When you cross into your sixties, you start to see aging from a very different angle. It’s no longer an abstract idea you read about in books or notice in older relatives—it’s something you feel in your own body, your own routines.

But one thing I’ve learned is that growing older doesn’t mean shrinking into the background.

I’ve been fortunate to spend time with people in their seventies who live with a spark that makes life feel as full as ever. They laugh easily, stay curious, and lean into the years with a grace that’s contagious.

Watching them, I’ve realized that the real art of aging well isn’t about denying the years—it’s about embracing them in ways that make each day feel alive.

Here are eight ways I’ve seen joyful people in their seventies keep life rich and meaningful.

1. They hold on to playfulness

One of the biggest myths about aging is that you have to become overly serious. In fact, some of the most joyful people I know in their seventies are also the most playful.

Psychologists studying resilience note that playfulness is tied to creativity and adaptability. And it doesn’t have to be anything elaborate—play might be cracking a silly joke, making a game out of everyday chores, or dancing around the kitchen while making dinner.

A good friend of mine, now 73, still does impressions of famous politicians at parties. Are they accurate? Not at all. But they get the room laughing every time.

That willingness to be silly keeps everyone around him lighthearted—and it keeps him feeling young.

2. They keep moving, even when it isn’t perfect

There’s no avoiding the fact that our bodies change as we age. Aches become more common, energy can dip, and what used to feel easy takes more effort.

But I’ve noticed that people in their seventies who age well don’t let that stop them from moving.

The CDC notes that physical activity helps protect both mental health and cognitive function as we age.

And it doesn’t need to be a five-mile jog. It can be a slow walk, stretching in the morning, or light gardening. The point is to keep the body engaged.

I walk every morning, and sometimes my knees complain. But whenever I pass by my neighbor, who’s 76 and still making his daily lap with his dog, I’m reminded that consistency matters far more than speed.

3. They cultivate relationships that nourish

Who you spend your time with in later life makes a huge difference. Joyful people in their seventies often have a way of pruning their social circles down to the people who matter most.

Harvard’s 80-year Study of Adult Development found that close relationships are the single strongest predictor of well-being in older age. It’s not about how many friends you have—it’s about the quality of those bonds.

I’ve noticed that the people I admire most at this stage aren’t wasting time on relationships that feel draining.

They’re intentional about investing in friends who make them laugh, family who bring comfort, and communities that give them a sense of belonging.

4. They embrace learning as a lifelong habit

Here’s a question: when does curiosity stop being important? If you ask joyful people in their seventies, the answer is “never.”

Learning new skills or picking up hobbies later in life keeps the brain sharp and creates a sense of forward momentum.

Cognitive research suggests that mentally stimulating activities build “cognitive reserve,” which helps protect against decline.

I’ve seen this in action. A friend in her seventies recently joined a watercolor class. Her first attempts were messy, but the joy in her face was undeniable. She wasn’t chasing mastery—she was chasing curiosity. That mindset alone keeps life fresh.

5. They accept imperfection with grace

By the time you reach your seventies, you’ve lived through enough ups and downs to know life rarely turns out picture-perfect.

The joyful people I know don’t waste energy wishing things had gone differently. They accept their imperfections—and their life’s imperfections—with surprising grace.

For me, this lesson hit home in my own sixties. I caught myself feeling frustrated about how much slower I’ve become in some areas. Then I remembered something I’d just read in Rudá Iandê’s Laughing in the Face of Chaos: A Politically Incorrect Shamanic Guide for Modern Life.

One line jumped out at me:

“When we let go of the need to be perfect, we free ourselves to live fully—embracing the mess, complexity, and richness of a life that’s delightfully real.”

That insight helped me stop fighting the changes. Instead, I’m trying to treat the wrinkles, the slowed pace, and even the setbacks as proof that I’ve lived fully.

Joyful people in their seventies radiate that same perspective—they’ve let go of perfection, and in doing so, they’ve found freedom.

6. They stay present with their emotions

One of the hardest lessons of aging is that you can’t escape loss. Friends pass away, health shifts, routines you once relied on disappear.

But what strikes me about joyful people in their seventies is that they don’t shut down emotionally. They allow themselves to feel.

I’ve seen peers who bottle up sadness or try to power through grief, and it always seems to backfire.

The ones who age with more joy are the ones who talk openly, cry when they need to, and laugh when something’s funny—even if those moments happen all in the same afternoon.

That presence with their own emotions is what makes them so grounding to be around. You can feel that they’ve learned how to ride the waves instead of fighting them.

7. They find meaning in everyday rituals

Meaning doesn’t have to be found in grand gestures or world-changing endeavors. In fact, I think the joyful people I know in their seventies are masters of finding meaning in the small things.

One man I know makes a ritual of sitting on his porch every evening to watch the sunset. A woman I worked with bakes bread every Sunday, giving loaves to her neighbors. For both of them, these ordinary acts aren’t filler—they’re anchors.

Viktor Frankl once wrote that humans can endure almost anything if they can find meaning in it. These rituals, however simple, provide that meaning. They give the day a sense of rhythm and the person a sense of purpose.

8. They give more than they take

Generosity seems to grow with age, at least for the people I admire most.

The joyful ones in their seventies have a way of giving—whether it’s time, wisdom, or a home-cooked meal—without expecting anything in return.

I saw this firsthand at a local community garden. Most of the volunteers were retirees in their seventies. They grew far more vegetables than they could eat themselves, so they donated boxes of fresh produce to a nearby shelter. Watching them, I realized that giving wasn’t a duty for them—it was a joy.

That’s the heart of it: giving makes life feel bigger. And for people in their seventies who give freely, life really does stay full.

Final thoughts

The art of aging well has little to do with fighting time. It has everything to do with how you meet it.

People who still live life loud and hearty in their seventies remind me that aging isn’t a narrowing of life but a deepening of it.

Watching them, I find myself not dreading the years ahead, but looking forward to them. Because fullness isn’t about age—it’s about perspective.