. It’s about revisiting moments when the world felt wide open and possibility rushed in.

Patty Lowell

5 days ago4 min read

It’s Time to Change Your Mind

For many women, the 60s are the decade when we begin to loosen our grip on long-held “musts” and “nevers,” not because we’re confused, but because we’re clearer, and clarity has a way of creating space.

Patty Lowell

Feb 54 min read

Decision Making Fatigue: Clearing Mental Clutter to Reclaim Energy

The new year has a funny way of turning us into very ambitious humans. Suddenly we want to eat better, work out regularly, lower our stress, improve relationships, overhaul our wardrobes, get serious about money, and become a slightly upgraded version of ourselves—ideally by February. All of that sounds inspiring. It’s also a lot for one brain. What we often mistake for laziness or lack of follow-through is actually something much more human: decision overload. Why Making De

Patty Lowell

Jan 234 min read

Woman wearing brooches on a black jacket

The Brooch Is Back—and It’s Having a Brilliant Moment

Brooches are back. Discover creative, modern ways to style brooches—from scarves to hats to handbags—using pieces you already own

Patty Lowell

Jan 144 min read

A woman in denim dress with glasses and turquoise hoop earrings

Rebranding in my 60s: My Most Important Client Ever

Reinvention doesn’t belong to the young. It belongs to the brave. And women in their sixties have never been braver, wiser, or more ready. Your next chapter is calling—and it’s finally, beautifully, unapologetically yours.

Patty Lowell

Jan 74 min read

Patty
Lowell
Want to know something about me?

The Brilliant Age is the culmination of six decades of writing, interviewing, and storytelling shaped by meaningful conversations with accomplished, insightful people. I began my career as a fashion journalist, transitioned into branding, marketing, and communications, raised two remarkable daughters as a single parent, and earned a master’s degree in creative writing at 50. This blog is dedicated to women navigating midlife and beyond—those stepping into The Brilliant Age with experience, curiosity, style, and a desire to break a few rules.

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Why The Brilliant Age?

“Unthinkably good things can happen, even late in the game,” Frances Mayes in Under the Tuscan Sun.

Something happened when I put a 6 in front of my age. Suddenly, I wanted to slam my foot on the gas and really begin creating and curating an extraordinary life for myself.

As I went searching for inspiration, I found that I kept walking headfirst into information about women "50 and older." But as any woman who reaches her sixth decade knows, the issues and interests of a 67-year-old facing retirement decisions are far different from the 52-year-old woman struggling to separate from children heading off to college.

I felt overlooked in the giant swath of 50+ content, so I set out to create a beautiful, thoughtful, engaging space for women to have important and inspiring conversations about this incredibly fertile and fruitful decade of life.

The Brilliant Age is about just that—finding, creating, evolving, and enjoying our vibrant selves.

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Wellness isn’t about restriction or rules—it’s about feeling good in your body and clear in your mind. Start this week by honoring what you need, not what you “should.”
#thebrilliantage #midlifeinspiration #midlifewisdom

“The road is open again. And this time, we know exactly how to drive.”

Experience changes everything. And that might be the greatest freedom of all.

In my latest blog post I revisit what it's like to feel 16 again--new driver's license and all. Read more at the link in bio.

#LifeAfter60 #AgingBoldly #SecondChapter #TheBrilliantAge

Live boldly this week—say yes to what lights you up and no to what drains you. You’ve earned the freedom to choose yourself without apology.

#thebrilliantage #womenover60 #midlifemindset

They say we get “stuck in our ways” as we age.

Research says nonsense!

Changing your mind at this stage of life isn’t confusion, it’s confidence.
I wrote about why updating our perspective later in life isn’t a bad thing—it’s a brilliant one..

