Love

Written by Grace Pow

When I read online feature articles about Ms Iris Apfel (USA) and Ms Deborah Woo (Hong Kong) the first time, I could not help being attracted by both of them mainly because of their fashion sense and colourful apparels. Wearing bright-coloured clothes always makes me feel dynamic.

Then I started reading more about their news and interviews in detail. Not only do I love their taste, but also their positive attitudes towards life. Though they are 90+ and 60+ respectively, ageing does not affect their enthusiasm and passion for work.

Iris celebrated her 100^th birthday in 2021. She has stated that she would never retire since work gives her vitality. Iris reminded us that age is just a number. Everyone will experience ageing. We have to learn how to accept it instead of feeling trapped. To live young, we have to be like a child who is willing to face new experiences and challenges. If so, we can enjoy a wonderful life.

Deborah used to be a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of an international company. After her retirement, she is still very proactive in doing something new and different in her life. Through online social platforms, Deborah shares her experiences with her fans. Being a magazine model, she influences her readers with her childlike innocence. Deborah hopes that every woman can unleash their full potential irrespective of their age and backgrounds.

Iris and Deborah have proved to me how wonderful it is to be alive. Getting old is not what we should be afraid of. What is so scary ageing is when we consider retirement as the end of our life and there is nothing we can do. In fact, each stage of life is unique. We can certainly have a fruitful life if we retain our childlike innocence.

Though many people believe that older adults should wear dark clothes since it symbolises maturity, I still love my colourful outfits.