7 Rules for Finding Love in Your 70s (4 of 4)

Respect the past that made you both

By your seventies, nobody arrives as a blank slate. We come with baggage, some dog-eared, some painful, all part of the full package deal. The goal isn’t to erase those pages; it’s to honour them without letting them run the show. That means listening without judgment, accepting that ex-partners, old friends, and fully grown children are part of the landscape, and being open about the big topics like money, family, health, and faith that hold one’s life together. You don’t need to deliver your entire autobiography on date two. You do need to be honest about the things that matter, so you can build something sturdy on top of them.

Focus on things that really matter

After 70, you know what’s worth fussing over and what isn’t. You stop auditioning for approval. You invest your energy where it pays dividends: being together, laughing often, and supporting each other. This might mean moving houses, traveling, or simply refining the art of the perfect shared Sunday: a walk, a concert, a meal, and a bedtime cup of tea. You don’t need grand gestures to feel lucky and loved. All you need is each other.