Read the full post on The Brilliant Age. Link in bio.
#TheBrilliantAge #ChangingYourMind #WomenOver60 #MidlifeWisdom #LaterLifeLiving #AgingWithConfidence #CuriousAtAnyAge

Your career is a masterclass in longevity, depth, and choosing roles that only get more interesting with time. You’ve shown us that aging isn’t about fading. It’s about refining, expanding, and owning your power. Smart, soulful, and effortlessly stylish, you make growing older look like the privilege it is. #lauralinney #women60plus #thebrilliantage

This week doesn’t need to be perfect—it just needs you showing up with curiosity and confidence. Step into it like you belong here, because you do. #thebrilliantage #womenover60rock

You don’t need a reinvention, just a realignment with who you are today. Explore more midlife inspiration and visit the-brilliant-age.com at the link in bio.

#midlifemindset
#TheBrilliantAge
#MidlifeInspiration
#WomenOver60

Ever sit down to “get organized” and somehow end up overwhelmed, stuck and looking for a snack instead?

You’re not imagining it. Your brain may just be tired of deciding. Which project to tackle first? How to respond to a coworker's snippy email? What protein-packed meal should you fix for dinner? I wrote about decision making fatigue and why simplifying choices can actually give you more energy.

Make this the year of clearing mental clutter—link in bio.

From a teenage breakout in The Outsiders to a grown woman feuding in Capote vs. The Swans, she’s shown us that beauty deepens when confidence and craft catch up with experience. Here’s to a life (and career) that keeps getting more interesting, more fearless, and more her.
#dianelane
#ageless #happybirthday

A new week brings fresh energy at every age. Tap the link in bio for inspiration for women loving later life. For more midlife inspiration, visit the-brilliant-age.com Link in bio.

• #AgingBoldly
• #MidlifeWisdom
• #RedefiningMidlife
• #LifeWellLived

Brooches are officially back—and they’re having a moment.

From wrangling silk scarves to adding sparkle to handbags and creating shape at the waist, this once-forgotten accessory is stealing the spotlight again.

Chances are, you already own one (or a few!) tucked away in a jewelry box with stories to tell. I’m sharing modern, creative ways to wear brooches now and why sentimental style feels especially right at this stage of life.

👉 Read the full post on The-Brilliant-Age.com
🔗 Link in bio

#TheBrilliantAge #BroochesAreBack #MidlifeStyle #StyleWithStory #WearWhatYouOwn #ModernClassic #AgelessStyle

Happy birthday to Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the undisputed queen of smart, fearless comedy. From sitcom icon to podcast queen and cultural force, she’s proven that talent, timing, and confidence only sharpen with age. She makes ambition look joyful, humor look intelligent, and success look unapologetic. Here’s to a woman who keeps raising the bar and laughing while she does.
#julialouisdreyfus #agelessstyle #over60women

This week isn’t about doing more. It’s about choosing what matters now. Discover midlife motivation and purpose at The-Brilliant-Age.com, link in bio.

• #MidlifeReinvention
• #IntentionalLiving
• #SecondActLiving
• #MidlifeMotivation
• #PurposeDrivenLife

Happy Quitters Day, the second Friday of January when most New Year's Resolutions are abandoned and old habits are restored. It's also the official end of Dry January for many.

I'm celebrating with a chai latte and chocolate croissant! Onward to a brilliant 2026!

Rebranding isn’t about becoming someone new.
It’s about becoming more you.

In my latest post, I share why your 60s are the perfect moment for a personal rebrand—and a simple framework to help you:
✨ audit what feels outdated
✨ define what matters now
✨ design days that actually fit the woman you are today

Your sixties aren’t a sunset. They’re a spotlight.
Link in bio to read the full post.

#TheBrilliantAge #ReinventAfter60 #PersonalBranding #MidlifeMagic #WomenRewritingTheRules #LifeDesign #AgingWithIntention #MidlifeWomen #Over60Style

Monday is your reminder that your life is still expanding, not shrinking.

I’d love to know—what intention are you setting this week?

Find more inspiration for midlife living—link in bio.
• #TheBrilliantAge
• #MidlifeInspiration
• #WomenOver60
• #MidlifeMindset
• #LifeAfter50

A new year brings a new name—Self in the Sixties is now The Brilliant Age!

Same heart, same voice, with a bigger, brighter vision of midlife and beyond: curious, stylish, intentional, and willing to break a few rules.

