On May 26, 2026, I turned seventy.
A remarkable age, I suppose. What is it like? Here are a few of my reflections.
Today — May 26, 2026 — I turn seventy years old. And yes, old age has now officially begun.
There are more years behind me than there are ahead of me. Yet I feel no heaviness, only a quiet sense of wonder. So far, growing older has been one of the most beautiful journeys of my life. I feel as though I am slowly ascending toward the source of myself — becoming more and more who I truly am. As if I am gently laying down a role that I have played with all my heart and soul, releasing it with love and gratitude.
My body is no longer as fast, strong, or flexible as it once was. But what I lose physically is more than compensated for by what is awakening within my mind and soul. It feels as though the walls of personality that once limited me are beginning to softly crumble away. Beyond those walls there is no emptiness, but an infinite living space — a quiet, radiant vastness filled with shimmering stars.
To be human on Earth also means choosing, at times, fear and loneliness. I have known both. Now I am slowly letting them go. I have learned from them and seen how deeply they influence humanity. The remarkable thing is that letting go and connecting go hand in hand. The more I release, the deeper I connect: with the people who truly live in my heart, and with the Earth itself. I feel gratitude for every moment of my life.
The performance-driven world, the noise, and the chaos of modern times I leave behind with a smile — fortunately, I never lost myself in them. What remains is a clear and quiet love for this living planet. For the wind moving through the trees, the light dancing on the water, the stillness of the forests. Never before have I felt so intimately connected to Mother Earth.
I carry this heart connection with Gaia wherever I go.
She remains.
I do not know how many seasons are still granted to me. But for as long as I am here, I hope to share something of the inner landscapes I have been allowed to witness — the peace, the love, and the quiet magnificence that continue to unfold within me.
Gerrit Gielen
www.gerrit-gielen.net