Note To Self When You Know Better, You Do Better In the latest Note To Self, Future Women editor Emily Brooks explores the power of age and experience. By Emily J. Brooks Note To Self In the latest Note To Self, Future Women editor Emily Brooks explores the power of age and experience. By Emily J. Brooks Previous article Reprogramming Your Brain To Present With Confidence Next article The Power Of Automating Your Finances I have an odd relationship with age. It is also a good relationship, which is odd, because most women generally don’t have a good relationship with age. Birthday parties are another story, but age and I are on excellent terms. I’m usually told I feel good about age, and look forward to every age, because I’m still young. Then there’s the counterargument: You! Shouldn’t! Wish! Your! Life! Away! But I’m not. I’m just looking forward to it. All of it. I’ve never really found anyone who agreed with me until Maya Angelou appeared in this interview and ever since then, I’ve pretended we’re friends. Because she summed up my feelings around age better than I ever could when she said this: “I never remember being anxious about it, even when I was very young. I always wanted to reach that other age, as far as I can remember. I thought that if I could live to be 20, it was going to be really wonderful. And then 30, my goodness, it was a knockout. Every age, I’ve been grateful.”But my All Time Favourite Maya Angelou Sentence (and Maya Angelou has many) arrived in a discussion about her 80s. She and Oprah were chatting (as they do) about the fact Maya was 85, and when Oprah asked (as she does) about Maya’s thoughts on 80 she said this: “Do it, if you can.” I don’t think age has ever been better surmised. Do it, if you can. Because every age, no matter what laugh lines or crows feet or botox it brings with it, is a blessing. And you should do it, if you can. Each decade, I believe, gets better and if it doesn’t, I definitely know you do. Which brings me to another story about Oprah and Maya Angelou, because I really don’t mention Oprah enough in this newsletter. notetoself Best Of Future Women Wellbeing How to escape the dopamine trap By Dr Anastasia Hronis Self Two ducks and a Chick walk into the wilderness By Odessa Blain Wellbeing How can you be ‘authentic’ at work? By Steph Tisdell Wellbeing Awww, you shouldn’t have. By FW Wellbeing We’ve discovered burnout’s kryptonite By FW Wellbeing How to be proactive without rushing through life By Michelle Brasier Wellbeing Why an HRT shortage is a mental health issue By FW Wellbeing Burn bright, not out By Eden Timbery Your inbox just got smarter If you’re not a member, sign up to our newsletter to get the best of Future Women in your inbox.