At 91 years old, Sally-Jane Heit has distilled a lifetime of ambition, reinvention, and resilience into her own personal philosophy that would, no doubt, benefit us all. A writer and performer, her reflections and musings offer profound wisdom on the art of living fully—on embracing the unknown, the power of personal liberation, and the simple but extraordinary value of each breath. She was recently asked to complete the Oldster Magazine Questionnaire, and she did. Here is the distilled wisdom from the questions asked and answered.
The Milestone That Matters
In a world focused on “what’s next,” Sally-Jane speaks of looking forward not to grand achievements or societal milestones, but simply to her next breath. “The party, the celebration, is that next breath. I do not need one more thing.” Her refreshing perspective is a radical invitation to cherish the now. And while she admits that this wisdom was something she grew into, it is a reminder to all of us regardless of our age that fulfillment is not in what’s ahead, but in the miracle of existing in this moment.
Lesson for Everyone: We are conditioned to chase achievements, to measure progress by external markers—promotions, accolades, acquisitions. But what if the real prize is simply being here, now? The greatest celebration of life is in our ability to experience it, one breath at a time.
Sing Your Own Song
For many decades, Sally-Jane followed the expectations set before her, playing roles dictated by society. It wasn’t until her fifth decade of life that she truly began to sing her own song. “I am the power to be in my own life…therein lies the reward.”
How many of us spend years or entire lifetimes living to please others, to meet the standards imposed upon us? Breaking free from this script is one of life’s greatest transformations.
Lesson for Everyone: Are you singing your own song, or still humming someone else’s tune? True freedom comes when you recognize your own power, when you step outside the roles handed to you and claim the life that is uniquely yours.
I Don’t Know
Sally-Jane once believed that growing up meant finally having all the answers. But the deeper she ventured into life, the more she realized how much she didn’t know. “It’s such a relief that I don’t have to bring the sun up every morning. That was exhausting. Today, questions are my safety net. Will I stop questioning? Never.”
Certainty can be comforting, but it is also limiting. Clinging to rigid beliefs can close us off from new discoveries and experiences. The willingness to say “I don’t know” is an act of humility and an opening to endless possibilities.
Lesson for Everyone: Embrace curiosity over certainty. Let go of the pressure to have all the answers. Instead, lean into the questions—because that is where growth, wonder, and wisdom are found.
Aging Is Not a Slow Decline—It’s an Evolution
There is no doubt that for many aging can be a fearful process of loss, but Sally-Jane sees it as a continued unfolding of experience. “It’s not the years in my life but the life in my years that matter.” She refuses to be discounted, embraces movement, and continues to create and contribute.
Aging, she suggests, is not about diminishing. It’s about refining. It’s about shedding what no longer serves us, stepping more fully into who we are, and continuing to give back with the wisdom we’ve gathered along the way.
Lesson for Everyone: What if we saw aging not as an erosion, but as an evolution? Every year offers us more depth, more humor, more clarity. Instead of lamenting what time takes, we can celebrate what it gives: a richer, fuller understanding of what it means to be alive.
The Dance Goes On
Sally-Jane’s life could be seen as a dance, sometimes choreographed, sometimes improvised, but always vibrant. At 91, she is still dancing. Her philosophy is a reminder that life doesn’t stop being an adventure just because the years add up. If anything, the adventure only deepens.
We would all do well to follow her lead: to take a breath, embrace the unknown, and keep dancing to our own song.
If you’re interested in making your second (or third) act as exciting as Sally-Jane’s, learn more about living at 100% for 100 years or more. Use her as an inspiration for living your ideal 100 Year LifestyleⓇ, starting today!
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