Bernard O'Shea: I met with two professional life coaches, here's what I learned

Letting go of the pressure to stay young, I discovered the freedom and wisdom that come with embracing my age.

Bernard O'Shea. Photograph Moya Nolan

"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Mark Twain might have been onto something with that one. As I hit a certain age, I found myself caught between the urge to cling to my youth and the realisation that maybe, just maybe, it was time to let go. But what does “letting go” mean when it comes to ageing? And how do we do it?

Not long ago, I caught a glimpse of myself in the bathroom mirror under the unforgiving light of an LED bulb created by a scientist who wants you to feel bad about yourself. There it was — a new deep wrinkle right across my forehead. My first thought? Did I cut myself? My second thought? Maybe it’s time to stop fighting this whole ageing thing.