Identity Beyond Age or Stage, Balance Exercises for Stability, and Tax-Efficient Investing in 2026

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History (Non-Fiction): William Dalrymple reveals how the East India Company rose from a trading business to a force that reshaped India.

Memoir: Katharine Graham reflects on leading The Washington Post through some of America's most defining moments.

Self-Help: Alan Watts explores how letting go of constant worry about the future can lead to a more fulfilling life.

Romance: A lonely witch finds friendship, family, and unexpected love after accepting a job teaching three magical children.

Check a few boxes, and we’ll match you with trusted options and initial consultations—many completely free—across insurance, housing, travel, finances, and more. It takes about five minutes, and you’re not committing to anything—just seeing what can save you time and energy.

For much of life, identity is tied to a particular role or stage. Student. Parent. Professional. Caregiver. Retiree. Empty nester. These labels can feel useful because they help explain where someone is in life at a given moment. 

Over time, though, many people realize that identity is far more layered—and far less fixed—than any single label can fully capture.

Certain responsibilities naturally come and go over the years. Careers end, children grow up, schedules shift, and routines evolve.

But underneath those changing roles, many core qualities often remain surprisingly consistent:

People may express these traits differently at different ages, but the traits themselves often persist across decades and life stages.

Interestingly, parts of our identity that once seemed lost sometimes reappear later in life. Someone who loved painting in their twenties may begin sketching again years later. A former musician may pick up an instrument after it collected dust for ages. A lifelong fascination with history, gardening, architecture, trains, cooking, or storytelling can suddenly resurface once there is more space to pursue it.

Sometimes interests can be determined more by schedules than by passion. As a result, when our free time expands, our identity frequently expands alongside it.

People of the same age frequently live very differently. Among retirees, for example, one person may travel constantly, another may be deeply involved with their grandchildren. and yet another may take up community gardening.

We so often look to age as an indicator of who a person is, yet this fact reveals surprisingly little about someone’s personality, priorities, energy, or emotional outlook.

Many people expect identity to solidify completely at some point, as if a certain day comes when a person becomes fully themself. Experience often proves otherwise.

New friendships, interests, routines, perspectives, and abilities continue to emerge throughout life. Certain traits become stronger. Others soften. Some priorities disappear entirely, while new ones arrive unexpectedly.

Even when life may look stagnant from the outside, growth continues internally.

One reason identity feels complex is that different relationships bring out different sides of a person. Someone may be reflective with one friend, playful with grandchildren, highly organized in volunteer work, and deeply creative when alone at home.

People may get to know you as you are in a single role, but no role can capture a whole person.

Over time, many people become less interested in fitting neatly into expected categories. Instead of trying to match what a certain “stage of life” is supposed to look like, they become more comfortable building routines, interests, and relationships that genuinely suit their individual needs.

That freedom, in turn, leads to a stronger sense of self.

Identity continues unfolding throughout life. While roles and stages change repeatedly, the deeper parts of personality, curiosity, values, and connection remain far more expansive than any single label can describe.

We're looking for seniors who are embracing life with enthusiasm, purpose, and adventure. Whether you're traveling the world, starting a business, volunteering, pursuing a passion, learning new skills, or simply making the most of every day, we'd love to hear your story.

Think that might be you?

Email [email protected] with a photo and a short bio. We may feature you in an upcoming edition of Seniors Magazine.

The discount: Barnes & Noble’s Senior Discount Days

What it gives you: Select stores host senior shopping events or offer senior discount days for customers age 55+. Participation varies by location.

How to claim it: Check with your local store for current senior savings events.

Reading the Obituaries Before the Headlines
From the life overview of Marian D., 80, Indianapolis, Indiana. Shared with permission.

When I was young, I couldn't understand why older people read the obituaries.

The news was in the front section. Politics, sports, weather, markets—surely that was where the important things were happening. The obituaries seemed like a place people eventually graduated to for reasons I couldn't imagine.

Then, one day, I found myself turning there first.

Not every day, and not out of morbid curiosity. I read them because, after enough years in one place, names begin to mean something. The high school teacher whose classes everyone remembered. The pharmacist who always recognized your voice before you said your name. The woman who organized the church bake sale for thirty years without ever seeking credit for it.

A community slowly becomes a collection of familiar strangers.

The obituaries remind me that every ordinary face in the grocery store has lived a life far more complicated than appearances suggest. Someone was a machinist for forty years. Someone else raised five children, coached Little League, played the trumpet, loved fly-fishing, or never missed a Friday night football game.

