Dancing Through Retirement: How Ruby Discovered New Passions After 60

Ruby, at the age of 65, is full of energy. She retired a few years back as a senior office assistant from a public sector undertaking and chose to stay active. Her philosophy is simple: "Age is no limit or barrier to learning." After retirement, she embraced this belief wholeheartedly and decided to take on new challenges and follow old ones. Her journey of self-discovery began during the COVID-19 pandemic when she joined an online community platform focused on enrichment activities for seniors. She says, “I joined an online platform in 2021, and it helped me transition into retired life," and adds, “I saw it on Facebook, but I casually glanced through it and then joined the Facebook group. I was not very serious about it at first."

Throughout her life, she has always enjoyed travelling, participating in marathons, taking walks in nature, and watching movies while indulging in 'Mishti Doi' and 'Roshogullas', she found a new passion after retirement. She found herself drawn to something unexpected: dance.

Her casual interest transformed into a passion when she discovered dance classes led by one of the instructors on the online platform. "I became interested and started attending dance classes regularly. Since then, I have regularly participated in the dance class."

For Ruby, this newfound passion came as a surprise. "Dance is something that I never thought I would pursue, but at this age, I learned how to dance, and I'm very happy with myself," she shares with pride. She credits her dance teachers for helping her learn how to express herself while dancing.

The benefits extend beyond just learning new steps. She shares that dance classes improved her physical fitness, boosted her confidence, and enhanced her overall well-being. But her exploration did not stop there.

She embraced technology classes. She also made yoga and pranayama part of her daily routine with the help of another instructor on the platform. "Even on days I am not regular to join many classes, I make sure to try to join my yoga and pranayama classes every day," she explains. She also participated in the platform's 45-day fitness challenge, which helped her maintain a healthy lifestyle.

She has also formed valuable friendships with other members of the group. The connections, which began online, blossomed into real-life relationships through local meet-ups in Kolkata and group trips.

She fondly recalls, "We had a Kolkata Meet where we all gathered, had fun, and became friends. We mingled with games, food, laughter, and dance." This elderly woman eagerly embarked on organised adventurous trips to Dubai and Goa with her group members.

"The Dubai trip was something new and different for me. It was organised with our age and convenience in mind, unlike the commercial tours we find nowadays," Ruby explains. She even created a vlog of her experience. For her, the Goa trip offered her a fresh perspective on a destination she had visited before. This time, she found herself to be learning “a lot about Goan culture”. She reminisces about the beautiful houses, local food, and traditional Goan dances and Fenny while sharing her memories from the trip.

As Ruby continues to dance through life's second act, her story is a reminder that learning, growth, and adventure have no age limit. She exemplifies how active ageing, supported by a community and opportunities to learn and connect, can lead to a fulfilling and vibrant life.