---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Turning 70 was a real shock. I thought…"
description: "\"Turning 70 was a real shock. I thought, 'I'm on the last lap now.'\" — Cilla Black"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/cilla-black-7922_lap_turning-70-was-a-real-shock-i-thought-i_100459.jpg"
---

#  Turning 70 was a real shock. I thought, 'I'm on the last…

![“Turning 70 was a real shock. I thought, 'I'm on the last lap now.'” quote by Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/cilla-black-7922_lap_turning-70-was-a-real-shock-i-thought-i_100459.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/cilla-black-7922_lap_turning-70-was-a-real-shock-i-thought-i_100459.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/cilla-black-7922_lap_turning-70-was-a-real-shock-i-thought-i_100459.jpg)

> “Turning 70 was a real shock. I thought, 'I'm on the last lap now.'”

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Reaching a milestone age can feel shocking, prompting a perception of life as a race nearing its end.

**In simple terms:** Age milestone feels like a final lap.

Key Takeaway

Aging reshapes self‑perception.

Themes

aging self‑reflection life stages

Mood

reflective somber

Type

personal philosophical

When to use this quote

- retirement planning
- health check‑ups
- writing a memoir

Key Concepts

mortality awareness

Practical Applications

- Reframe the 'last lap' as a new phase
- Set meaningful goals for the next decade

Questions to Reflect On

- What does the 'last lap' mean to you?
- How can you turn this shock into motivation?

A Different Perspective

Viewing aging solely as decline can limit enjoyment of later life.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Shock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shock/) [Thought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought/)

## Related quotes

> [“Even though we knew she was going to die eventually, when it happened it was still a terrible, rude shock. I thought I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hope-edelman/even-though-we-knew-she-was-going-to-die-eventually-when-it-happened/)

[Hope Edelman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hope-edelman/)

> [“At that moment, I have to hold myself back from bitch-slapping her! Whoa Chambers! I shock myself with that; I have never ever thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-jane-walters/at-that-moment-i-have-to-hold-myself-back-from-bitch-slapping-her/)

[Amanda Jane Walters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-jane-walters/)

> [Obviously, I think it was an aberration, but it is a reality. We're still a team that won nine games, but this one was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-coker/obviously-i-think-it-was-an-aberration-but-it-is-a-reality-we-re/)

[Larry Coker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-coker/)

> [When Mahavishnu came out in '71, the unbelievable reaction to the band was a real shock to me. It was a shock to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mclaughlin/when-mahavishnu-came-out-in-71-the-unbelievable-reaction-to-the-band/)

[John McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mclaughlin/)

> [The fact I was going to have to start injecting insulin came as a real shock to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-hoyle/the-fact-i-was-going-to-have-to-start-injecting-insulin-came-as-a/)

[Lindsay Hoyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-hoyle/)

> [ I suspect people would be in for a real shock if they knew the depths of his \[Obama's\] historical ignorance. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-foster-johnson/i-suspect-people-would-be-in-for-a-real-shock-if-they-knew-the-depths/)

[Charles Foster Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-foster-johnson/)

> [I've never thought of myself as an actor, so somebody recognizing me for that would be a real shock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/i-ve-never-thought-of-myself-as-an-actor-so-somebody-recognizing-me/)

[Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/)

> [When you get to a point where you're not beholden to a record company, then it's up to you to say, 'OK, enough knob-turning.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-d/when-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-re-not-beholden-to-a-record-company/)

[Mike D](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-d/)

> [From the time I was 16 to really up until turning 21, the roles were really, really few and far between. I had people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naya-rivera/from-the-time-i-was-16-to-really-up-until-turning-21-the-roles-were/)

[Naya Rivera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naya-rivera/)

> [Once Im done with somebody thats it, there's no turning back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/once-im-done-with-somebody-thats-it-there-s-no-turning-back/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I've always thought that you don't love a country by turning a blind eye to its crimes and to a problem. The way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/i-ve-always-thought-that-you-don-t-love-a-country-by-turning-a-blind/)

[Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/)

