10 Things a 77-Year-Old Stopped Doing To Become Happier Than Ever

Markets tumbled as tech sell-off and Fed uncertainty spooked investors

The quick scan: U.S. stocks fell sharply on Thursday 13 Nov after a spike in tech losses and signals from Federal Reserve officials that rate cuts may be further off than hoped. The slide in AI- and growth-heavy names triggered a broader pull-back.

S&P 500: -1.66% to 6,737.49 – pulled back from recent highs, reflecting rising caution
Dow Jones: -1.65% to 47,457.22 – declined sharply despite recent record close
NASDAQ: -2.29% to 22,870.36 – led the drop, hit by major tech/AI stocks under pressure

What’s driving it: The market’s recent gains had largely been fuelled by tech momentum and hopes of imminent rate cuts. But with the government shutdown over and key economic data looming, investor focus has shifted to whether those tailwinds will sustain. Tech stocks like NVDA and TSLA slid as valuation concerns resurfaced and rate-cut odds fell

Bottom line: For L-Plate Retirees this means: the backdrop just turned a little more volatile, not catastrophic. It’s a moment to check the parts of your portfolio exposed to growth-risk (especially tech) and ensure your wealth plan is built for resilience. Capitalise on opportunities when the market is nervous – and tighten up around protection and diversification.

At 77 and Happier Than Ever – Because I Stopped Doing These Things

The scoop: Graeme Richards thought happiness peaked somewhere in mid-life. First he believed it would arrive after retirement. Then he assumed it belonged to the young. But now, at 77, he is clear on one thing: real happiness didn’t come from travel, comfort or slowing down. It came when he stopped doing certain things that drained his peace without him realising. Happiness, he writes, isn’t about addition. It’s about subtraction.

He shares ten things he stopped doing – each one a lesson for anyone moving through their 50s, 60s and beyond. They are not hacks, and they aren’t about perfect routines. They are about the internal shifts that free up emotional space, energy and presence later in life.

1. He stopped trying to keep up. For decades he compared himself to others who were richer, faster, earlier in everything. But the people he admired most weren’t doing the most. They were simply at peace. Slowing down became a kind of expansion. When he stopped rushing, life got wider.

2. He stopped saying yes out of guilt. Being the reliable one had become a habit – until he realised every unnecessary yes was stealing time from rest, reflection and real relationships. Saying no became an act of wisdom, not defiance.

3. He stopped replaying the past. Regrets stayed with him for years until he realised the past wasn’t asking to be fixed. It was asking to be blessed. That shift – from self-criticism to self-compassion – was a turning point.

4. He stopped chasing comfort at all costs. Comfort feels safe, especially after 70, but too much becomes a cage. Trying tai chi, learning new tech, taking small trips – each discomfort made him feel alive again.

5. He stopped trying to control others’ happiness. Particularly with his adult children. He realised people grow through struggle, and he didn’t need to be the emotional manager of everyone’s lives.

6. He stopped believing every thought he had. Younger Graeme took his thoughts as truth. Older Graeme sees them as clouds that pass. Non-identification brought peace.

7. He stopped tying his worth to productivity. Without work he feared he’d vanish. Instead, he found presence in slower rhythms. Life moved from checklists to moments.

8. He stopped holding onto draining relationships. Some friendships were built on memory, not mutual care. Letting them fade created surprising lightness.

9. He stopped worrying about how he looked. His granddaughter called the lines on his face “rivers”. A moment so tender it changed the way he saw ageing.

10. He stopped chasing happiness. Instead of treating joy like a horizon, he started noticing it in the small rituals of the day – coffee, laughter, sunlight, conversations.

Ageing, he writes, isn’t just about loss. If you stay curious, it becomes a process of gain: clarity, peace, gratitude, and the freedom to be who you actually are. The psychology behind this is real – research shows that psychological flexibility, the ability to let go and adapt, predicts healthier, happier ageing.

At 77, he is happier not because life softened, but because he softened his grip on everything that didn’t matter.

Actionable Takeaways for L-Plate Retirees:

• Let go of comparison: If you’re still measuring your progress against others’ timelines, notice it and release it. Ageing expands when you stop trying to keep up.

• Say no without guilt: Protect your energy. Every unnecessary yes drains time from what actually brings joy.

• Practice compassionate reflection, not regret replay: When your mind drifts to the past, remind yourself you did the best you could with what you knew.

• Choose a stretch over comfort once a week: Try something slightly awkward or new – a class, a trip, a new skill. Growth needs courage more than youth.

• Declutter relationships: Prioritise the people who leave you lighter, not heavier. Peace is a form of wealth.

• Redefine beauty and presence: Treat your lines, pace, and rhythm as landmarks of a life lived rather than losses to fix.

Your turn:
Which of the ten things resonates with you most?
What is one thing you could stop doing this week that would create space for more joy?
What habit of thought or behaviour is quietly stealing your peace — and how might you let it go?

👉 Hit reply and share your thoughts – your answers could inspire fellow readers in future issues.

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