Most of those stories would have remained unknown to me otherwise.

I still read the headlines.

But the obituaries have taught me something the headlines rarely do.

History is often written through events.

Life is remembered through people.

***

Do you want to record your beliefs and hopes for future generations?
Have Your Legacy Letter Written

The Biodiversity Heritage Library Flickr Collection
Millions of illustrations from centuries-old natural history books have been carefully digitized and shared through this remarkable online gallery. From brilliantly colored birds to intricate botanical drawings and marine life, the artwork is as beautiful as it is informative. It's a peaceful way to spend time with nature through the eyes of early scientific illustrators.

The Linda Hall Library Digital Collections
The Linda Hall Library has digitized rare books, scientific illustrations, engineering drawings, and historical maps that trace centuries of discovery and innovation. The collection makes it easy to explore everything from astronomy to architecture at your own pace. It's a fascinating resource for anyone who enjoys learning how ideas have shaped the modern world.

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This daily section is brought to you by MemoirGhostwriting.com, experts in capturing life stories for loved ones and/or the public.

Take a few minutes to jot down your thoughts. Even a few sentences are a memory preserved for loved ones. Some people begin by writing on their own—or even using AI tools—but many eventually decide they’d rather simply talk and have their story shaped into something lasting. That’s where we come in.

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Many of us have a mental list of books we've always meant to read. Maybe they were assigned in school when life was too busy to appreciate them, or perhaps you've simply never gotten around to them. Retirement—or simply having a little more free time—can be the perfect opportunity to revisit these timeless stories with fresh eyes.

There's no rule that says you have to begin with the longest or most challenging classics. If you enjoy adventure, try Treasure Island or The Count of Monte Cristo. If you prefer thoughtful novels, consider Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, or The Picture of Dorian Gray. Reading something that genuinely interests you makes it much easier to build a lasting habit.

Many classic works are available free through Project Gutenberg, which offers more than 75,000 public-domain eBooks that can be read online or downloaded for e-readers, tablets, and computers.

Your local library remains one of the best places to discover classic literature. If you have a library card, you may also be able to borrow eBooks and audiobooks through Libby, allowing you to read or listen without leaving home.

If you'd like to build your own collection, Everyman's Library publishes beautifully bound editions of many literary classics, while Penguin Classics offers hundreds of affordable editions with helpful introductions and notes.

Some older books include unfamiliar historical references or language. Reading a short introduction beforehand can make the story much easier to follow. The British Library offers articles and essays on many classic authors and literary movements, while SparkNotes provides chapter summaries and character guides if you'd like a little extra help along the way.

There's no deadline and no quiz waiting at the end. Read a chapter each morning, enjoy a few pages before bed, or listen to an audiobook while taking a walk. The goal isn't to finish as many books as possible—it's to finally experience the stories that have captivated readers for generations.

You may find that the books you once overlooked become some of your favorite companions, offering fresh insights, memorable characters, and the pleasure of discovering a classic exactly when you're ready for it.

Nearly every phone, tablet, computer, and app has a Settings menu. Think of it as the control center where you decide how your device works instead of accepting the default options.

Settings let you adjust text size, screen brightness, volume, notification preferences, Wi-Fi connections, passwords, and privacy options. Many devices also include accessibility features such as larger fonts, magnification, voice control, closed captions, hearing aid compatibility, and color adjustments to make technology easier to use.

If an app keeps making sounds you don't want, a website's text is too small, or your battery seems to drain quickly, the solution is often found in the Settings menu. You can also review which apps have permission to access your camera, microphone, location, or contacts and turn off any permissions you don't want to grant.

Don't be afraid to explore. Most settings can be changed back if you don't like the results, and many devices include a search box at the top of the Settings menu. Typing a word like "font," "Bluetooth," or "password" can take you directly to the option you're looking for.

Learning where Settings are located is one of the most useful technology skills because it helps you make your devices work the way you want them to.

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Unmissable American gem: Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin is a charming lakeside village known for its crystal-clear waters, historic resorts, and welcoming small-town atmosphere that create a peaceful and refreshing escape.

Looking for travel planning help? Fill out this form.

Unscramble the letters to find a famous person, event, or object. Think you know it? Reply with your answer and show off your brainpower.

Today’s clue: Cloth carried in a pocket or purse.

RKEDNFIHECAH

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