> [High testosterone levels have been proven to make men more likely to commit crimes. The tendency in men toward risky behaviour keeps turning up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-stark/high-testosterone-levels-have-been-proven-to-make-men-more-likely-to/)

[Rodney Stark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-stark/)

> [We must resist the temptation of once again turning America into the traditional bogeyman of the left.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giorgio-napolitano/we-must-resist-the-temptation-of-once-again-turning-america-into-the/)

[Giorgio Napolitano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giorgio-napolitano/)

> [HBO is turning 'Game Change' into a miniseries, and they've cast Ed Harris as my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meghan-mccain/hbo-is-turning-game-change-into-a-miniseries-and-they-ve-cast-ed/)

[Meghan McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meghan-mccain/)

> [Susan B. Anthony must be turning in her grave if she knew that millions of women who have the right to vote are not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-m-kunin/susan-b-anthony-must-be-turning-in-her-grave-if-she-knew-that/)

[Madeleine M. Kunin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madeleine-m-kunin/)

## More by Cilla Black

> [The first time I went to Abbey Road and put those headphones on, I discovered I had two voices. I no longer had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/the-first-time-i-went-to-abbey-road-and-put-those-headphones-on-i/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [I tried never to take anything for granted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/i-tried-never-to-take-anything-for-granted/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [I'm a 'never say never' girl. Frank Sinatra retired four times. He kept coming back. But there are people in our business who want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/i-m-a-never-say-never-girl-frank-sinatra-retired-four-times-he-kept/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [I never liked miming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/i-never-liked-miming/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [I was so ordinary, critics couldn't understand it, but looking back, that was the reason for my success. What you see is what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/i-was-so-ordinary-critics-couldn-t-understand-it-but-looking-back/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [I'm very quiet off stage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/i-m-very-quiet-off-stage/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [I'm a Roman Catholic. Or was. I was brought up that way and used to say my prayers every night, but I don't pray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/i-m-a-roman-catholic-or-was-i-was-brought-up-that-way-and-used-to-say/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [After Fergie and Prince Andrew honeymooned at Le Touessrok in Mauritius, Bobby, my late husband, and I were first to stay in their suite.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/after-fergie-and-prince-andrew-honeymooned-at-le-touessrok-in/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [When people ask me do I believe in feminism - well, I didn't even know I was a feminist. I was the top of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/when-people-ask-me-do-i-believe-in-feminism-well-i-didn-t-even-know-i/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [I'm not, sexy, am I? God knows, I've tried](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/i-m-not-sexy-am-i-god-knows-i-ve-tried/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [I knew I could do anything I wanted to do and go anywhere I wanted to go and not have to worry if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/i-knew-i-could-do-anything-i-wanted-to-do-and-go-anywhere-i-wanted-to/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [There's a whole generation out there who don't know that I was a pop singer in the early days.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/there-s-a-whole-generation-out-there-who-don-t-know-that-i-was-a-pop/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [The best advice he gave me was to carry on. It would have been difficult to set foot back inside a TV studio if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/the-best-advice-he-gave-me-was-to-carry-on-it-would-have-been/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [Back when I was helping put the swing into the swinging '60s, I used to hang out with Cathy McGowan. We'd be doing 'Ready…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/back-when-i-was-helping-put-the-swing-into-the-swinging-60s-i-used-to/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

> [I don't want to be a burden on anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/i-don-t-want-to-be-a-burden-on-anybody/)

[Cilla Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

[Explore all 86 Cilla Black quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/)

## More Lap quotes

> [Everything I write is highly personal, but put in such a way that it's not dropping everything in someone's lap. Although sometimes I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-siberry/everything-i-write-is-highly-personal-but-put-in-such-a-way-that-it-s/)

[Jane Siberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-siberry/)

> [By the gift of God, WWE fell into my lap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-brooke/by-the-gift-of-god-wwe-fell-into-my-lap/)

[Dana Brooke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-brooke/)

> [It's also a question of finding good material and interesting roles. I'm not the only actress out there, and good parts just don't fall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winona-ryder/it-s-also-a-question-of-finding-good-material-and-interesting-roles-i/)

