Author: Alison Hazel – Updated: January 2026

💛 Third Age Art

This article is part of my Third Age Art series where I celebrate the joy of making art later in life. These posts are all about starting fresh or continuing your creative journey as a mature artist with curiosity confidence and plenty of heart.

Don’t Let the Old Lady In

The Old Man

A Thought Worth Noticing

In a recent interview, Clint Eastwood, now 95 years old, said that every morning as he woke up and felt a little creak or twinge in his body that he says to himself, “Don’t let the old man in.” This refers to how easy it would be to just give up and let the old man in.

Who Is the Old Man

A Door Left Ajar

The old man is who you can easily turn into if you are not careful.

Don’t Let the Old Lady In

A Quiet Promise to Yourself

As a woman, I see this phrase from my perspective. Not the old man, but the old woman or as we are now saying, the old lady. The old lady may try to come in to me on some days, not all the time, but certainly on some days.

The days when I’m feeling tired.
The days when I wake up and feel creaky.
The days when I’m feeling beaten down by life.
The days when I feel weak and my body is letting me down.
The days when I give up.
The days when I’m too weary to go on.

Those are the days that the old lady comes in.

The days I let the old lady in.

Hobby Artist

The Voice In Your Head

As a hobby artist you may feel that you’re not very good at art. You may think what’s the point of doing art because even your children poke fun at you. You feel your grandkids can draw better than you.

Fear not. It is your God given right to be creative and make something every day. To create something that was not there when you woke up, but which you created, by yourself, during the course of that day.

Art Practice

Small Daily Devotions

Do not let a single day pass without touching your art in some small way. It does not have to be big or impressive. It only has to be done.

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If you are a writer write 100 words.
If you are a singer sing one song.
If you are a weaver weave ten rows.
If you are a knitter knit ten rows.
If you are a crocheter crochet ten rounds.
If you are a watercolorist paint with one color.
If you are an acrylic artist add one more color to the page.
If you make wooden bird houses cut sand or glue a little wood.

The list goes on.

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Daily Habits

Just Show Up

The habit to focus on right now is simply showing up. Pick up your pen brush hammer needle or hook and do a little art. That is enough for today. Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman reminds us that our brains are flexible and always learning. Through simple daily habits we gently create pathways that support being the kind of person we want to be such as an artist.

Twenty-Nine Days

Learning by Repetition

It takes 29 days to establish a habit. That is how long the Moon takes to orbit the Earth. When you were born, you could not tie a shoelace, but with practice you learned. Now you can whip out a bow lickety-split without even thinking about it because you’ve created the learned pathway in your brain.

Old Lady Days

When Energy Slips away

When you let the old lady in a few things may happen:

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You stop doing creative work.
You let the pain overwhelm you.
You stop taking a walk in nature for your mental health to relieve your stress and anxiety.
You stop making stuff.
You stop creating your art.
You don’t eat properly.
You get lax with your personal grooming.
You forget to do the housework.
You avoid your family and friends.
You kind of give up on life.

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There may be other things which happen to you specifically, but these are the things I am wrangling with all the time.

Who Are You?

A Choice Each Day

Will you be the person who stays on the couch barely moving through the day? Or will you be the person who goes to bed and can softly say, “Yes, today I created, I am an artist and I did not let the old lady in.” Then you can sleep. The deep satisfying sleep of the creator

What I Wish for You

To Keep Creating

If you are reading this then please let me tell you what I wish for you.

I want you to create every day.

God is a creator. The first sentence in the Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and earth.” We are made in his image and so we are naturally creative beings.

Lean into your creative side.

Your cat or dog are not creative. The chimp in the zoo, who has the closest DNA to us humans, is not creative, but we are. We are inherently creative.

It is your talent to be creative every day.

Creativity as Companionship

Always Beside You

As we move through life there are times when people drift away, routines change or the days feel a little quieter. Creativity does not leave.

Your art can be like a steady companion who meets you exactly where you are without judgement or expectation. It does not care how old you are, how fast you work or how good the outcome is. It simply sits with you hopes you will begin and it keeps you company while you do.

On days when the world feels cold, hard and distant, your creative practice can feel like a trusted friend reminding you that you are still here, still capable and still creating.

Your Future Self

Already Cheering

Before you reach the end imagine yourself a few months from now. Perhaps there is a small pile of sketches, pages, rows or finished pieces beside you. These gorgeous creations exist only because you kept showing up.

That future version of you feels calmer, steadier and quietly proud. She is cheering you on reminding you that every small creative act you did mattered.

Overarch

Is She Visiting?

Have you let the old lady in? When you let her in does she hang about for days at a time? Or do you consciously not let the old lady in?

P.S.

A Gentle Reminder

You don’t have to do everything at once. As you go about your day, be creative in some way, so you can tell yourself, when you tuck yourself in tonight, “Yes, today I created.”

More Resources

Shop Don’t Let the Old Lady In Merch

Original Artworks

Enjoy a Don’t Let the Old Lady In mug featuring my original artwork. Each art piece is created by me and printed on everyday items you can actually use and enjoy. It is a simple way to bring a little Don’t Let the Old Lady In energy and handmade art into your daily life. Alison

Author Bio: Alison Hazel

Alison Hazel is a hobby artist and she shares her ongoing journey about becoming an artist later in life. She creates simple art that anyone can make. She hopes to inspire you to reach your creative potential in the area that suits you.

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