Start the year with energy and inspiration. Visit the-brilliant-age.com and join Spark 60, our weekly, one-minute of motivation and magic. Check us out at the link in bio.

#midlifemindset
#TheBrilliantAge
#MidlifeInspiration
#WomenOver60
#MidlifeMindset
#LifeAfter50

60 is its own fabulous, extraordinary adventure ✨ Join me at the-brilliant-age.com

Starting the year with a dose of sunshine!🌞

Your 60s are a wide-open canvas—fresh, bright, and ready for every inspiration, adventure, and bold new beginning you’ve been waiting to claim. The new year offers the ideal clean slate moment, and the world is absolutely ready for what you do next.

#WomenOver60 #MidlifeMagic #ReinventionAfter60 #VibrantLiving #SecondActStyle #InspiredAtAnyAge #SelfInTheSixties

Happy 60-something birthday to Donna Tartt, a Pulitzer Prize–winning author whose haunting, meticulous storytelling has captivated readers for decades. Let's raise a glass to this literary force whose novels continue to resonate, linger, and shape the landscape of modern fiction.

#DonnaTartt #LiteraryIcons #WomenAuthors #PulitzerPrizeWinner #TimelessStories #AgingCreatively #SelfInTheSixties

Bette Davis reshaped the landscape of film with her fierce talent, unforgettable characters, and uncompromising commitment to her craft. Her legacy lives on in every woman who dares to be bold, complex, and impossible to ignore.

#BetteDavis #ClassicHollywood #FilmIcons #WomenInFilm #LegendaryActress #CinemaHistory #SelfInTheSixties

Amelia Earhart showed the world what fearlessness looks like, lifting generations of women with her courage, curiosity, and unstoppable drive to fly beyond every boundary. Her legacy still reminds us that bravery isn’t the absence of fear—it’s the choice to rise anyway.

#AmeliaEarhart #WomenInHistory #FearlessWomen #TrailblazingWomen #InspirationForWomen #WomenWhoLead #SelfInTheSixties

Happy birthday to Donna Brazile—trailblazing political strategist, author, and commentator who has spent decades navigating (and often taming) the wild waves of American politics. Here’s to a 60-something icon who always brings a touch of humor to the national conversation.

#DonnaBrazile #WomenOver60 #AgingBoldly #SelfInTheSixties

Every week, wise and wonderful women open their inboxes to a one-minute jolt of inspiration—something fresh, fun, and totally doable.

From bold lipstick moments to tiny habit shifts to “I-needed-this-today” mindset sparks, the response has been incredible. Women are writing in saying Spark 60 is the brightest thing in their week—and honestly, that lights me up too.

If you want to feel more vibrant, more intentional, more you in this next chapter, click the link in bio and visit selfinthesixties.com
Your future self will thank you.

#Spark60 #TheBrilliantAge #MidlifeInspiration #Women60Plus #VibrantLiving #ReinventionAfter60

Twyla Tharp continues to prove that artistry—and audacity—don’t have an expiration date, redefining what longevity looks like in dance with every bold, breathtaking move. Her lifelong commitment to creativity reminds us that movement, reinvention, and joy are always within reach.

#TwylaTharp #WomenOver60Inspire #LongevityInDance #AgelessCreativity #MidlifeMagic #VibrantAfter60 #SelfInTheSixties

Happy birthday to Daryl Hannah—whose decades-long career began with her iconic turn as a mermaid opposite Tom Hanks and has evolved into a body of work as bold and memorable as she is. Here’s to a 60-something legend who keeps proving that talent, longevity, and reinvention age beautifully.

#DarylHannah #WomenOver60 #IconicActresses #AgingBoldly #FilmLegends #selfinthesixties

Happy birthday to Julianne Moore—an actress whose 60-something glow is matched only by her astonishing range, from unforgettable indie roles to powerhouse performances on Hollywood’s biggest stages. Here’s to a woman who continues to redefine what brilliance, longevity, and fearless storytelling look like.