[Winona Ryder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winona-ryder/)

> [Words are substance strange. Speak one and the air ripples into another's ears. Write one and the eye laps it up. But the sense…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-beachy-quick/words-are-substance-strange-speak-one-and-the-air-ripples-into/)

[Dan Beachy-Quick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-beachy-quick/)

> [I try to be the clown and court jester and make people laugh. At the same time, you have people in the hospital who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-simmons/i-try-to-be-the-clown-and-court-jester-and-make-people-laugh-at-the/)

[Richard Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-simmons/)

> [Just make sure you're gone by the time we get to Miles's. It creeps me out to see you sitting in his lap without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/just-make-sure-you-re-gone-by-the-time-we-get-to-miles-s-it-creeps-me/)

[Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/)

> [Whoever will be free must make himself free. Freedom is no fairy gift to fall into a man's lap. What is freedom? To have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-stirner/whoever-will-be-free-must-make-himself-free-freedom-is-no-fairy-gift/)

[Max Stirner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-stirner/)

> [You can't plan to write a great song. It just happens to you. It drops in your lap. It's the same thing with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-diamond/you-can-t-plan-to-write-a-great-song-it-just-happens-to-you-it-drops/)

[Neil Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-diamond/)

> [From the town of Lincoln Nebraska with a sawed off .410 on my lap, through the Badlands of Wyoming I killed everything in my path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/from-the-town-of-lincoln-nebraska-with-a-sawed-off-410-on-my-lap/)

[Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/)

> [Daphne," he said with controlled gentleness, "what is wrong?" She sat down opposite him and placed a hand on his cheek. "I'm so insensitive,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-quinn/daphne-he-said-with-controlled-gentleness-what-is-wrong-she-sat-down/)

[Julia Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-quinn/)

> [Allie would love what you've done," he remarked. "She was always a softie when it came to things like this." I folded my hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/allie-would-love-what-you-ve-done-he-remarked-she-was-always-a-softie/)

[Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/)

> [How far have you walked for men who've never held your feet in their laps?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warsan-shire/how-far-have-you-walked-for-men-who-ve-never-held-your-feet-in-their/)

[Warsan Shire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warsan-shire/)

> [Sport is a passion and out of passion comes love. No point trying to work out why some become heroes and others don't. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/les-carlyon/sport-is-a-passion-and-out-of-passion-comes-love-no-point-trying-to/)

Les Carlyon

> [ \[On living in New York City:\] I'm oblivious to everything. I just don't notice anything. I sat in a coffee shop, drank half a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-kightlinger/on-living-in-new-york-city-i-m-oblivious-to-everything-i-just-don-t/)

[Laura Kightlinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-kightlinger/)

> [We must regard Sarah Palin as the Carmella Soprano of the GOP -- an enabling wife of organized crime, who sees, hears and speaks…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cintra-wilson/we-must-regard-sarah-palin-as-the-carmella-soprano-of-the-gop-an/)

[Cintra Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cintra-wilson/)

Browse all 491 Lap quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Turning 70 was a real shock. I thought, 'I'm on the last lap now.'",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Cilla Black"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/turning-70-was-a-real-shock-i-thought-i-m-on-the-last-lap-now/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Lap"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/turning-70-was-a-real-shock-i-thought-i-m-on-the-last-lap-now/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/cilla-black-7922_lap_turning-70-was-a-real-shock-i-thought-i_100459.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/cilla-black-7922_lap_turning-70-was-a-real-shock-i-thought-i_100459.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/cilla-black-7922_lap_turning-70-was-a-real-shock-i-thought-i_100459.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Turning 70 was a real shock. I thought, 'I'm on the last lap now.'” — Cilla Black",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Cilla Black",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cilla-black/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Turning 70 was a real shock....",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/turning-70-was-a-real-shock-i-thought-i-m-on-the-last-lap-now/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cilla-black/turning-70-was-a-real-shock-i-thought-i-m-on-the-last-lap-now/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
