Rust, Smoke… and Restart: Why Older People Still Matter

A few weeks ago, while waiting for the birth of my second grandchild, I spent time on a farm. Having lived in the city most of my life, the slower pace of farm life charmed me. I loved seeing the animals on my drives to the shops and enjoyed the simplicity of it all.

But the most fascinating thing I saw wasn’t the sheep or the sunsets—it was an old tractor.

It had been towed in and left standing in the sun. One tyre was flat, parts were rusted and seized, and just by looking at it I thought: “That thing will never run again. It’s done. No more value left.”

One morning, though, I saw the farmhands gather around it. They pumped up the tyres, greased the joints, added oil to the right places, and turned the key.

The engine spluttered, shook, blew smoke… and died. Everyone walked away, and I thought to myself: “Well, that’s it.”
But the next morning, they came back—with a few more parts, a bit more time, and renewed determination. Again, they worked carefully. Again, they turned the key.

And then, last week, I watched that same tractor putter past me. No longer a heap of rust, but an active member of farm life once more.

Watching this unfold made me think deeply about people in our society—especially older people.

Too often, we assume they’ve lost their “usefulness.” That their best days are behind them. That there’s no more value left.

But just like that tractor, with a little time, a little care, and the right kind of support, older people can restart and thrive. They carry knowledge, skills, and life experience that are irreplaceable. Sometimes, all they need is for someone to believe in them, give them the right opportunities, and allow them the space to contribute again.

In a world that often moves too fast, it’s easy to overlook this truth. But if we slow down and take the time, we discover that older people don’t just still have value—they are a vital, active part of our communities and families.

Let’s not write them off. Let’s help them restart.

Article written by Angela Watkins
#OlderPeopleMatter

Read the second article in this series – What an Old Windmill Taught Me About Remembering the Value of the Past –