#JulianneMoore #IconicActresses #WomenOver60 #AgingWithGrace #FilmLegends #TimelessTalent #SelfInTheSixties

Happy 60=something birthday to Ann Patchett—beloved writer, bookstore owner, and creator of some of literature’s most unforgettable, complex women. Her stories remind us how powerful, resilient, and beautifully layered female characters can be.

#annpatchett
#womenwritersofinstagram
#greatbookstoread
#selfinthesixties

As Viola Davis reminds us, aging is not something to hide from—it’s the gift of becoming more ourselves. With every year, we gain depth, strength, and a joy that comes from knowing exactly who we are.

#SelfInTheSixties #WomenOver60 #JoyOfAging #AuthenticAtAnyAge #PowerfulWomen #AgeConfidently #VibrantAfter60 #ThisIs60

Some holiday traditions shift with time, and some stay beautifully constant. Making this recipe is one of mine. I wrote about reimagining holiday traditions on the blog, check it out at the link in bio!

And let me know, should I drop the recipe? 👀

Cheers to the wisdom that comes with age—and the fire that refuses to dim.

#SelfInTheSixties #WomenOver60 #AgeBoldly #PowerfulAtAnyAge #WisdomLooksGoodOnYou #VibrantAfter60

Oprah reminds us that every laugh line and sun-kissed crease is a souvenir from a life well-lived. Wear them proudly; they’re proof of the joy you’ve collected along the way.
#SelfInTheSixties #WomenOver60 #VibrantAfter60 #AgeBoldly #ConfidenceAtAnyAge #AgingIsLiving #EmbraceYourStory

Birthday cheers to the incomparable Diana Krall — your voice gets more captivating every year. You’re proof that elegance only grows richer with time. Keep jazzing up our lives with that timeless cool.
#DianaKrall #JazzLegend #Over60AndFabulous #TimelessElegance #BirthdayVibes #selfinthesixties

When British Vogue asked, “Is Having a Boyfriend Embarrassing Now?”, Gen Z shouted “YES!” But women over 60 have been onto this secret for years: happiness doesn’t hinge on a plus-one.
Read how we’re redefining love and singlehood → selfinthesixties.com or tap the link in bio.
#SelfInTheSixties #SixtyAndSingle #BoyfriendOptional #VibrantAfter60

Ageless, fearless, and redefining what it means to thrive after 60 — happy birthday, Demi! Your confidence and glow are a masterclass in living boldly. Cheers to another year of stunning reinvention!
#DemiMoore #IconAt60Plus #AgelessStyle #WomenOver60 #BirthdayQueen #selfinthesixties

Leave it to a French author born in 1864 to sum up what it means to be an age enthusiast in 2025!

#selfinthesixties #midlifemagic #womenover60 #midlifewomen

Happy birthday to the queen of originality, Tilda Swinton! You’ve turned every red carpet and every role into a work of art. Here’s to another year of striking brilliance and unconventional magic.
#TildaSwinton #ArtInMotion #SixtyPlusStyle #BoldAndUnapologetic #BirthdayIcon

Cheers to the woman who makes it incredibly cool to be called a "Dame."
#judydench #midlifewomenrock #womensupportingwomen #womenover60 #selfinthesixties

Are you a Jackhammer or a Hummingbird? Some of us go deep — one passion, one path, all in. Others flit, explore, and cross-pollinate ideas everywhere we go. Both are beautiful ways to live, especially after 60, when our days finally feel like our own again. My latest blog post explores Elizabeth Gilbert’s idea of Jackhammers vs. Hummingbirds and what it means for women in this wildly creative, curious season of life. Head to selfinthesixties.com or tap the link in bio.

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Inspiration, Conversation, and Hell Yeah!

Lessons from my Sixteen-Year-Old Self: Reclaiming Freedom in our 60s

It’s Time to Change Your Mind

Decision Making Fatigue: Clearing Mental Clutter to Reclaim Energy

The Brooch Is Back—and It’s Having a Brilliant Moment

Rebranding in my 60s: My Most Important Client Ever

Patty Lowell Want to know something about me?

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Why The Brilliant Age?

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Patty
Lowell
Want to know something about me?