I am anti-ageing. I found my own antidote after two years of self-reflection. But that’s getting ahead of the story.

When I turned 50 I had this disquieting feeling of being written off. I am single. I live a comfy life. I am wrapped in a loving embrace of family and friends. I love working. I have spent more than half of my life building a career in advertising, fortunate enough to experience overseas job stints. But…

The idea that my days as a productive career woman may be numbered jolted me like a bolt of lightning. This was amplified when I found out that 55 is the retiring age in Thailand, where I was working until recently. The question “Does this mean I only have five years to go and I am done?” suddenly became a nagging voice in my head that just won’t shut up.

Intrusive thoughts (mostly about disparaging beliefs and stereotypical labels) started creeping in. Irrelevance and discrimination at work and being branded a ‘has been’ or old school are but some that swirled in my head. Because of the number. Because of my age. 

Deep inside I refuse to be relegated to an “outbox”. I am still young. I still have dreams. I still want to contribute my talent and skills to society.  I’ve worked so hard that I simply cannot just let go. 

Phantom negative thoughts of ageing mounted for two years. I am now 52. I spent the last couple of years under COVID reflecting on “Where do I go from here?” with the help of research and my closest friends. 

Two things happened in two years. First, by digging deeper into ageism I found new confidence. Second, I decided to reinvent myself for future proofing, guided by insights of those who have been “there” and experts.  

Dialogue on ageism seems to be lagging behind.  To be blunt about it, I think stories on sexual preference, women and gender inequality (all good, by the way) have been overly discussed and dissected to a point that they are now popular narratives for films, documentaries, books, TV dramas and corporate boardrooms.  

Ageism, on the other hand, is under-discussed. Sure, the Internet has tons of information on the subject. But I noticed that many are clinical, medical and marketing in aspect.  What became clear to me is this: age is a potent benchmark for which people are judged to classify their abilities and capabilities. Me, included.

There’s a “coming of age” film genre, where the protagonist’s journey from adolescence to adulthood is portrayed. This made me ponder. 

I think “coming of age” shouldn’t strictly pertain to a child transitioning into an adult. In reality, we all go through “coming of age” phases in life. At my age, I am in the early years of what psychologists refer to as Third Age period – an era of personal achievement and fulfillment. In layman’s term, it is a phase when those 50 and above are free to pursue their own dreams and set new goals. Why? Because they’re done with filial responsibilities, such as providing for their family, sending their kids (or younger siblings) to school, building a home, climbing corporate ladders and so on. 

Being single at my age means I can pursue whatever I want without excess baggage and guilt to weigh me down. So I packed my bags and bid Thailand adieu just a few weeks ago. I’m taking things into my own hands and truly living my life: new dream, new purpose. 

I’ve now set up two businesses: a start-up resource pool matching client needs and talents, and the other is a tailored service for Third Age generation. Wish me luck!

Having worked with big network agencies all my life, I’m putting my decades of experience on these two enterprises to make a difference for myself that can have a positive influence on others. 

I welcome this new age with an armour of self-awareness, self-assurance and self-confidence. I am more forgiving of others, and less apologetic about myself.  I am more ambitious than ever knowing I have nothing to lose but everything to gain.  More importantly, I am gung-ho in anticipating what life has to offer.  

Someone once said, “50s is the new 30s”... Wow, if this were true, then nothing can stop me from learning new things, expanding my horizon and just living a life that I can shape for my future – with the same zeal as when I was in my 30s.

Cathy Siapno | guest contributor | ws 

“A force of nature” is how a former client describes Cathy, the founder and CEO of the newly-launched GUS. She has led global brands across five markets, speaks six languages (soon to be seven) and was key to turning many challenger brands into #1 position. Her appetite for challenging the status quo knows no bounds. She is someone you’d want in your corner when you find yourself in a pickle. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cathyvsiapno |   https://www.linkedin.com/company/gus-collective