Three women in their 90s have shared life advice for younger generations, offering reflections on resilience, opportunity, and self-belief.

Charlotte Ogilvie and Maureen Fitzpatrick live at Belong Macclesfield, a not-for-profit care village offering round-the-clock care, dementia support, and independent living in a community-focused setting.

Charlotte, who will turn 92 in February, moved to Macclesfield from Dundee following the death of her husband, so she could be closer to her children.

Her life has been shaped by both love and loss but despite this, she speaks with conviction about living authentically.

She said: "I always knew who I was and what I wanted in life, and I didn't let other people's choices change that."

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Charlotte Ogilvie and Maureen Fitzpatrick are residents at Belong Macclesfield (Credit: Tabitha Wilkin Cortes)

Charlotte remembers her relationships with warmth.

"I was just happy to have the two husbands I had; I was just lucky that it was good and just loving," she said.

Looking back, she stands firmly by the path she took.

Her advice to younger generations is to live as she did, honestly and confidently, without allowing others to shape decisions that belong to you.

"I had no regrets whatsoever," she said.

Charlotte Ogilvie (Credit: Tabitha Wilkin Cortes)

Maureen, 90, is a former teacher from Glasgow who moved to Belong Macclesfield after suffering a stroke and describes it as her "home away from home".

Drawing from her experience in education and life, she encourages young people to remain open to opportunity.

She said: "I would say try your best, and if it doesn't work out, you say, no, it's not for me,"

She stressed the importance of giving new experiences a fair chance.

"Don't do that at the beginning because things might work out better,"

Her message is clear: don't dismiss things before you've even tried them.

"You have a go, it's the best thing you can do," she added.

Maureen taught rising fives and admired their natural curiosity.

"They're like a little sponge… whatever you give them, they're delighted with it," she said.

She believes that same openness should carry into adulthood.

"Be open to things while you're young, and things will follow."

Belong Macclesfield is a not-for-profit care village on Kennedy Avenue (Credit: Tabitha Wilkin Cortes)

Barbara Wilson, 91 lives independently in Macclesfield and receives regular visits from Belong at Home, which supports people in staying safe and well in their own homes.

Barbara is a retired English teacher from the Lake District who studied at Keele University and continues to live independently with help from Belong at Home.

She takes pride in her education, saying: "I suppose getting my degree was something I was proud of."

Her advice focuses on effort, in how we think and how we treat others.

"The whole point is what you put into a relationship, you get out," she said.

She believes early adulthood is a crucial time for personal development.

"I do believe at that age, 18 to 25, your mind is very plastic, you're still growing up."

Across their stories, all three women offered a shared message: take chances, stay open, and make intentional choices that reflect who you truly are.

Advice from Belong Macclesfield residents (Credit: Tabitha Wilkin Cortes)

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